Harley Brown's eternal truths....

[DianeCaudle]

All I know is, I enjoy painting and, while I know that I will never be considered one of the great artists, I know that I'm better now then I ever thought I'd be and I plan to be better in the future then I am now. I also consdier myself lucky to be able to be part of a forum which has great artists like Harley Brown posting in it and if I can get any glimmer of help or hope in reading what they have to say here then I am indeed lucky.

Diane Caudle
http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/diane-caudle.html

[makinart]

hello Diane,
Let me tell you something from the heart: I have never painted for any other reason than at the moment of painting, I'm ecstatic. Your description of how you are getting better is perfect. You and I are equals in art; we love what we're doing and "greatness" has nothing to do with it. It simply is our life. Harley

[Coquette]

Finally, after much effort, I was able to secure a copy of Mr. Brown's "Confessions of a Starving Artist" from my local library to read. If you have not had the opportunity to read or look at this book, I promise you it is worth the wait. Just the paintings alone, absolutely awesome, and the stories are enjoyable and easy to read. I especially liked the one about the tooth ache.

This book is inspirational and entertaining. Thank you Mr. Brown for sharing parts of your life as an artist with us!

Consuelo

[DianeCaudle]

I agree, Consuelo, as with all of his books it is well worth the price and the time to read.

I think that besides the fact that I constantly feel the inexplicable urge to paint and the desire to become better at my art it is very fulfilling to know that my art will be here long after I'm gone. I know I'll never write a book on art and I hope that my paintings aren't all given away at some auction at a ridiculous, give-away price. However, I get some satisfaction from the thought that perhaps generations from now someone may look at one of my paintings and admire it or wish, as I have as a little girl and as an adult and think, "One of these days I hope I'll be as good an artist as she was." We are very lucky to be artists.

Diane
http://www.artwanted.com/dianecaudle

[halthepainter]

Originally Posted by DianeCaudle

I get some satisfaction from the thought that perhaps generations from now someone may look at one of my paintings and admire it or wish, as I have as a little girl and as an adult and think, "One of these days I hope I'll be as good an artist as she was." We are very lucky to be artists.

Diane

Hi Diane, my aspirations are similar to yours. My prayer is that a few of the paintings I've sold at local art fairs and shows will wind up on the walls of people whose grandchildren will lay claim to them after their grandparents are gone. In that way perhaps something of me will linger on for awhile.

The odds are that my family will trash any of my paintings that are left in my home after I'm gone, they will certainly make no effort to sell them.

Also, Thank you Harley for looking in here now and then.

I hope the movie "Local Color" will show up in my local theater. It's based on a period of plein air painting by a young artist under the tutelage of George Cherepov. The young artist grew up to be a movie producer as well as an artist and he produced the movie to show a developemental period in his artistic life. From what I've read of the movie it is also a homage to the artists who seek beauty.

[DianeCaudle]

I wonder if there is any way that we could convince Harley to do an article here in the website, even if it's only once a month? It would be like reading or looking at the art in his books, hoping that, having received some form of contact albeit distantly, some of his talent might rub off on us.

I visited your website at halsart.imagekind.com, Hal, and your family would be fools to trash your beautiful paintings. I'm sure that someone will take good care of them for posterity's sake.

We have the same art education, it seems. I have had little formal training in art and from your bio on your webpate it looks the same for you. Most of my 20's-40's were spent raising four kids and occasional attempts at local festival juried art shows.

We get our occasional pat on the backs from every other art show ribbon and a 'good job' from fellow artists. However, at night, when we're sequestered alone with our paints in our studios or quiet section of the house and we finally see the image imerge onto the canvas or paper that we've been struggling to achieve for perhaps days, weeks or longer, we get our own rewards with a feeling of euphoria that only a fellow artist can understand There is no better feeling for an artist to sign his name onto a painting that is a product of years of reading art magazines and books, art lessons, trial and error and occasionally even tears when it just wasn't going right. We really are lucky to be artists.

Diane
http://www.artwanted.com/dianecaudle

[halthepainter]

Originally Posted by DianeCaudle

We get our occasional pat on the backs from every other art show ribbon and a 'good job' from fellow artists. However, at night, when we're sequestered alone with our paints in our studios or quiet section of the house and we finally see the image imerge onto the canvas or paper that we've been struggling to achieve for perhaps days, weeks or longer, we get our own rewards with a feeling of euphoria that only a fellow artist can understand There is no better feeling for an artist to sign his name onto a painting that is a product of years of reading art magazines and books, art lessons, trial and error and occasionally even tears when it just wasn't going right. We really are lucky to be artists.
Diane

Hi Diane I love your art, I especially love Charlie.
If you have time to visit my blog, 4 or 5 pages in are some photos of my Gus, a golden retriever. OMG do I love that dog.
http://www.halsart.blogspot.com/
Diane you're much more eloquent than I. In my painting process, I usually go through 3 phases. I start off enthused and usually about halfway through I feel evey disappointed in what I'm doing but I perservere and eventually I'm usually able to say to myself "perhaps it's not so bad."

Yeah it does feel good when you can feel pround of a painting you just completed but it also feels great when someone comes by my display at the art fair and tells me he or she loves my work and proves it by buying my painting. That isn't gratuitous praise but heartfelt. That really feels good.

[Coquette]

Hal and Diane,

I just came from looking at the websites with your paintings. Hal I love your landscapes and Diane, your ballet paintings bring back good memories. You both are doing a wonderful job! I can't imagine anyone not appreciating the work represented there

I have been slow in posting my work on my blog and website because I just finished my Bachelors degree in art, and quite frankly, I'm pooped and in need of a little rest But I hope to start posting soon. I don't have any great aspirations, I just hope that maybe something I do will be meaningful to others. The need to create is as necessary for me as breathing, something that is often hard to explain to others.

All the best to both of you!!

Consuelo

[DianeCaudle]

Hi Hal and Consuelo;

I'm finally getting back to this discussion. Hal, I read some of your blogs and found the pics of your beautiful golden retriever. He's such a happy, healthy looking dog! My Charlie is a mixed breed from the local pound, he's part golden retriever, part God knows what...even the vet wasn't sure what he's a mixture of. I've posted his portrait and a portrait of Katie, his companion at http://www.artwanted.com/dianecaudle in the pet section. Both portraits are about five years old.

Thanks for your nice words about my paintings Consuelo, and Hal, what you said about the different stages of creating a paint are so true, the beginning is such fun and then you get into the difficult mid-stages and you wonder what the heck you are doing as you struggle to get your creation onto the paper just right and then the last stages where, hopefully, your vision is now on the paper or canvas as you tweak and refine the last details of your creation and maybe, just maybe sometime in the near future it might find a home in someone's house!

[Loxley]

I loved Harley Browns book it is a breath of fresh air. I would have to say reading his book got me going again. He's great.