This latest oil painting is still drying on its easel.
And I am contemplating the next subject in this theme that has taken hold of me and demanded that I keep going. I’m beginning to believe that this series is a potent form of art therapy for myself. Each painting, including Fluidity and Ripple Effect, and now this one, has been a sanctuary, an oasis of calm as I have created it. No, I’m not just getting high on paint solvents, I’m getting high on residing in the deeper, non-verbal part of my being.
The allure of water.
“Water is of major importance to all living things; in some organisms, up to 90% of their body weight comes from water. Up to 60% of the human adult body is water.”
The Water in You: Water and the Human Body (read the article at USGS.com)
Our first environment was a watery one. Maybe that’s another reason why so many forms of water and the sounds of water can affect us so profoundly. Park me in front of the sea, a waterfall, a bubbling backyard fountain, and I feel my soul starting to calm.
So, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that painting water scenes are having a profound effect on me.
Join me for the start-to-finish journey of creating “Going with the Flow”
I’m in the habit now, when tackling a new canvas, of capturing the many stages of a painting’s evolution. Doing so tells me how I tend to work. I’ve learned that the focal point has to be properly rendered first, enough at least to paint more broadly. Otherwise, I risk a painting that doesn’t feel balanced and doesn’t work. There is no one “right” way of painting. Creating art in any form is largely intuitive and I’ve learned to respect my own process and technique.
With that said, I invite you to watch this short (less than thirty seconds) video:
More in the works
As I said above, I’m contemplating which will be my next subject. I’ve recently returned from several days in Puglia. I’m going with the flow of the many images I captured there. Inspiration was in no short supply. Stay tuned!
Jed, another wonderful creation that makes me say WOW out loud!!! Sitting on our deck listening to the waterfall in our pond and I am right there with you, loving water, the sound and sight in any form!!! So soothing , can’t be without it!
Thanks for sharing your gift ❤️
Miss you two!!! XOXO
Grazie, Cindy! I’m so pleased you like this recent piece. Painting these water scenes are incredibly soothing to me. I’ve just sketched out two additional canvases in this series. Stay tuned! Much love, Jed
Hello Jed, I am an American living in Pomezia (Roma) and I also paint/draw. I love what you did with the water and human forms. Many congratulations! I hope we can cross paths sometime. I’m just getting myself situated in starting my website, social media, etc. Come sta? Stai bene? Io parlare con te più tardi!
Ciao Joseph! Thanks for writing. I’m always happy to connect with other Americans who have made Italy their home. I appreciate your encouraging words about my painting. It’s quite the contrast to go from the details of the human form (complicated beautifully by the ripples and reflections in the water) and then to get lost in the swirls of color and light in the water. I’d love to see your work if you already have a website or when it’s up and running. Bravo che stai imparando la lingua Italiana! Sì, spero di parlare con te di piu! Jed
Absolutely beautiful painting Jed.
Love when you share the progression.
Thanks for taking me along.
XXXoo, R and M
Grazie mille, Robin and Markus. I’m so glad you enjoyed coming along for the journey of these painting’s evolotuion. xoxox Jed
You seem to be flowing in a parallel universe to mine, since a dear friend and I were just discussing landscape artist John Burton’s technique of building a painting based on blocks or major shapes first, while not focusing on the finer details, which ties in with your realization or revelation. Absolutely love your work(s), and in awe and amazement of your ability to beautifully capture the spirit and essence of water. Like you, I love the soothing sound of it’s many forms, and often have my HomePods lull me to sleep with the “stream” or “ocean” ambient sounds. Thanks for sharing this post, and your timely reposting of “taking the plunge.”
Grazie for the email, Eric! And thanks for the encouragement. Creating one’s art can be so deeply personal and to have it resonate with others means a lot to me. Just yesterday we were at our beach spot, largely devoid of people during this last stretch of summer. The booming sounds of the wave crashing on rocks were yet another experience of the contrasting sounds of the power of water, from subtle to powerful!