Blog

       This topic is something that's been on my mind a lot lately but the words haven't come easy. The question comes up often  --- How does a person acknowledge the suffering and sadness going on in the world without becoming completely overwhelmed? It's a temptation when seeing something horrific and no solutions in sight to totally turn away and yet that can be counter-productive as well. So, what is the answer?

        I'm not sure artists, regardless of how well they paint, should be looked up to as life coaches. As a group, they are often just as clueless about life as everyone else. That having been said, I can share my experiences with the healing power of creativity. While there are a number of things I credit for helping me navigate life's rough patches, painting has certainly been an anchor I've returned to again and again. I'm always painting of course, but sometimes the pause in the noise it provides takes on a new urgency. There are so many times when concentration seems elusive if not impossible, yet when I can overcome the resistance to getting started, nothing is ever better for realigning my brain cells in some sort of working order.

        During these moments of feeling untethered, I'm reminded of the artists who, in spite of the circumstances around them, kept on working as best they could. John Singer Sargent painted throughout WWI and in addition to his other work, produced some amazing commissions for the Imperial War Museum. You can see some of those paintings and read more about his experiences during those years at  https://www.artinsociety.com/rose-marie-ormond-sargentrsquos-muse-and-ldquothe-most-charming-girl-that-ever-livedrdquo.html . Winston Churchill was famous for discovering painting as a way to cope with the pressures of serving as the Prime Minister to the United Kingdom during the second world war. No doubt most artists throughout history have had their moments of hopelessness and fear and yet in their drive to perhaps simply make it through the day, somehow still managed to create some of the world's most treasured works of art. 

                                                 "Nonchaloir" ("Repose") painted in 1911 by John Singer Sargent The model for this painting was Rose-Marie Ormond, the daughter of Sargent's sister Violet. Rose-Marie, (as well as this cashmere shawl) can be identified in many of his other paintings. In 1918, toward the end of WWI, Rose-Marie was killed when a bomb fell on the Church of St.Gervais in Paris where she had gone to attend a concert.

      I came to the conclusion some time ago that art is supposed to be connected to my life and my emotions, the good and the bad,  so I try to aim for some sort of equanimity. That doesn't mean I've started doing paintings depicting the things I'd prefer to turn away from but I'm not trying to pretend they aren't there either. Putting life on hold waiting for conditions to improve is tempting too, but not really much of an option. While art has been a wonderful way to keep myself entertained and has also functioned to pay the bills most of the time, far and away the greatest benefit I get from painting is simply staying sane, or what more or less passes for sanity at my house. No miracles, but as a coping device it's one of the best I've found. Looking around, I can't help but think more people would be better off if they had something in their life that functioned in this way for them. The key thing I believe, is to make sure it's enough of an adventure or challenge to really get lost in the process.  Depending on the circumstances, it may be best to set aside the results for the time being and to use whatever medium is the easiest to pick up and get started with. I've known of people who found working with adult coloring books to be a real benefit and I think that's great. Whatever works. Getting lost in the world of shapes and color and practicing eye/hand coordination doesn't necessarily require a lot of expense or uninterrupted blocks of time. Engaging your curiosity and making room for play is the important thing  ---just you and your art.  

"Like a sea-beast fished up from the depths, or a diver too suddenly hoisted, my veins threatened to burst from the fall in pressure. I had great anxiety and no means of relieving it....And then it was that the Muse of Painting came to my rescue ---out of charity and out of chivalry.... --- and said, "Are these toys of any good to you? They amuse some people."   -- Winston Churchill  Painting as a Pastime

"If men had postponed the search for knowledge and beauty until they were secure, the search would never have begun."  --- C.S. Lewis

UPCOMING EXHIBITS OF SARGENT'S WORK 

Sargent and Paris

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York