Art

"An art which isn’t based on feeling isn’t an art at all . . . feeling is the principle, the beginning and the end; craft, objective, technique - all these are in the middle."
Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)

The Beginning Painting 1203 Spring semester class of 2008 has been a great synthesis of inspiration, application and celebration. We have been reading from the book “The Artist Way” by Julia Cameron. It has served as vital role in getting dormant right brain individuals and students past right brained symbols, blocks, and preconceptions into a world towards a creative journey of painting and discovering more of themselves and the world in which they live. Additionally, instruction provided basic fundamentals of design, form, volume, color theory, hue, value, saturation, light, shadow, composition and brush technique.

Great emphasis has been placed on the fact that the creative mind and heart is akin to the very creative nature of God. Painting is not a marginal consideration, but resonates who God is. Right brain activity through creativity is a gift that all souls have that God has imparted to all humans; to provide for themselves and others a balance of spiritual, mental and physical well being.

Painting allows for cleansing breaths, vision, freedom, faith, passion, and sanctuary. Clearly, it must please and bless God when the products of his mighty creations mirror His nature either through theatre, music, writing, craft, pottery, design or film. Creative servants of God become, if you will, more complete “whole brained” spiritual humans.

In this Spring semester beginning painting class, many “non art” majored students have commented that when they began to nurture their God given creative seed, to their amazement joys unspeakable emerged— like a rose stem and bud unfolding its bright new petals against the spring light. Stem and a rose together completing the work.

Please notice that the majority of these great students at MNU do not have majors related to art or painting.

Look at their work. Wow! Student Composite Images (PDF 4.31 MB Help )

What a great joy these engaging students have to me and to one another this spring semester of 2008.

Mike Walsh
Adjunct Instructor