Why Photo Painter?
Posted by James Geddes on Monday, January 18, 2010
I was just mentioning to my pastel teacher yesterday that I have 3
Terabytes of images stored on hard drives and backed up with even more in the
queue for filing. A Terabyte is 1000 Gigabytes. I am not in a race to see who
can have the most images... it's pretty normal for professional photographers to
amass a gynormous amount of images... And Now I have a large selection of superb images to paint from during these long wet months in Washington.
The shear diversity of photography and subject matter, conditions and expectations, has kept my interest for a number of years. Add to that the artistic outlet that is necessary for inner happiness, and the ever-changing technology world that encompasses photography, and you have MY perfect niche.
Many years ago I was creating sketches from negatives in the darkroom. Then I devised a way to create the sketches with a computer. Now I do the background work with a computer but rely on pencils, charcoal and graphite to complete my works.
I have always wanted to paint but have no experience at all... Even in my college classes I skirted the creation complex works on a blank canvas. Eventually the desire caught up to me and overtook my fear of looking like I am totally inept. After all, I had told my students for years that failure is a large part of learning and helps drive success... In 2007, after a fall photo hiatus to Banff and Jasper in Alberta and spending a 2 hour boat ride across lake Maligne with a group of enthusiastic watercolorists, I found myself ready to take the leap into painting.
But wait... YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT PAINTING!!!
Oh yeah, well, how hard can it be? After all, I like drawing and sketching...
Well, it has been quite a learning journey so far. Just because you can operate a camera doesn't mean you will get great photos! It takes a lot of practice. A lot of failures and a number of discoveries... But most of all, it's fun and rewarding. Something I can do to relax and exercise my creative side, my motor skills tied to my critical thinking... keeps my mind sharp and provides us with many wonderful pieces of art. I think Dale Gullickson, an acquaintance from years ago would say, "visual delights".
I would truly like to encourage you to take up a hobby or something that will challenge you. The gratification is really immeasurable. This will open doors to friendships, allow you to shop for items you never know existed, give you purpose and discover yourself again.
I have witnessed the phenomenon of people getting older and regressing to a state similar to being young again... an activity that challenges you will encourage younger thinking and you will remember what it was like to not be old and wise again... Have some fun, take a risk, even if it's just on paper or canvas, learn something you have always wanted to do, there are many experienced in these activities that are fulfilling their challenge by teaching others... seek them out and you will find others on the same path that you travel. You're never too old to try something new!
The shear diversity of photography and subject matter, conditions and expectations, has kept my interest for a number of years. Add to that the artistic outlet that is necessary for inner happiness, and the ever-changing technology world that encompasses photography, and you have MY perfect niche.
Many years ago I was creating sketches from negatives in the darkroom. Then I devised a way to create the sketches with a computer. Now I do the background work with a computer but rely on pencils, charcoal and graphite to complete my works.
I have always wanted to paint but have no experience at all... Even in my college classes I skirted the creation complex works on a blank canvas. Eventually the desire caught up to me and overtook my fear of looking like I am totally inept. After all, I had told my students for years that failure is a large part of learning and helps drive success... In 2007, after a fall photo hiatus to Banff and Jasper in Alberta and spending a 2 hour boat ride across lake Maligne with a group of enthusiastic watercolorists, I found myself ready to take the leap into painting.
But wait... YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT PAINTING!!!
Oh yeah, well, how hard can it be? After all, I like drawing and sketching...
Well, it has been quite a learning journey so far. Just because you can operate a camera doesn't mean you will get great photos! It takes a lot of practice. A lot of failures and a number of discoveries... But most of all, it's fun and rewarding. Something I can do to relax and exercise my creative side, my motor skills tied to my critical thinking... keeps my mind sharp and provides us with many wonderful pieces of art. I think Dale Gullickson, an acquaintance from years ago would say, "visual delights".
I would truly like to encourage you to take up a hobby or something that will challenge you. The gratification is really immeasurable. This will open doors to friendships, allow you to shop for items you never know existed, give you purpose and discover yourself again.
I have witnessed the phenomenon of people getting older and regressing to a state similar to being young again... an activity that challenges you will encourage younger thinking and you will remember what it was like to not be old and wise again... Have some fun, take a risk, even if it's just on paper or canvas, learn something you have always wanted to do, there are many experienced in these activities that are fulfilling their challenge by teaching others... seek them out and you will find others on the same path that you travel. You're never too old to try something new!