Paintings Past

Everyone has a past and I'm no exception, especially when it comes to paintings.  You see, I had an older cousin who was an artist.  In addition to creating hand painted signs, he did all sorts of paintings.  He was quite prolific with his paintings and I always admired the creativity he displayed in his work.  My parents, neither with a whit of artistic talent, decided to feed my desire to learn to paint.  Being in a small community with no classes or outside training, they purchased me a paint-by-number set.

Needless to say, my "creation" turned out awful!  These were oil paints and I stayed within the lines and followed directions meticulously.  But my paintings turned out so mechanical and stiff.  There as no flow or blending....even from a vast distance.  Honestly, I'm not sure these number paintings actually qualify as art.  Still, I loved the creativity so that I took 7 classes in college related to art and painting.  I am not an artist today.  But I love paintings of all sorts.

My Favorite Paintings

Amongst my favorite paintings these days are works by the artist from Hawaii, Curtis Wilson Cost.  I own three of his paintings and find them to be almost like transportation devices.  Looking at the beauty he has created takes me to the islands just about every time -- in my minds eye.  Cost is a painter of Hawaii scenes.

I also enjoy paintings from the American West.  The beauty of the rugged mountains, a cowboy by a campfire with his horse nearby is something I could look at for hours.  I am also captured by chase scenes.  For example, the way the artist conveys in his paintings the rigors of horse and rider on a hunt across the untamed prairie of buffalo.  It's just amazing to behold.

Still another attention grabber that we have hanging in our home one of the largest paintings we own.  The scene is one of a huge field of bright yellow sunflowers with mountains in the background.  This work completely dominates a room and sets the tone.  It's hard to feel much of anything other than bright and happy and uplifted when we're in this room.  We call it our morning room.  Ha ha!

Paintings Heal

I'm increasingly convinced that paintings bring healing to our souls.  This crazy, mixed-up, busy world in which we find ourselves slogging through often merely existing from work to more work at home can be debilitating and lifeless.  For me, going to a gallery or taking pause to "get into" one of my own paintings quiets and settles me.  An escape every now and again is refreshing and revitalizing.  It reminds me of the beauty all around me, which is something I need.

 

Tall Painting

Within art, paintings is a vast topic.  Wikipedia has an excellent article with an abundance of resources for further reading that you will be linked to when you click on PAINTINGS.