I love painting and I also love looking at other artist work. There is a photographer from Canada named Peter Bowers, who's work I find incredibly powerful, simple and poetic. His work, for me, represents our quiet and respectful reflections on nature. His imagery possesses a lot of the things I'm personally after in picture making. The oil painting above, "Morning Mist", was completed using some of Peters inspiring photos. It's (16x20") and I painted it in oils on a wood panel. ( A thousand thank you's Peter for your permission ).
Peter could very well have a completely different take on what his work means to him but one of the great things about art is the notion of walking into a museum or gallery and simply falling in love with a piece because it moves you for whatever reason. In my opinion it's not terribly important to even intellectualize it..it simply moves me. It's a curious thing.
Last week an amazing and courageous women named Robin recently sent me this touching letter about what my paintings mean to her, I'm completely moved by her thoughts:
Hi Todd,
Joan called me and I purchased Shallow Water. She is sending it off this week. Cant wait. Thanks for your thoughts on paintings. I have my own thoughts on my attachments to them and what they represent to me. When I bought that first painting I had just finished my 8th round of chemo at Dana. I have Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. I have a daughter who had just turned three when I started my treatments so I worked hard to get into remission. I had tremendous support all around me family, friends ,church family etc. But cancer is a lonely battle, God guides you through it but he is all that can help during that dark time. So the first painting represented kind of a tight relationship and also rich colors and darker water. The second painting was lighter water and a solo boat, maybe as I got better and felt better and less depressed I was able to manage a bit better on my own. And I had to start to be independent again. And that painting mirrored my feelings. Now Im two years out, im feeling so much more positive and happier and very thankful. The water is soft and light filled and the sun is shining! God got me through the deep water and to safe place. I love that sunlight in the newer paintings. Canoe has an exuberance and playfulness which is just beautiful and it has the rich colors but with lots of light.
So I didn't mean to wax on for so long, but you were so open with me about how you feel about your work- I thought maybe you would like to hear about the effect your work has on others. I am excited to see what the future holds for your work and evolution as an artist.
A true fan always
Robin
You make it all worth it Robin, thank you...and thank you for your permission to post your letter...I'm a true fan of yours always.
Sincerely.
