The faint sound of bagpipes filters through the brisk, moist air as the sun makes a hazy entrance on this brisk Edinburgh morning. A peek out my hotel window feels like Harry Potter World at Universal Studios, but it’s the real thing … we’re here as part of our annual Fine Art Connoisseur magazine art trip for four days of viewing the best art in Scotland.
We spent last week in Provence and the French Riviera, walking in the footsteps of many great artists and learning more than we ever expected. It was invigorating spending time with art and great friends.
Overnight Change
One thing I found eye-opening is that many of the great artists were not always great — and each had had a moment of transformation. Many had gone from average and the expected style of their time to a new style and approach almost overnight. But how?
What is it that causes us to make the different decisions that often transform our lives?
Not only did we see countless examples of artists who transformed their art, we learned about others who transformed their conditions. How is it that someone who is in a horrific situation becomes able to pull themselves out of their circumstances?
A Complete Upheaval
We visited a small museum collection in Provence that had belonged to a wealthy individual who built an incredible collection of historical art. Suddenly, as the world started to change, he gave his entire collection to his nephew and started a new collection of early modern art. He not only shed his old collection, he shed his mansion and all of his furniture, and built a new house with all new style, new furniture, and art that reflected what was new.
How is it someone who had invested so deeply, and had been so committed and passionate that he built such an important collection, suddenly took such a dramatic left turn?
Sudden Left Turns
Stories of transformations inspire me — and I’ve experienced my own, where one moment I’m moving in a committed direction, and then I make a sudden left turn to the unexpected. It happened when I transformed from my radio career to a commitment to art. Though I did not burn the bridges behind me, this change was transformational for me just the same.
Have you ever experienced a transformation in your life, where you totally changed direction?
I suspect the answer lies in the idea of continual learning. The idea of following a patch of curiosity until the weight of new information overcomes the commitments of the past.
People have “religious experiences” for this reason … new information renders old information less relevant, or perhaps irrelevant entirely.
My perspective is that without growth, without forced transformation, we experience stagnation, and it prevents us from living a full and rich life.
The Unexpected
I’ve discovered that in almost every case of major transformation, it was driven by exposure to something new opening up new possibilities. At a time of dark, academic art, the Impressionists came on the scene with bright colors and reflected sunlight and indications instead of tight renderings. This very idea inspired others to explore and take things to new heights.
The Intersection
We all tend to find ourselves set in our ways, comfortable where we are, or maybe just not wanting to be uncomfortable. But the magic of life lies at the cusp between new and old. And sometimes, as is the case with the realism movement in art, what’s old is new again, and considered avant-garde by those stuck in the old new.
If you’re looking for transformation, you’ll find it through exploration when new challenges stimulate you to try new things. If you’re not looking for it, you have to be willing to grab that brass ring as the horses quickly pass by, knowing it may never come around again. Being aware and watching for it will help you see it when it comes.
Innovation, new ideas, new stories, new art come from transformation and disruption. Keep an eye out.
Eric Rhoads
PS: To those of you who may be stuck in doing things the way they have always been done, are you comfortable to the point where you’re unknowingly hurting yourself? I’d like to invite you to a week of transformation at our upcoming Figurative Art Convention & Expo in Williamsburg, Virginia, where we approach things differently, in a refreshing modern way, while dealing with the very important subject of realistic painting in its various forms. It’s coming up November 10-13 (and we have two powerful pre-convention workshops you can learn about here and here). You have everything to gain … including an expanded mind and a fresh new approach to painting — figurativeartconvention.com.
Well stated Eric!
I love that you post “Sunday Coffee” even though there are times I don’t get to read until Monday. Thank you for taking the time to share with your email friends.
A side note: I have been trying to find Michael’s store that sells the Plein Air magazine and I have found that in my area all that I have gone to (3) have decreased the size of their magazine counter and Plein Air is nowhere to be found. Makes me sad.
For years I was a successful still life photographer/food photographer, teaching across the country, even in France and Italy. It was wonderful. Then I had a lot of thoughts about what I could do “more” with my images and studio set ups. I decided to learn to oil paint. A total transformation for me. You could always find me with a camera in hand and now it I have a paintbrush in hand. No looking back, just forward and I explored a new medium along the art journey. My “trigger finger” itches now and then, but the call of the easel has my attention. Yes, there is a lot of joy in the transformation, as I believe I have found my niche.
KarenBurnsFineArt.com
It’s so interesting you speak of this subject. As an Artist, I have been transforming my Art. Perhaps it is due to making transforming changes in my life that freed me to have the time to explore and find my way. It is has been exciting and I look forward, everyday, to where this transformation is taking me.
yes!
Eric, you are a transformative thinker. I appreciate your insights. Thank you for offering new ways of looking at our lives.
Thank you Eric for all you do. Without any art background, became obsessed with Plein air oil painting a few years ago and it’s changed my life (what do people do without painting?!) Loved loved loved plein air live, realism live, watercolor live…..you have taught me so much!
With tons of gratitude,
Randi Kanellitsas
Great inspiration. Thanks for sharing
Very True!
