And So, We Paint

“If you could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint.”  -Edward Hopper

 

Have you ever literally judged a book by its cover? What was wrong with it?

 

My guess?

 

The cover image wasn't intriguing enough to draw you in. In children's books, there are pictures all throughout the book, and something just keeps us flipping through the pages whether we are reading them or not. However, chapter books have to captivate your mind through words...and the cover — at least for the initial sale. From there, word of mouth can travel and lead others to buy the same book, and now it is more based on the story than the cover.

 

Paintings, on the other hand, sell themselves. They lay everything on the table to start with, and then as you look at them more, you recognize all of those details or lack of details specifically chosen to tell a story through the paint.

 

Looking at a painting is like getting to know someone. The more time you spend with it, the more you learn about it.

 

While books are fun to read, the story never changes no matter how many times you read through it. Paintings change in meaning as your context changes. They comfort you, excite you, admonish you, calm you, encourage you, and so much more. A painting is a friend that grows with you.

 

No artist could put all of that into words, and so we paint.

 

Hand-painted in Adobe Photoshop CC using the Wacom Intuos Pro and the Wacom Art Pen.