Page 17 - The Decorative Painter Spring 2018

HOPE
by Nanette Hilton
...so begins Emily Dickinson’s reassuring poem. I often need reassurance when I’m painting.
The other day I painted something ugly. It was really ugly, and I almost quit. I persevered, like Dickinson’s “Hope,” and in the end, SURPRISE! It turned out quite beautiful. I wrapped it up and gave it as a gift. No one else ever knew the ugly stages it endured. Like relentlessly singing a tune without words, sometimes we must persevere in painting. Whether a single project is dog-ugly or we’re having a bad painting day – month – or year, we must have hope and sing on. Why? Be- cause, if you stop it doesn’t get any better.
Artwork has risks. Creating art is not for the coward or faint of heart. Artists have hope and courage to “paint outside the lines.” Think of
all the famous artists whose talent went unap- preciated during their lifetimes, like Vincent van Gogh. When that list is made, it’s predomi- nately male because many men’s works have been excavated and brought to light. However, women’s artistic works remain largely unknown and unappreciated as we look back in history, for a myriad of reasons.
Another important point is that artwork isn’t done for public accolade. Dickinson is a good example of this since of her 1,800 poems, fewer than a dozen were published until after she died. She didn’t create for the crowd.
Artwork is a uniquely human endeavor. Animals don’t make art, as far as scientists can determine. But, maybe anthills, beehives, beaver dams and geese flying formations are art, so I’ll back off this argument. Still, humans dig art, sometimes literally.
In 2008, an archeological team in southern Germany unearthed the Venus of Hohle Fels sculpture dating back to 38,000 BCE. Two other Venus sculptures have been excavated dating back to prehistoric times, even 700,000 BCE!1 Even
if artwork by women hasn’t received historical acclaim, apparently women have inspired the artwork that has endured the ages.
Enduring is sometimes the key to artistic success...however you define artistic success. Had van Gogh only painted a few paintings, they would likely not have been noticed. But over nine years he created despite professional frustration, financial woes and mental illness that ended his life. His efforts resulted in 900 paintings and 1,100
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“Hope” is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all –
drawings and sketches, even though he only sold one during his lifetime. Without any wife or chil- dren, after van Gogh’s death, his paintings were given to Theo, his brother, who passed away just six months after van Gogh did. Thanks to Theo’s widow, Jo van Gogh-Bonger, the artist’s work and life were publicized, resulting in his enduring fame today.2 Thank you, Jo.
Email: nanettehilton@gmail.com Website: nanettehilton.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ nanette.hilton
The Starry Night. Vincent Van Gogh, 1889.
The take-home lessons from the lives of Dickinson and van Gogh are many worth deep reflection. They include the mandate for artists to: Look to “Hope.” If you’re feeling inadequate, under appreciated or fear your painting skills and success aren’t what you’d like, don’t give up! Paint, then paint some more. Keep those brush- ing singing!
Both Dickinson and van Gogh experimented with their art, doing things that weren’t con- sidered successful during their era. Some of Dickinson’s maverick moves included writing poems on feathers and recipe cards and using unconventional punctuation. Van Gogh’s bold colors and dramatic, sweeping brush strokes were atypical for his time and brought more criticism than compliment yet “heralded the development of the Fauvism, Expressionism and Modern-
ism schools of the twentieth century.”3 Another take-home lesson is: Be Yourself. The quip “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken” is appro- priate since none of us will ever be a Dickinson or a van Gogh. It’s an impossibility. But we can be like them. If we emulate their positive qualities, we will hone our inner artist and be true to that expression. “Hope”fully.
Notes:
Dickinson, Emily. “Hope is the Thing with Feathers,” #314. 1896. poetry foundation.org/poems/42889/hope-is- the-thing-with-feathers-314.
1. Adhikari, Saugat. “Top 10 Oldest Art Ever Discovered.” Ancient His- tory Lists. ancienthistorylists.com/ pre-history/top-10-oldest-art-ever- discovered/.
2. “#88/125 How Did Van Gogh Become Famous After His Death?” Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. vangoghmu- seum.nl/en/125-questions/questions- and-answers/question-88-of-125.
3. “Vincent van Gogh and his paintings.” vincentvangogh.org/.