WINTER CONTEMPLATION

While on an irregular visit to the local Ace hardware store (I'm not the handyman type, at all) to pick up an air filter, I happened down an aisle filled with art supplies. There were several varieties of paper to choose from, and brushes and paints and inks. Overall it was the best selection of art supplies anywhere near my house, and it took me over four years to discover.

I knew I wasn't going to be able to leave the art section without picking up something, and my eye landed on a sumi-e ink set. I've always loved Chinese brush painting, and even though I've spent many hours watercoloring, I've never managed to work with sumi ink. I went to some websites just now to get inspired, and the paintings I liked the most were ones that incorporated snow. I think what I like most about the idea of painting snow with black ink is that of course you can't paint white snow with black ink. You have to paint other things to make the snow stand out.

This is an entirely different process than what people say I'm good at, which is creating photorealistic drawings. While there's something satisfying about drawing in that manner, it lacks spontaneity and freshness. Yet I find myself drawn to both types of expression.

This just reminded me of something that happened on the First Friday artwalk last Friday. I was in a cluster of studios above one of the galleries, where the respective artists had work on display. I overheard a conversation about Philadelphia, which I still resonate with from my childhood there, and went over to see what was being said. I introduced myself to the artist, who was a woman from a suburb of Philadelphia. I then went to the adjacent studio and picked up an American Artist magazine from a stack near the door, and opened to a random page, which turned out to be the beginning of an article on Philadelphia artists.

I read the article for a bit, then went up and introduced myself to the artist, who had some very good portraits in his studio. After listening to him talk for a few seconds, I asked him if he was from Philly. He said that he wasn't, but he was from Jersey, which is basically the same as far as accents go. Then he said that I was the first person to call him on his accent, and that no one else ever picked up on it (or at least didn't comment on it if they did). I asked him how long he'd been here, and I forgot the exact number of years, but it was lengthy.

I realized, while talking to him (I can't remember his name), that he must be the artist that did the Monday figure drawing sessions. I asked him if that was the case, and he said it was. I promptly invited myself to the next session, which costs $10, and he said he'd see me on Monday, which was yesterday. However, after snowboarding in 10 degree weather, and drinking beer and sake with a friend who was visiting, I didn't feel like getting up Monday morning and walking through the snow with my art supplies. So, I want to do it next Monday for sure.