The Joy and the Struggle

Robert Bateman experiences artistic tension? The Vancouver Sun's article, 'Robert Bateman's Joy and Struggle', caught my interest.

The entire subject of the emotive, creative experience, is widely debated among artists. I have heard artists tell me point blank, "I paint for pleasure, and if its not a happy experience, its time to put my brushes away."

Most people who aren't into the artistic experience, hold fast to the mantra, that painting is a serene, joyful, beautiful experience.

Painters sometimes tell you that they paint best of all when they are 'in the zone'.

But from my experience, painting is a mixed bag. Sometimes when the muse is upon me, I paint in the zone. Other times its an anxiety charged, frustrating experience.

I once posed a question to about ten people in an artist's internet chatroom, "How many have suffered from depression." The response caught me by surprise. I know that artists are a sensitively tuned lot, but I didn't expect it when 80% admitted to struggling with depression.

Another artist friend of mine, produces a depression blog.

So, when Robert Bateman publicly admitted that the creative process can be a struggle, he swept away some of the myths that people have about the inspired artist who paints in a visionary state of profound insight.

Nonsense. Most people I know who paint, are continuously engaged in making critical decisions about colour, subject matter and design.

An artist from Edmonton told me that he has been known to take a knife to his works.
Better the canvas than his left ear.

Check out this story,'Robert Bateman's Joy and Struggle', in the Vancouver Sun by clicking here.

To visit Robert Bateman's site, please click here.

Do you suffer from depression? If so you may wish to check my friend Wendy's web site, Depressiongetaway. Please Click here.

Notes on Robert Bateman's Russian Exhibition

Bateman: Russian Brown Bear


Robert Bateman exhibition travels to 4 Russian Cities. Please click here to read this story on the CBC website

Robert Bateman on the Craft of Painting

Painting, for me, has never been a hobby. It is not relaxing - writers and athletes would say the same. Since I was twelve, I have always painted unless I am interrupted. It is a labour, but it is what I do . . . a labour of love let us say.

Countless times I have talked with young people and beginning artists who are less young. Questions of my techniques and procedures often come up, so I figure it is time to write a bit about the subject.

First and foremost is the idea or the thought behind the painting. Although it is a joy to create something just for the sake of creating, it is much more satisfying to create something special. It may not necessarily be brilliantly executed, but ‘special’ means it comes from the heart and experience unique to you.

One definition of a masterpiece I have heard . . . when you see it, you should feel you are seeing for the first time, and it should look as if it is done without effort. This is a very, very tough yardstick. I wouldn’t say that I’ve ever done a masterpiece, but when I am struggling with each painting - and they are all a struggle - I often feel that I am nowhere near those two goals.

Sadly, I feel much wildlife art is just the opposite. When you see it, you feel you have seen it a thousand times before – yet another wolf, or another loon, or some other overworked subject done in the same old way. And, it looks as if it is done with a great deal of effort – every feather or every hair painted in great detail, but no sense of form or air or space or time, and often flat as a pancake.

My own ideas come out of nowhere.
It may be from a film such as “Lawrence of Arabia” as it was for the composition of my lone newborn wildebeest.

Extracted from Robert Bateman's website. Please click here to see more of Bob's works and ideas on his craft.

Robert Bateman

Thoughts From Robert Bateman

For readers interested in the intellectualization
of art,you may wish to check out Robert Bateman's
site:


Robert Bateman's Ideas,


http://www.batemanideas.com/Default.htm


I was drawn to his observations, titled, 'Bateman on Art.'
Above picture by: Birgit Freybe Bateman


Quotes to Reflect Upon

"During the 20th century an elite group has established itself as a sort of priesthood.....The curator and critic priesthood holds the keys to the kingdom of "High Art".

"The driving force was the myth of the artist as a rebel and the rallying cry was "If it has been done before, it's not worth doing again!"

"It is futile to march behind a banner saying "If it's been done before, it's not worth doing again!".

"When the books and articles started to come out and I began to become 'famous', I also began to get slings and arrows from certain Canadian quarters. Canadians are famous for doing this to other Canadians in similar circumstances. I guess that it goes with the turf."