Painting Darkness – Resolution to learning
by deanmelbourne
Dear Friend,
I am unsure whether it is a feature of ageing or a personal quirk that I grow ever more excited by the prospect of commitment to deeper learning and self development. I have long since tired of the quick study and the stylistic and shallow work of my younger self. There is a sense now that I am embarking on a more authentic and worthwhile journey. I find that I am excited by the idea of faithfully committing to a process of development that does not short cut but reveals itself slowly.
David Lynch talks of “catching the big fish”. He uses transcendental meditation to reach levels of understanding and insight. I admire the sentiment, although I suspect they are not the means for me. We have talked about the artists journey being a slow one. My mentor said as much when she suggested “its not a race” at a time i was anxious about the appearance of progress.
My commitment that coincides with this period of new year and of resolution is that I will begin the long and daunting process of learning to paint the darkness. I have avoided undertaking this for a couple of reasons.
Firstly there is the association with the angst and melodrama of youth that accompanies reference to painting the night. It was indeed in my teens that my love of darkness and night developed, no doubt with all the cliches firmly intact. It is a notion though that has persisted and still remains. There is much of the symbolic language and associated sentiment that strikes me still.
The second reason is the technical difficulty painting the subtle tonal changes and ungraspable colours of the darkness. It is not something that I feel could be got at easily. I think I could emulate effects in a reasonably short time to but to go beyond that will take prolonged effort.
You comforted me with your reading from Albert Pinkham Ryder – 1905
“Art is long, the artist must buckle himself with infinite patience. His ears must be deaf to the clammer of his insistent friends who would quicken his pace. His eyes must see naught but the vision beyond. He must await the season of fruitage without haste, without worldly ambitions, and without vexation of spirit. An inspiration is no more than a seed that must be planted and nourished. it gives growth as it grows too the artist only as he watched and waits with his highest effort.”
And what joy to see that he too painted the night!
So i will start with serious study and collection of fine night painting and spend time in observation and rumination.
And so my resolution with “fasting and prayer” is to become a student of the deep shadows and silvery bowers of the nocturne.
wish me luck and I will keep you informed of my progress.
faithfully
your old friend
