Stealing Magic

In mythology, a common theme involves the hero facing danger and travail while he ventures into the unknown to steal the magic of the gods.  While our hero battles bravely, often times it appears he is overwhelmed until that moment when he snatches destiny from the fingers of disdain.

We could also use this analogy to describe our art careers. 

We paint, we struggle, we think work is good only to decide weeks later that it isn't.  And just when we start believing that it's time to pack things in we steal the magic. 

But think about this for a moment:  If art's only value is what someone will pay for it, doesn't that mean we'll need to create a lot of valueless art before we produce art that has value?

It does make a difference what we do, when we are producing all that "valueless" art.  Not every gain is measurable by a monetary standard.  The struggle is about improving your personal understanding, developing your artistic voice with dignity, authority and self assurance.  This is what makes art "interesting."  What we see in a work of art and want to know more.

Stealing the magic doesn't mean what you might think it means.  It isn't a secret that someone else holds. It isn't something that just happens, like chance, that was not earned.

Stealing the magic is realizing one day that  - after months of painting the way you've always painted - you're suddenly producing art like you've never produced before.  It's that small, electric moment when you step back from your easel and realize something happened.  That a door opened, and you are stepping through.

Steal the magic.

Shallots with Pearl Onions
6 x 6
oil on panel

@the artist

Comments

[Verna D'Alto]

Great Article. I needed to read and hear that. I am so stuck that I want to close my eyes to my painting. I feel like putting them in a closet and locking the door.
Your article came just in time....I will start tomorrow. Verna