Early this morning as I opened the shades in the studio, I watched the morning light change and create patterns against the woods and fields. I was about to run and get the camera, but then I thought, why photograph something you already have seen. Why not translate this experience into a painting?

The camera is never going to be able to put the feel and drama of the moment into something that is 60% visual and 40% experiential. Its that 40% that counts. Its what goes on in the mind and hearts eye. Its the guts of the moment of awe. A camera would have recorded it, and yes, you can fudge around with it a manipulate it with photoshop, but, I like to keep my hands and flesh on the controls as much as possible, and forego the techno-control over the final statement. Thats one of the reasons, I paint. Its the human element that has the last say. It was me that said it, and did it. So later, I took out the sketch book, put it down, and later I painted it. Its a painting. Its not a photograph.

This is it.

11x15

acrylic on paper

Sunrise patterns, against the woods and field.

A Painting? An Illustration? Who cares?

Sometimes subjects just come from something I feel like translating into an image. Its not like the other works in the sense that I'm working the elements of color, and shapes for the sole sake of a finished piece. When there is specific images that are being tossed around, its more of like,.. how do I say this, and still incorporated the basic elements to make it work and make it interesting.

More along the lines of an artistic illustration, than anything.

At least for me, that's how it is.

I find I become bored quicker if my work tends to fall into too much information. So when I do something like this, I try to find ways to keep my interest level up. That might be using colors to my advantage, or shapes to created movement. These kind of works come and go in between my other more art for art creations.

But, nonetheless, I find that somehow they fall into place nicely anyway.

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In Flight

16x20

acrylic on canvas

Just outside, not more than a stones throw away from where I gaze out from the place where I paint, some people call a studio, and I call a room that takes on the appearance of a studio, .. lies these hills.

They constantly change in light and color with the seasons and are more revealed in the winter months. I have done a number of paintings from this exact vantage point many times now, and you have probably noticed a similarity in subject matter if you have been following my paintings. That is because they are. The subject is the same, only the lighting and the seasons change. How convenient for me. These hills and mountains pose permanently for my canvas.

This one in particular I especially like, because I incorporated a stressed surface resulting in a texture that adds an extra interest to the overall work. Its simply called Winter Landscape. Its on a 16x20 stretched canvas and has a light coat of varnish over it. Sometimes, the subjects for an artist are no further away than the back door.

You can find this original piece listed for sale on my Etsy gallery page . russpotak.etsy.com

I'll try to post some other paintings from this location soon, so you can see and compare the way I handled the subjects.

Through the Fence Line

acrylic on paper

12x15

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Another example of my interest in translating a mood rather than a picture. I use the subject as a vehicle, but lean heavily towards an inwards expression of that. A more interpretive translation of the things that caught my soul's interest.

Not all that I do, comes across so evenly, as some attempts get lost in translation, and I deem them good paintings but not true to my innermost attempts to be accurate to the soul, not the eyes of the brain. Speaking from the heart is not always easy as the eyes will try to lead a lot of artists, away from the innermost well of creation and to the known, the predictable, the mundane, the easily crafted.

Mountains in the Mist Landscape Original Painting

Mountain in the Mist

11x15 "

acrylic on paper

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I've been gathering photographs every morning on various walks done by the lake to use as reference subjects in my paintings. I hope to have a plentiful supply as winter approaches, just in case I get bogged down in snowscapes. I look for a mood when getting these pics for studies. I'm not interested in painting a scene per se, but rather the sense of place, and the mood of it. Literal depictions of places would bore me to death. As an artist, I need to reveal something else, not so evident as the outward appearance. I hope to be able to translate this idea into my works. More later.

Farm Fields

15 x 20 inches

acrylic on heavyweight paper

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Well, its September now and the suns light is changing somewhat. The leaves are starting to turn a little here and the farmers markets are starting to sell the root vegetable and squash variety produce. It won't be long now before things start to change from what we know to be summer, to autumn. I do love the shadows, and light that this season brings. As a painter, its the best. I get to use more of a full palette of colors with a more dynamic application of paint.

This painting is the first of my "Post Summer Season" series. More to come I'm sure. Its just a matter of time, and season.

Between the Essence and the Scent: Art is Like That....

Between the Essence and the Scent: Art is Like That....: "Russ Potak: Harbor Fishing Boats... While perusing my FaceBook page this morning, I saw a post by Russ Potak and felt the need to share..."