Producing art that inspires and makes a statement requires constantly revitalizing and refreshing your mind and your vision.
Leonardo da Vinci said “Learning never exhausts the mind.”
I am currently re-reading “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” by Betty Edwards. Seeing as an artist is seeing differently and requires exercise and practise. One way is to see as other artists have seen, and what better way than to view the creations of artists you admire.
And using this excuse I played hooky for a few hours this week and made the journey back to Kleinburg and The McMichael Canadian Art Collection. Because this is the 100th anniversary of the death of Tom Thomson there have been a number of special exhibitions in various galleries throughout Ontario. The McMichael is exhibiting many of Thomson’s works in a display “Passion Over Reason” and this show ends November 19th so there was an urgency in my visiting now.
Just the grounds at the McMichael Gallery are relaxing and inspiring. Mood setting accomplished.
As I entered the exhibits I fast tracked my way to the group of seven and the Tom Thomson paintings. The first “Thomson” I came across sent a chill through me. There’s just something special that I relate to in his vision. Maybe it’s because last year I went to the memorial to Tom set up on Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park. Maybe it’s because of the reading I did this past year into his mysterious death.
Thomson was never a member of the “Group of Seven.” He died before it was formed. Some say his death was instrumental in bringing the members together to form the “Group of Seven” to collaborate and share their vision, talent and to collaborate.
Regardless of why, I am grateful for having the McMichael Gallery to slip away to.
“ Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow. – Imogen Cunningham
Because the best image is always the next one an artist never stops learning. On his deathbed at the age of 87 Edgar Degas said “Damn! And just when I was starting to get it.”
