Inspiration

I went to see the J.M.W. Turner exhibit at the De Young Museum in San Francisco yesterday.  There is no informed way for me to express what has already been said about his paintings so I won’t try to give a review, I’ll just give you my reaction. Wow!! I am not a painter and am generally attracted to three dimensional work more than two dimensional–but this was amazing!  So beautiful and so evocative.  There is a power you feel when you face one of these pieces.  The passion with which it was made is felt.  It grabs you and makes you hunt for…something in all the mysterious mist and water and atmosphere.  It kind of drags you into another world.

I had a similar experience with a Van Gough painting in The National Gallery in London.  There I was walking around the room, looking at all the various paintings (kind of bored) and WHAM!  the Van Gough hit me.  It was practically vibrating off the wall.  The energy that went into making it was so evident.   I don’t know exactly what to call this quality but I know I want it in my work.  It is so inspiring to find that quality and feel it affecting everyone in the gallery.  I never want to make work that is just good enough,  I want to make work that will grab you and make you pay attention!