Tools
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| "Salmon" 24" x 36" watercolor - my only
fish painting |
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The
Master watercolor painter and the Fish Painting
I
first heard this tale from a visiting printmaking master from Japan
when I was an undergraduate. I have since heard it attributed to
a chinese and a French watercolor artist.
There
was a famous watercolorist contacted by an important man who wanted
to commission a painting of a fish. The artist agreed on a price
and stated that he would need three weeks to complete the painting.
Each week the man called only to be told , "another week".
Once three months had passed he came to the artists studio, grabbed
him by the collar and ordered "paint the fish" The artist
took a sheet of paper sat at his painting table and turned out the
most beautiful fish painting the man had ever seen. The man stood
and asked "If it was so easy for you, why did you keep putting
me off?" The artist walked across the room and opened the doors
of a large cabinet. Hundreds of fish paintings slid out across the
floor.
There is a moral: If you are a beginner or novice
you may become a master able to teach what you want to learn by
the rule of 400. Complete 400 fully developed paintings or drawings,
(not quick sketches) and you will be a master able to teach what
you originally set out to learn. |
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"Marble
Brass Rings & Rubber Band"4"x6" watercolor.
This was a sample painting for a watercolor class to show"
limited means subject matter" - anything will work, and
the plane of the paper is defined by how the rubber band and
brass rings sit on the surface. Negative space surrounding
the objects becomes as important as the objects.
Copyright 2006 Jon Rader Jarvis all rights reserved |
Homework
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The
Sorcerer and the Enchanted Sword
[I
tell this story about a friend - an air-brush artist who cannot
draw a straight line without masking first and using an airbrush.
It is the basis of a Larry Niven short story collection about magic.]
A sorcerer
stood at the peak of a high mountain and looked into the distance.
He saw a large muscular swordsman approaching, holding a great sword.
When he was close enough the swordsman hailed the sorcerer."
Prepare yourself evil sorcerer. I will use this enchanted sword
to rid the world of your great evil." The sorcerer slowly stood
facing the swordsman. "That is not a sword, and you are not
carrying it to kill me." The swordsman faced him and spoke,
"There is no reason to lie, we are at an ending." The
sorcerer waved his hand and said "I will remove the enchantment
upon your eyes". "There is no enchantment on me, but on
this sword. "If it is not enchanted, switch hands with the
sword." He could not. At another wave of his hand speaking
enchanted words, the sword shimmered and finally the swordsman saw
a demon with fangs and claws sunk in his arm. The sorcerer said
"The demon was bringing you to wield him against me."
I will banish the demon, but you will require time and rest to heal."
With the wave of his hand the demon was gone.
Beware
the beautiful tool that seems to answer all your questions. It is
more likely to be a demon that will endanger your soul, by threatening
your confidence in your own abilities. Better to make your own magic
from within rather than adopt or purchase a magical tool.
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Technique
- cheating
"Heracles" by M.Spafford
"Heracles"
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In
almost every class, I encounter at least one student asking about
cheating, Whatever is considered cheating, circumstances and timimg
effect our perception. One of my instructors, who I claim as a mentor
is Mike Spafford. He tells the best story about cheating. His subject
matter is taken from Greek Mythology. His process is to paint on
canvas alternating between stretcher bars and a plasterboard wall
to alternate between rigid and flexing surfaces, in his basement.
His son rode his tricycle around the basement watching his father
compose images out of his own imagination. One day he brought his
father a drawing he had made of a cat . His father praised the drawing
and his son ran away in tears. Michael tried to ask what he had
done. His wife finally telling him to stay away until the boy was
ready to talk. A few days passed and Michael finally got a chance
to apologize. "I'm sorry. What was wrong? I didn't mean to
hurt your feelings" The boy answered, "I cheated".
"I Looked at the cat".
moral:
cheating is situational depending on viewpoint |
