Art and Posterity

To be or not to be well-known

Artists have a plethora of reasons for creating art. The famous artists have gained immortality of a sort. Think Monet, Rubens, Kahlo, Rembrandt. Their work has lived on for generations to enjoy. And if we’re lucky, we get to see their artwork up close and personal at a museum.

However, some talented artists view art as their way to posterity. My former art teacher Hans wanted his art in a museum. He held onto his collections as treasures and didn’t dare sell them. He might still be holding onto them, for all I know.

I find his philosophy faulty and stagnant. Instead I lean toward Picasso’s view that 

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” The second sentence is up for interpretation. Over the years, I’ve given my art away to charitable organizations for auction and to people who fancied an oil painting here and there while I was honing my craft. 

But my perspective has since changed. Now, if I could edit Picasso’s second sentence, I would say, “The purpose of life is to give or sell it away.”

When I sold an oil painting last year titled Bridgeport, I was shocked: my first sale. But selling the painting wasn’t just about the profit; it was about making the patron happy. Letting go of a painting – whether for charitable reasons or because it sold –  is bittersweet for me. I get attached to my work. When I took the completed Bridgeport off my wall and shipped it to the client, I felt a twinge of melancholy. But mostly, I felt happy for my client, who was eagerly anticipating its arrival.

That’s one purpose of art: to create joy in others.

I don’t believe in holding onto my art forever until a museum wants to showcase it. That is sheer nonsense. I don’t create art to become famous now and/or in the future.

I use my craft to stay in the present and because I love creating art. And I hope to transfer that joy to others. For me, the process is everything. And, hopefully, the outcome will be as great as the process. And, of course, there’s flow.

I went through a period when I mainly painted breast cancer-related subjects to help me cope with diagnosis, treatment, and beyond – and to make a statement. Now I paint other subjects that intrigue me. I wouldn’t say I’ve moved on from the breast cancer ordeal; it will always be a part of me, but I have no artistic plans to address breast cancer at this time in my life.

I am not hunting for fame and renown. I am not hunting for immortality. I am hunting for peace and joy and transferring those feelings to my patrons. And, of course, I’d like to turn a profit.

My art project for this week is the sunflower draft.

I wanted to rework it, as so many elements need improvement. The sky is finally done. I just need to continue working on the sunflower and really enlarge and enhance the foliage. I might need to lengthen the petals and, because the sun is toward the back of the sunflower, I need to add some shade to the petals. I’m a bit nervous about that.

Last week, I said that for part of the background, I would be using a color combination I’ve never used before and that it would be my secret – until today. I mixed Naples Yellow and Indian Red to create a dune-like background that I’m liking. It looks like sand dunes, and I used just a bit of Indian Red to give some structure to the dunes. I like the contrast of the dry dunes and the flower, which represents moisture and life. 

I don’t care whether sunflowers appear near dunes; I just want to make an interesting painting that works. I’m not there yet, and I have a lot to do.

The big adventure for me is coming up – I am going to soon explore palette knife painting, so I can add texture to my work and grow as an artist. As you know, I purchased a few palette knives from my art Mecca, Blick Art Materials. 

However, I’ve been watching palette knife painting on YouTube and Threads and realize I need to add a few more palette knives to my collection, plus learn how each type of palette knife can work for me. I’m going to paint over a dry canvas that already has a picture I don’t like. I’m not sure what the subject matter will be, but I’m thinking, perhaps flowers. I want to start with a simple landscape. I know that I have a lot of learning ahead of me, but I really want to start palette knife painting. 

My only concern is that palette knife painting tends to be in thick strokes, and since I work with oils, the dry time might take forever. But I’m patient.

Wish me luck on my new adventure. I will share the results – good or not so good.