Sunset Trees 8x8
Hello, and welcome to Tonalist painting by M Francis McCarthy.
Today's painting is 'Sunset Trees' 8x8.
Our video features the progression of this painting from it's early underpainting stages, on up through the final finishing brush strokes. Also featured is my usual rambling narration, so please check it out.
I'm typing this blog from a beach near Devon, England as I'm on holiday... I know, I should get extra blogging points for working while on vacation!
Today, I'd like to talk about where painting tips and techniques end, and that is in philosophy. There have been many painters over the ages that were philosophers as well as painters, and I count myself among them.
Philosophy is basically the study of life. Why we are here and what we should be doing while we are here. Pretty heady stuff if you're not inclined in this direction, but ultimately important to all of us manifested on this planet and especially important to the serious painter. It has been said that the unexamined life is not worth living and I am inclined to agree.
How does philosophy relate to painting you might ask? The answer varies depending on the level and temperament of the painter. If you're just starting out, technique seems an all-encompassing interest. However, after you've been painting awhile it becomes apparent that technique is really only a small part of the painters experience and that what is really vital about painting well, is that it is an expression of you as a unique person. Thats the key thing.
Which leads us almost directly to philosophy. Why express yourself? What is the self anyway? See? Not so hard to tie philosophy and painting together when you pursure this tack.
I could of course give you my answers to these questions but maybe it's better to save that for another blog post down the road. Suffice to say, they are great questions and they have a very real bearing on the work you create as an artist.
In my case, these questions totally inform the type of subject matter I paint and the way I paint it. When someone comes into your studio and asks you why you are painting a landscape that is a twilight scene, in oils with hogs bristle brushes, You should have a ready answer. Know thy painting equals know thyself. I know I endeavour to and if you've read my blog for awhile, you might know why I'm doing things the way I do.
Painting is (to my way of thinking), primarily a mental exercise. For this reason, how you think will automaticly affect how you paint. So, if you've not been thinking much about painting or life in general and find you're also not improving much, try a bit of philosphy and see how your work benefits from the effort.
M Francis McCarthy
Landscapepainter.co.nz
A bit about 'Sunset Trees' 8x8; we talked about the 5x5 last week and I'm also pretty happy with the 8x8 version in todays post. I do a lot of roads. I like roads because they take you places. Also roads are neutral. Any body can walk down any road and the road may be new or ancient.
By the way, there are lot's of cool ancient stuff here in England and it's interesting how it meets and contrasts with the new stuff. Being from California originally and now living in New Zealand everything except the land is new.
To see more of my work, visit my site here
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| Sunset Trees by M Francis McCarthy, 8x8 Oil Painting on Wood Panel |
Our video features the progression of this painting from it's early underpainting stages, on up through the final finishing brush strokes. Also featured is my usual rambling narration, so please check it out.
I'm typing this blog from a beach near Devon, England as I'm on holiday... I know, I should get extra blogging points for working while on vacation!
Today, I'd like to talk about where painting tips and techniques end, and that is in philosophy. There have been many painters over the ages that were philosophers as well as painters, and I count myself among them.
Philosophy is basically the study of life. Why we are here and what we should be doing while we are here. Pretty heady stuff if you're not inclined in this direction, but ultimately important to all of us manifested on this planet and especially important to the serious painter. It has been said that the unexamined life is not worth living and I am inclined to agree.
How does philosophy relate to painting you might ask? The answer varies depending on the level and temperament of the painter. If you're just starting out, technique seems an all-encompassing interest. However, after you've been painting awhile it becomes apparent that technique is really only a small part of the painters experience and that what is really vital about painting well, is that it is an expression of you as a unique person. Thats the key thing.
Which leads us almost directly to philosophy. Why express yourself? What is the self anyway? See? Not so hard to tie philosophy and painting together when you pursure this tack.
I could of course give you my answers to these questions but maybe it's better to save that for another blog post down the road. Suffice to say, they are great questions and they have a very real bearing on the work you create as an artist.
In my case, these questions totally inform the type of subject matter I paint and the way I paint it. When someone comes into your studio and asks you why you are painting a landscape that is a twilight scene, in oils with hogs bristle brushes, You should have a ready answer. Know thy painting equals know thyself. I know I endeavour to and if you've read my blog for awhile, you might know why I'm doing things the way I do.
Painting is (to my way of thinking), primarily a mental exercise. For this reason, how you think will automaticly affect how you paint. So, if you've not been thinking much about painting or life in general and find you're also not improving much, try a bit of philosphy and see how your work benefits from the effort.
M Francis McCarthy
Landscapepainter.co.nz
A bit about 'Sunset Trees' 8x8; we talked about the 5x5 last week and I'm also pretty happy with the 8x8 version in todays post. I do a lot of roads. I like roads because they take you places. Also roads are neutral. Any body can walk down any road and the road may be new or ancient.
By the way, there are lot's of cool ancient stuff here in England and it's interesting how it meets and contrasts with the new stuff. Being from California originally and now living in New Zealand everything except the land is new.
To see more of my work, visit my site here
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| Sunset Trees 8x8 by M Francis McCarthy (Detail) |
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| Sunset Trees 8x8 by M Francis McCarthy (Detail 2) |