As of late, I am beginning to view things a little differently. I'm not sure if its because I have been painting for so long, or maybe its the way I am beginning to understand why I paint in the first place.
 A fan of mine on one of my sites caused me to re evaluate why I would paint something in the first place.
I had taken what I thought was a very complete photo of an inspired scene. It was very moving and I composed the shot very well. I believe I captured the essence of that moment well with my lens.
 After posting it,  I was asked the question, if I was going to paint this? That is when the wheels in my head started turning in regards to that question, which started to  perplexe me greatly. I felt, that I had already said it, in a photograph.  To paint it would be redundant. What more could I possibly add to this than what I believe I had successfully extracted from it with a photograph. Its that all painting is I thought? Just transfer what I see to paint? To just say it in paint rather than some other medium? It that all painting for an artist is all about. To just render the thing in paint and say, now I have it in paint as well as a photograph?
This caused me some thought and an assessment of why I do paint.
  I know know that photography stands alone. Its medium is what it is. It works well.
Painting is what it is and it works well. The two should never really cross paths and compete. There is no competition as technology will win hands down now, and even more in the future with image manipulations.
 I know now that the purpose of an artist is much greater that the technology that races ahead like an unleashed torrent of cyber matter. I do not want to reveal what is already common and known, but rather what is not. I find myself being drawn to the inner life of things that are beneath the veneer of sight and sound,  and the subsequent representation that we take for granted of associative imagery. I have finally come to know that I will use photography as a medium for stating and revealing the magic of what is before us. The beauty of nature, the creation before us that presents itself on a daily basis. The incredible compositions that emerge from the light and drama on this planet.
 And I know something else now. I have a renewed sense as an artist to speak from within me, to say the things that come from me in response to the above mentioned wonders. I shall paint from within the "me" that must purge my response to these things. I believe now, I feel a sense of liberation, in not having to tell the story with the shackles of representation. What comes forth, will probably be more expressive now. More abstract, yet not really. As I think I am beginning to see, there is no abstract if it comes from a reality of inner self. That is as real as it gets.  If I translate that into paint, is then is that not what I really see and feel? No, not abstract, .. but a true and correct representation of my inner self and response to the world of within and without. The viewer may connect, and may not. To some it might be very real, and to others, yes, ... pure abstraction. That is okay. Its meant for touching on a one to one basis, and yes even to all if that is so. For now, that is where I am heading in my art.  I will certainly share more thoughts on this as they emerge.

The last few days here have been producing beautiful snowfalls. This is all it took to inspire me to get to work on my impressions of the seasonal wonder. Using the images I witnessed as well as the feeling and impressions, I painted this 11x14" acrylic. 

~ SNOWY WINTER POND ~  

Russ Potak 

The New England Winter is making its appearance in its usual November manner. 

Bouts of cold and some snow squalls have left just enough of the white stuff

to inspire me to start painting my winter venue. 

I do love the season for painting, as it offers subject matter

often hidden by the foliage of summer. 

There is a more pronounced mood and the colors can be diverse.

I did this painting from a sketch inspired from one of our 

recent snow events just a few days ago. 

The painting is 16 x 20" and on 200 lb cotton rag paper

I plan to continue to explore more of the winter landscape in my 

paintings as the season progresses. 

There is a distinct feel to winter, and I have a strong desire

to translate this into paint. 

Please check back soon,  and discover what else I have been passionately moved to paint. 

Time to change the profile pic I suppose. I think it should suffice for now.  Who likes taking their own picture anyway. Like looking in a mirror and saying, .. this person could use a coffee. A nice strong cup of joe. Well, its gotta stay. I'm too tired to go for the "everything is just right picture." Maybe next time... maybe.

Cove Island
8x10" acrylic on heavy weight paper
available through  russpotak.etsy.com

Yes, I've been working. I am constantly in some mode of painting, from either inspired sketches that just occur, or pushing some paint around on a surface. I used to wrack my brain as to what to paint, but now I realize that is, and shouldn't even be a question with me. For I have found out, that the thing, is just to paint. No matter how, or what you do, or what you paint. After all, its painting, so as the verb says.. paint! Most often after I put a few lines down, something usually starts to congeal. So, I don't worry about it. And, if nothing does come of it, .. then so what? I just work on in the abstract, letting things take their own shape and form. The bottom line is, its the painting I like, not the figuring out what I supposed to say. The way I look at it is, maybe someday while I'm painting, I'll discover some deep meaning to my work and move in that direction, (not holding my breath), but, I don't have time to waste, waiting to find that, and for some golden moment to occur. My easel awaits me now.  

Seacoast Village
11x14"
acrylic on heavy weight paper
available through russpotak.etsy.com

Spring in the Berkshires
11x14"
acrylic on canvas
available through russpotak.etsy.com

Me, going video? Well, maybe just for a change of pace for a while. After working on several paintings, and posting them on here as well as Facebook, and Twitter I have encountered many inquires as to the process of working on my paintings. I usually answer the best that I can, but then realized, ... wouldn't it be better to show you than to try to explain? So in response to this, my mini video demos were created. Very simply I might add. I am not one to have a lot of technology at my disposal, and most of these were made using an old outdated digital camera with a 4-5 min shoot capacity time. No lenses, zooms, or anything of that quality. Just a straight on and off button. But, nevertheless I shot my series of mini visual tutorials. This work is produced in over a five segment shoot.  I hope you enjoy them. Please feel free to ask any questions and post comments. The original work that was produced in this video, is now posted on my Etsy gallery, at russpotak.etsy.com. For a better visual representation of it, you may go there to see it. Enjoy the  videos!
http://www.youtube.com/my_videos?o=U

Mocha Java
5 x 7" in an 8x10" frame
acrylic
©2013 russ potak
$100

For my own purposes of storing work I normally do not frame, but because I am prepping for some of the outdoor fairs and whatnot, I usually pick a few selected works and frame them just to give the viewer a sense of how they might look in a "presentation ready" format, ready to hang. As far as the rest of my works, they are usually "ala carte" .. al fresco, no dressing, no frames. I let the collector decide for themselves as to that. I always maintain that I am a good artist, but I generally leave framing to the experts. My time is to be spent behind the easel as much as I can. Framing and all that it entails would end up not only robbing my time, but my creative juices as well. I do try to hold the framing process to a minimum and focus my attention on my painting. This particular piece was done on canvas, which I affixed to mat board and framed. Because it is acrylic paint, I do not glass it, as I like the painting to be seen as I painted it. Not with glass covering it. I would hope a person, if they feel inclined, to touch the painting. Glass separates the viewer from that experience.