How do we choose? Whether we are creating a painting, a poem, a home or our life, we create through a series of choices. Do I use Ultramarine blue or Cerulean blue, Alizarin Crimson or Cadmium red? What creates the feeling I am looking for? What provides contrast, beauty, success or calm? If I choose by default what do I get? If I choose after careful consideration do I get a different result? What if I choose outside of our comfort zone, like my painting fog (still in process), what happens? Do I create some new, amazing result? Life is a series of choices...
  So how do we create the life we want? How do you choose?

  Look around, what Beauty surrounds you? Is it the way the slanting light catches the tree across the street? Is it the giggle of children at play? Is it the strength and character in a loved one's eyes?
 " We were created to be creators. At its deepest heart, creativity is meant to serve and evoke beauty. When this desire and capacity come alive, new wells spring up in parched ground, difficulty becomes invitation... The wonder of beauty is its ability to surprise us. With swift, sheer grace, it is like a divine breath that blows the heart open." - Beauty by John O'Donohue
  The joy for me as I begin to settle into a creative rhythm is I begin to see through the ordinary of everyday to recognize the extraordinary. Look around.What beauty embraces you the creator?

  What are your core values? As I transition back into a creative mindset I have been doing some thought provoking reading. In Judith Teitelman's article in a recent edition of Professional Artist, she raises questions that might surprise some. Like what are your core values? What motivates you? What surprises you? Excites you? Challenges you?
  So what does this have to do with creating art? The creative process is not just about the finished product; a pretty picture or a pleasing pot or an intriguing short story.  For the artist the creative process is about what you learn about yourself in the process. What are you thinking as you wait for that perfect pose from the blue heron. Or what do you feel when you are working out the flow of dance steps to that new routine. What do you learn about yourself as you select plants for that new garden.
  Go create and see what discoveries await you!

WOW it has been a decade since I have posted! Now that I have left corporate life and own my own time again my intent is to post on a regular basis.  There are so many intriguing questions to pose, so many delights to share and oh so many amazing paintings to paint. Stay in touch and join the conversation as I launch my Facebook page Chris Doyle Fine Arts and a redesigned website common-ground-studio.com. Let me know what you think and thanks for visiting!

There used to be this wonderful arched gate nestled into a walled courtyard I would pass in Georgetown that boasted a marvelous coif of trumpet vine. I think that is what was in my minds eye when I planted the vine and installed the blue gate. It was one of those lyrics of place that I never painted and wished I had. Perhaps I lacked the wisdom then to appreciate what I saw on a daily walk. I was far to busy trekking up the banks of the Potomac river seeking out the unusual and adventuresome. This little painting is my homage to the lost lyric.

Gardening is such an act of faith. You cast your seed and blend your elements. Then you wait for sun, rain and wind to work there magic and stand back in awe of what has been revealed. It's a lot like painting. You choose your subject and blend your elements, allow the accidents of the day play into your work and if you are lucky everything falls into it's rightful place. This painting was pretty much like that.

What I found engaging in this piece is the back lighting of the woods. It set a challenge for me to see if I could understand how to express the feeling it evoked in me. It seemed to intensify the play of light and dark and the use of color in the foreground. I almost feel intoxicated or heady by the play of light across the canvas. this was painted late June/ early July.