The Need to Paint

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The Need to Paint

October 28, 2009 by redtreetimes

I wrote a few days ago about how I am often mystified by the meanings of my paintings and how I this makes me glad that I still have the need to paint.

I thought about that after I hit the button to publish that post. I have often heard artists say they had to paint, as though it were some sort of exotic medical quandary.

Paint or die.

It always kind of bothered me when I heard this, as though these guys were saying they had some sort of predestined calling. Like they were prophets or shamans that the world, without their visionary paintings, would spin out of control. It just always sounded a little pompous to me.

So when I wrote that it made me twitch a bit. Maybe I’m the pompous ass here. It certainly is in the realm of possibility.

But I find myself kind of standing behind what I said. I do need to paint. It’s not some call to destiny. It’s not to transmit some psychic message to the world. It’s more a case of me needing have a form of expression that best suits my mind and abilities. Painting just happens to fill that need. If I could yodel, I might be saying I need to yodel.

But I need to paint.

I need to paint to try to express things I certainly can’t put in words, things that awe and mystify me. I need to paint to have a means to a voice.

I need to paint just to remind myself that I am alive and still have the ability to feel the excitement and joy from something that I have created. I need to paint to feel the surprise of exceeding what I felt was within me, to go into that realm of personal mystery within and emerge with something new. I need to paint because it has given me the closest thing I know to answers to the questions I have.

I need to paint because it is one of the few things that I’ve done fairly well in my life.

Would I die?

Nah…

I’d adapt and find something new but it would be hard to find something that would suit me as well. So I guess I do need to paint after all. Call me a pompous ass. I don’t give a damn- I’ve got work to do.

The piece above is a new painting. It’s a 12″ by 24″ canvas and I’m still working on a title.

Posted in Biographical, Opinion, Painting | Tagged Motivation, Painting | 6 Comments

6 Responses

on October 30, 2009 at 3:29 pm | Reply lupiloops

haha, I know what you mean. I *have* to paint and write/draw cartoons. I’ve been thinking up stories since I was a kid and I just get depressed if I don’t tell them to other people.

I hate talking about the *burning need* to create, though. It just seems so silly and self-indulgent.
- on October 30, 2009 at 4:11 pm | Reply redtreetimes
  
  Yes, I feel the same way although I guess that sounds kind of foolish coming from someone who writes a blog about painting. But I think you know what I mean…
on October 31, 2009 at 5:59 pm | Reply stationarypilgrim

I love your work! They really draw the viewer into them. I know what you mean about “have to create” I experience the same thing with my artwork and poetry. The scenes and objects (flowers) will not let me pass until I capture their image or “paint them” with my words. Keep up the good work, I will check back to see your future work.
- on October 31, 2009 at 6:15 pm | Reply redtreetimes
  
  Thank you so much. I hope you do get a chance to stop in again. All my best with your writing.
on November 17, 2009 at 9:40 pm | Reply stationarypilgrim

I keep getting drawn back to your images! Could I possibily feature a few of them in a one time posting on my Blog. They speak to me so much about the “journey” of life. The long roads, the curves and solitary tree. I would refer my viewers back to your site of course! My site is stationarypilgrim.wordpress.com. Keep up the artwork it is truely a gift to the world!
- on November 18, 2009 at 7:53 am | Reply redtreetimes
  
  Certainly. Thanks, also, for the kind comments. They are much appreciated…
  
  All my best.