Finding out what the world is like

A work in progress, click to view larger.

I came across this quote last week, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since.

“Art is a way of finding out what the world is really like,

insofar as it causes us to view things more objectively

and also more subjectively.” 

~ John B. Mitchell

“Hmmm.” I thought at the time, “Really?  Isn’t it either one or the other?”

How can art make us more aware of two things that seem so different, that even appear to be opposites?

 My left brain informs me that objective art helps me see the world more truthfully.  For example, objective art is usually realistic in portrayal, and often illustrates a fact or direct observation.  It is a lens with a clarity provided by the artist’s editing powers; it teaches me things about the physical world I live in. 

My right brain embraces the veiled depths of subjective art, delights in suggested line and shadow, and loves to add its own storyline to that of the author.  I am often moved by subjective art without always knowing why.  It doesn’t have to be skillfully done; I just know that the artist made a successful connection.

Then there is that rare art that seems to transcend both of these “definitions” and firmly epitomize them both.  Think about Albrecht Durer’s painting Great Piece of Turf, and perhaps you’ll know what I mean.  To me, his watercolor study is a unique interplay between careful observation and an exploration of the mystery of life.

When I create art, I find that both objective and subjective views are enhanced and expanded, even more so than when being merely a viewer.  So, in my roundabout way, I agree with Mr. Mitchell.  Now, you may ask, what does that have to do with the photo at the top of the page?  I am taking some of my observations made during En Plein Air – Arts in the Fakahatchee and translating them into different mediums, the first being acrylic paint.  I just hope I can create something that echoes a transcendence of both views.

More car sketching

Some of you know that I often take advantage of long car trips to get a bit of drawing in. Usually the time before, during, and after a trip has strings attached: endless to-do lists, people to call or see, and time to rest (we are not spring chickens!).

On the way out, we enjoyed good weather and I sketched with my Pitt pen directly onto the sketchbook pages, in the mood for black and white ink drawings. You can read about these and see what I drew at this post for the Sketching in Nature blog.

On the way back, however, I felt the need for color! The top painting is a quick and loose impression of the Alabama countryside as it flashed by. I find that the practice of being forced to focus on images and commit details to memory has helped me. I have a good color memory, but I don’t remember unfamiliar shapes well. The more I do, though, the better my observation powers.

We ran into a massive rainstorm later, which eliminated my outdoor subjects. There weren’t even any interesting clouds, just uniform grayness obscuring most everything. I had picked up some leaves at a rest stop, so I settled in for some ink and watercolor work. The road was a bit bumpy, but I just went with it…it added a little more character and a further connection to the moment in time.

If you'd like to visit my my past post on car sketching, click here, and visit this link to my Flickr photostream if you'd like to see my old travel set-up, which shows my Sennelier travel watercolor set (I used my Daniel Smith travel palette on this tip).

You can click on the images to view larger. Thanks for visiting!

Autumn leaves from a Florida wetland

Autumn leaves from a Florida wetland, originally uploaded by Elizabeth Smith.

Autumn in Florida can be a subtle season, but the signs are there if one pays attention.  Autumn is my favorite season, and I particularly like plants, so I tend to notice those changes most.  Here are just a few of the things I notice around me in the southwestern part of our state:

• There are more yellow flowers blooming, but also some purple and lavenders.
• We're enjoying lower humidity and less rainfall.
• Acorns and pine cones are ripening and dropping to the ground, attracting birds and squirrels.
• The red maple leaves have tinges of red – when they fall they often take on beautiful colors of scarlet, burgundy, and gold.
• A few more oak leaves and pine needles on the ground.
• I see more grasses with seed heads, especially broom sedge, which has turned a beautiful yellow ochre hue.
• We have cooler temperatures that come in waves with each new cold front.
• Some of the bald cypress needles are turning a delightful rusty red-yellow color.
• Berries are ripening: most recently I’ve noticed Dahoon holly and marlberry.
• The colors of the sky are different than summer – now they are a cooler blue. The sunsets are different, too, with clearer skies and deeper colors.
• I notice more flocks of birds in the air.
• Some of the ponds and lakes have lower water levels.

I discovered the leaves above on a walk along the boardwalk at Freedom Park (here in Naples, Florida) and knew that I needed to paint them.  This section of the park is an old wetland area with red maple, laurel oak, bald cypress, pond apple, pop ash, royal palm, and red mangrove trees – some of them fairly mature. 

There is still water in these wetlands, but areas that were wet are now merely damp, and sections that were damp are now dry.  Scattered among the trees are understory shrubs and young trees and water-loving flags and grasses. 

What have you noticed about your surroundings? During busy holiday times, we sometimes forget to look around us and enjoy the changing theater of our environment. As artists, naturalists, and humans, observation is a primary force of being.  Observing nature can be a wonderful way to relax and relieve stress, center ourselves within place, and entertain our senses.

Clicking on the caption below the image will take you to that page on my Flickr photostream.

Parents and teachers – please use the link below for a free PDF coloring page of the leaves above (with names):
Coloring page, Florida wetland leaves

Keeping a nature art sketchbook

I like to draw, paint, and write short notes about the natural world around me – it might be a leaf, or an insect, or a habitat. We all see things just a little bit differently than our friends; we each have a unique viewpoint. When an artist draws, he or she also edits what they present on the page.

For example, if you drew a picture of your house, you might not draw every window and door. You pick out what you want to show. Drawing and writing is also about learning, it’s a process. Writing about your observations is a further exploration, making connections that are important to you, in your own words. Your words might be direct observations, a story, or your personal feelings about the subject.

Let me share a bit of my process and how I approach drawing the natural world around me.

First, observation. Everything has a story behind it. Sometimes I think of this as being like a nature detective. Sometimes we can find out more just by asking little questions and then moving to big questions. This is part of my observation. I might also write notes, and make little “map” sketches about it. All of these things help me draw a better picture.  

1. Who? Do I know the name of my subject? If not, can I guess?

2. What? Do I know what it is? What does it eat? What color is it? What shape is it?

3. Where? Where did I find this or observe it? Where might it live?

4. Why? Why is it here? Why does it exist – what is its purpose? Why is it this color and shape?

5. When? When was this found or observed? What time of year? Write the date…

6. How? How does it function? Survive? How many leaves? Legs?

 Can you see how asking and answering those questions made me more aware? You probably added a few more questions of your own. You can also ask these three additional questions that will guide you in your notes, research, and future drawings: 

1. What do I already know about this?

2. What do I want to learn about it?

3. What did I learn?

Get comfortable, look at your subject again for a minute, become the nature detective, ask some questions of yourself, then draw!

Clicking on the above image will take you to my Flickr photostream, where you can view this larger.