James Flynn

I tend to work a lot quicker these days. I have finished number four of a series of charcoal studies tonight, which is not bad going, considering that I only decided that I was going to go ahead with these paintings about a week and a half ago. Yes, they are essentially black and white, tonal studies, which are obviously going to take a lot less time than a full colour piece, but this is still pretty quick for four portraits.

So what? I hear you ask. Yes, so what indeed, it is not a race after all, far from it in fact, painting and drawing can be a kind of relaxing therapy. But actually, the great thing about art is that a painting can convey a sense of mood or feeling, that of which the artist was feeling a the time of painting. This mood could be relaxed, or it could be quite the opposite. How many paintings have you seen that convey dramatic energy, and explosiveness? Or a kind of rough, boldness that pleases the eye? What I am going on about here is that I am well aware now that spending a long, long time on a portrait, does not necessarily mean that it is "better". It has been observed by many an artist before that usually, the best works of art are actually done reasonably quickly, whereas if a painting is taking a long time, it can often mean that maybe the painting is not progressing well. Not always of course, some of the best paintings in the world were completed over a long time, but also some of the best ones were not.......

I think what I am trying to express here is my own appreciation of art that is painted quickly, or spontaniously.

I think there is actually a lot of appeal about work that is completed at a quick pace. I think that there is an element of "energy" to a freshly painted, or drawn portrait, that is painted or drawn "live" or "alla prima".

I really enjoyed working on these recent portraits, and it feels good to be able to finish work, and move on to the next one fairly quickly, and it actually takes a lot of practise and conditioning to do so. A few years ago, I would have had trouble producing work this way, preferring to spend days or weeks on a piece, however, I have grown to appreciate a lively, energetic, "off the cuff" look to my work, and I think I am on to something here.

Don't get me wrong, I still see a lot of great artwork that looks so good, it is almost "photographic", something that looks as though somebody has spent months, measuring, and delicately working away on it, and I always will see great work like this. But I really can see a beauty in quick, bold, and spontanious strokes and marks in work too.

I suppose I am mainly talking about portraits here really, although the same applies to artwork of all kinds of course, but a landscape to me is preferably something that relaxes my eyes upon viewing, something that has been painted in a relaxed mood perhaps, something that can be gazed into more. I think I like to see energetic, bold marks on portraits especially, mainly for the visual impact and stimulation that can be achieved.

The point that fascinates me here is the fact that if you paint a portrait and kind of care less about how it is going to end up, it can actually end up looking better! It may seem that I am talking nonsense here but honestly, I suggest you try it. Get out some pastels, or a pen, or whatever your medium of choice, and just go for it. Make bold, carefree marks and don't hold back and you might just find that you create the best work that you have ever done. What have you got to lose? And do you know what? It is actually harder to make yourself, "not care", than it is to paint or draw in a careful manner. Every fibre of your being wants to hold back and be careful, but it definately creates a more energetic portrait if you include some carefree, confident panache (there's a word I never thought I would use in this blog!).

Anyway, stay inspired, and keep going. Keep on creating, it is good for you, I believe that. Here is the final piece from my recent series anyway, this one I have called "a time for change", feel free to leave your feedback, I always appreciate it.

Until next time,

James