My three week painting trip to San Miguel de Allende caused me to rejig an old painter’s formula which is, that a good picture must contain inspiration, interpretation and imagination.
This is how my trip rejigged this formula:
What I confirmed is that my pleasure and satisfaction is derived from the creation of the picture, not the imitation of the subject matter.
I’ve taken the liberty of reproducing three samples of what I mean [a picture is worth a thousand words!]; first is a photograph of the subject matter that inspired me; second is how I interpreted this subject matter on site in my sketch book; and third is the 12″ x 16″ watercolour that resulted therefrom.
Now, in my studio I can further reinterpret this subject matter on larger canvasses in oil.