i look at the sky sometimes, and i fail to understand that it is infinite. i look at people sometimes, and i fail to understand that they are as complex as i perceive myself to be. i look at the ocean sometimes, and i fail to understand that it is deep and teeming with life.

this bothers me.

this is why i am an artist. how about you?

Can i refer you to godbornes comment on the cat/dog posting.

you will notice that i didn't reply to godborne's post. that is because he never posted anything of consequence, and only sat back and took a potshot. same as you...you don't have anything intelligent, relevant, or insightful to say.

CMcV, your introduction is very poetical and leaves me digit-tied (if we were speaking, it would be tongue-tied) in response. True, it is very earnest but for those would criticize on that basis, I question what is wrong with the honest reach of an eager undergraduate? I would rather you be so than superciliously jaded. My trite motivation for what I attempt is the much co-opted "truth." How overburdened is that?

mea, i must confess that i do not understand what people are talking about when they say that they are searching for "the truth". will you tell me what it means for you?

I'm a little nervous about replying,McVay, as you have a rather acid way of dealing with some of those who write in, but here goes. I don't know how literally to take your comment,but your mention of infinity, profundity, sea and sky made me think of Turner and Caspar David Friedrich, both of whom provide these things in their paintings. Perhaps we can learn from them??? Though even they, I imagine were not aware of or striving for these things all the time. All the best Jude

Is there really one truth? Seascapes are a lifelong obsession with me. If it is any help, my ex-teacher Prf Renata Realini of Ontario College of Art. recommended making a list in order of importance. First, try to keep the list short. What attracts you to a specific subject? What do you wish to communicate?

Light,
Shape
Colour,
Movement,
Texture.

You may not need all these. But using this criteria I painted for the first time successful seacapes.

Demelza, I hope you are Cornish, So am I but living in Canada:-) so we're Cousin Jacks. Could I ask a favour of you? I have a small oil painting by Michael Praed, who 10 years ago was teaching in Falmouth. 'Morvah - Sunset'. I tried to find Michael Praed on the Web but no luck. I learned with sadness that Janet Leach was dead. I bought the painting from her St. Ives Gallery, Cornwall Connections, 10 years ago. Is MP dead too? His seascapes are incomparable. If poss, could you let me know on this thread? I love your name and am presently reading Bella Poldark:-).

jude, i certainly don't mean to scare anyone away! i try only to be "acid" as you put it to those who go out of their way to be insulting and rude, or to alimi & the hendeka twins, who have yet to come to terms with coherence. i love to read everyone's posts...i would have liked to hear about why you are an artist (if you are one, of course). that is what i meant with the "what about you?"

barbara, you come close the answer i had in mind...why do you want to communicate light, shape, etc.?

C McVay, That's a good question! I wish I knew:-D. Well, I'll try to answer. It's what excites me. It's what I find beautiful and it stimulates whatever triggers the idea. I have been suffering a long term block, sadly after finishing what my teacher and friends called my 'watershed' painting. I finally realized that I did not want to paint absolutely realistic sea-scapes, but the 'essence' of the subject. This involved using the above criteria. Another thing Renata told me was to try to remember what was the first responsewhich came into my head.

My watershed picture is a place in Cornwall called 'Minack'. It's an open air theatre on the cliff edge and it's a spectacular setting. I'd love to see The Tempest performed there or Tristan and Isolde. I found the photograph in a calendar published by West Country Publications My response was Wow! 'Lyonesse'. In Cornish legend, beyond Land's End is the lost land of Lyonesse which sank in a single night in a great storm.

What my mind's eye saw in the Minack photo was Lyoness newly risen from the sea and sparkling in the sunlight. Conveniently I was selective enough to ignore logical things like seaweed, sand and other detritus. So, light was the first thing listed. I wanted to emphasize the brilliant colours of the sea, so colour was second. I also put a thin gold wash on some areas of stone leaving the tops white as the theatre faces inland, west,nor-west. Texture came next with some emphasis on the natural rock formations. It composed itself with some slight emphasis as the scene is very dramatic. You can take a look at Minack as there is a website.

But as to why....there I don't really know. But RE: sky people, ocean....I think we share the same absorptions surely? best. Barbara

Yes I am cornish, not sure about mp, will get back to you.