Thank you
As an older person this hit home with me. I believe you have to have the interest and sometimes courage to change or transform you direction. Staying interested and excited to learn is the secret to life.
Excellent Eric. Very thoughtful and so well presented. Thank you. I enjoy your Sunday morning roundup!
What an inspiring piece to enjoy on a rainy Sunday morning here in England, thank you Eric
Bravo, Eric! You nailed it. I am 83 and have lived a happy life. I have wonderful sons, a devoted husband, and the joy of my art, enhanced by attending so many of your events.
This year I was diagnosed with cancer, had brilliant surgery @ Mayo Clinic and am feeling good again! the experience was what you just described… a reality check.
You finally come to grips with your mortality: time is more precious/ ” time -wasters” are mourned, then discarded.
Perhaps this is what you were seeing, over and over again?
Wise people would have this earlier. Bottom line is, “Better Late than never.”
Love you, Dot Holladay, Aiken, S.C.
Well written, enlightening information. Thanks!
Eric: I have enjoyed many Streamline Art videos during past few months. However, enduring the Streamline announcer mispronounce t- again and again – the very important, might I say KEY word, PLEIN, is disturbing and annoying. As you well know it is not PLAIN Air. It is PLEIN air. Rhymes with Hen. It would be nice and just more elegant to hear the word ;pounced correctly, as you do. It’s French for Pete’s sake! Come on!
PS; Thanks for hosting and providing such good art instruction and entertainment for past few months.
Certainly do enjoy the thought provoking quality of all your Sunday Coffee’s, Eric. On this one, I agree with your nudges to growth, and thank you for them. And I will also chime in with Laura Allen Simpson that life is more gracious than one brass ring. Because, I believe that God gives a person more chances. But, if you think in terms of how precious a gift from above that each brass ring really is, makes sense to go for the one that is presenting itself now. Take advantage of ALL of them and don’t let them just flit on by. Just like you are saying, Eric!! (Trying hard to let what comes out of my mouth go right back into my own ears, here, LOL!) Not sure how you meant it when you put “religious experiences” in quotation marks. But I do also think that art is a spiritual matter. And have often heard of artists saying that they more feel like they are watching a painting unfold before their eyes, as if an unseen Hand is doing the work instead of themselves! I’m experiencing that now myself, since PleinAir Live!! It feels like a partnership with the Almighty goin’ on! Am reminded of Bach who started his compositions with “JJ” (Jesu Juva – “Jesus, Help”!) and concluded them with SDG (Soli Deo Gloria – to the glory of God alone.) Love it.
So enjoy your columns…..as well as your excerpted Streamline videos, live interviews and demos . They have provided something wonderful to look forward to every day during this isolated and unusually stressful time. I so appreciate what you have done for artists and art lovers around the world. Thank you ever so much. Best wishes and cheers! L. Anne Mainieri
I agree with most of what you said in your note about transformation but differ on one important point: that you have to be ready to grab the brass ring because it might never come around again. As a friend of mine used to say, “Life is gracious.” By that he meant that it does not just give us one chance at anything. The universe is abundant and generous. We progress more along a spiral pattern than a straight line and so things have a way of coming around again—maybe not the exact same things, but things of a similar kind. Anyway, I found his words to be comforting, inspiring, and true, so I wanted to pass them along.
Love Sunday coffee! Makes me think!!
Eric ,if your in Edinburgh ,I hope you will visit the Edinburgh Academy of Realist Art in Leith. , at The Old Customs House where I’ve attended three courses by American artists l also attended your first FACE convention in Miami.
Lea and Ewan who run The Academy are truly great people, who have taken that left turn to create The Academy of Realist Art.
Regards Dan Kirk , Lincoln ,U.K.
P.S . You should take a look at our Cathedral down here in Lincoln.
As usual I have enjoyed this coffee hour even though I’ve already drunk mine this am. Enjoyed seeing you all in the White Mts. Looking forward to Realism Live as I’m with my Aunt. My major transformation was my divorce.
An artist enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning at the window of hotel. Breeze coming through the room. I can well imaging the scene. Anyways it was really nice to read these splendid line.
Thanks, Eric. I just visited a showing of Wolf Kahn paintings and though I have always loved his work, this one really hit home. Because, for some time I have been trying to figure out where I really want to go after 48 years of painting. It is almost like there is this universal thought that shows up at a time I am thinking it for myself. I actually had done a few “different” things, and after seeing the show, I immediately did another one. Not copying, but using some thoughts of my idea of a new direction I felt when looking at those Kahn paintings. Thanks again for your words because they really are important to finding a new direction.
I get a lot of emails, as we all do, but few I actually have time to read. But I always read Eric Rhoads’. I appreciate the humanity and warmth and sincerity he puts into every one of his articles.
Thank you , with me coffee i now have something to think about , just maybe time to renew my self and my work.
The two most important words to an artist should be” what if”.
I wonder what happens if I go here or there or continue where I am.
If nothing changes you will be in the same place in 5/10/20years from now.
It is hard accepting the concept of you are responsible for yourself and where you are in life . Those who do ask quite often say I wonder what if I —.