What I’ve learned so far

From ‘A Family of Flowers’ Series in the studio

Dear friends,

Hyacinths and more hyacinths: Oil paintings, charcoal sketches, gouache studies, watercolour and even pencil studies of the subject that has preoccupied me for most of the year so far. I was intrigued to review what I had learned by studing a single subject repeatedly. And with the final painting (almost) completed - I have finally understood that the subject is not the most important aspect of a painting - for a painter. It may be for the collector - but it is not only what delights the painter. I have talked about why I’ve chosen flowers - or why flowers have chosen me at this time - and also touched a little on the metaphorical interpretations of flowers as a subject for autobiography. And now, I’ve also learned that the subject is not as important as the painting of the subject. The act of showing up, looking, seeing something new and painting what I see is what teaches me that I am a painter. I certainly discover more about myself the more I paint. I may not always like and appreciate what I see, paint or draw, but I am always learning or uncovering something new. It’s the looking, the examination, the discovery - therein lies the joy of being a painter - an artist, a maker and creative.

Thank you for your support!

With love, Joanne x