PAINT LIKE VAN GOGH?
"Little Heart Painting #2, 12"x 9", acrylic on canvas, copyright 2014 David Limrite
SUNDAY MUSINGS
The above Little Heart Painting got a bit dark. But that is what often happens when I paint. Things get a little dark. I still think it is beautiful in it's own way. Hope you do too. I have started a series of 12 heart paintings in a particular style. I will reveal them in the weeks to come. I look forward to hearing what you have to say about them.
PAINT LIKE VAN GOGH?
I recently wrote a post entitled VAN GOGH'S HEART where I was inspired to write about passion, courage and tenacity, based on a beautiful quote attributed to Vincent Van Gogh.
Well, coincidentally, the other day, I was perusing a web site that sells art instruction books, whereby I spotted a book entitled PAINT LIKE VAN GOGH.
The first words out of my mouth, and I uttered them out loud, were,
"Why would I want to paint like Van Gogh?"
I mean seriously. Why would anyone want to paint like Van Gogh? He has already done that. There was already a Van Gogh. Van Gogh was Van Gogh. And he was very, very, good at it.
I want to paint like David Limrite. I want to see what I can do. I want to develop my own way of expressing myself. If I spent my life learning how to paint like Van Gogh, then who would I be?
I am sure that Van Gogh would not want anyone to learn how to paint like Van Gogh. Which is besides the point.
What I mean to say is, if I ever hear anyone proclaim that he or she would like to learn how to paint like David Limrite, I will politely and gently urge them to spend their creative life learning how to paint like themselves. Whatever that may be. Not because I wouldn't want them to copy me or even surpass me. But, because I would want them to have their own creative life. I would want them tofind out what painting means to them. I would want them to dig deep and find their own means of expression and to discover their own unique individual style. All of which would lead to a much more fulfilling creative life. As opposed to just learning how to paint like Van Gogh. Or living someone else's creative life.
BTW, I am still on the journey of learning how to paint like David Limrite. But what a Journey!
Best,
David