Learning about painting is tricky. There are certain basic ideas you can learn. Like the elements artists use to create strong work—things we may know from high school art class: line, texture, shape, form, color, value.  As we study we learn to apply these elements with interesting filters—pattern, contrast, emphasis, balance, movement, unity, rhythm. Taken together these bits of learning give us something to look for in our work. They’re useful areas of inquiry.

Then there is mystery, connection. How do all these art ideas coalesce into something separate from learning, into what some call the “world of the painting”? Words are not the language of this world. This is the point at which the painting takes things into its own hands. It begins to speak—clearly and powerfully. Its language is material, intrinsic, wordless. All sorts of crazy things may start to happen. Plans go awry, blow up, even. "Progress" often screeches to a halt. This is when we can only listen. Painter and painting are in it together. Information disappears and paint takes over. Can I describe it? No. Not in charge here. Just following instructions.

Image: "Airborne" 24x24" collage/painting 

Because you've asked: Many of the works on this site are available. If you're interested, have questions, email me,
sarapostart@gmail.com

Goat Rodeo

When art and life intersect--
Art as a way of life, a way of "moving through this world".
Lynn Beldner is a diarist whose subtle sculptural pieces "pair the fragile, interior and domestic with the dangers of the external world".
A photographer's moment of intense awareness...
"At what moment did you become an artist?"
Who and what is contributing to your artwork?
What is it about green?

04/09/2021

Zoom portfolio reviews--worth it?
Painter and painting--who's really in charge?
Art with a message--experiments with a word challenge.
Revise, renew, reinvent...
Walking to the studio, looking around...

12/28/2020

Concerning art and angels
Learning from artist's block
How do paintings come together? Do you end up with what you had in mind when you started?
John Cage informs the process
Making art. Hard enough to do it. Should I write about it? Yes? No? But what about...

Not Good For You Like Medicine, But Good For You Like Sky

3/4/2021

Learning about painting is tricky. There are certain basic ideas you can learn. Like the elements artists use to create strong work—things we may know from high school art class: line, texture, shape, form, color, value.  As we study we learn to apply these elements with interesting filters—pattern, contrast, emphasis, balance, movement, unity, rhythm. Taken together these bits of learning give us something to look for in our work. They’re useful areas of inquiry.

Then there is mystery, connection. How do all these art ideas coalesce into something separate from learning, into what some call the “world of the painting”? Words are not the language of this world. This is the point at which the painting takes things into its own hands. It begins to speak—clearly and powerfully. Its language is material, intrinsic, wordless. All sorts of crazy things may start to happen. Plans go awry, blow up, even. "Progress" often screeches to a halt. This is when we can only listen. Painter and painting are in it together. Information disappears and paint takes over. Can I describe it? No. Not in charge here. Just following instructions.

Image: "Airborne" 24x24" collage/painting 

Because you've asked: Many of the works on this site are available. If you're interested, have questions, email me,
sarapostart@gmail.com