Good Art Verses Technique

Cathedral Rock Reflection 14x11 Oil on Linen

Figuring out how to paint is an important part of an artists learning curve. Looking at other artists, we admire how they render the ocean or the sky so we try to emulate the same technique. Spending hours mixing colors, watching demos and taking classes, we practise with different brushes, brands of paint, texture surfaces and every other trick of the trade, trying to master a technique. Using the same materials as that artist, we hope that somehow his skill will rub off on us. But even if we could clone the technique, would that ensure good art? No, because good technique does not necessarily produce good art. The truth is technique alone can result in art that is sterile and without emotion. So, developing a healthy relationship with technique is one of the necessary lessons all artists must learn on the way to becoming a good artist. Together technique and emotion are a formula that will produce good art. An artist's success comes from melding the right technique along with the artists vision.

Achieving balance between technique and emotion is a classic struggle. Being a plein air painter, I always attempt to complete a painting on site, believing that the emotion of the moment will usually makes up for the lack of time or the best technique. But sometimes, that just isn't the case. Some paintings need to go back to the studio and be reworked.

"Cathedral Rock Reflections" is one of the latter. Originally painted on location in Sedona last October, I knew it wasn't the strongest of my paintings but only recently did I have the insight to make the necessary changes. I was happy with the composition and with the water reflections. I knew I could turn it into a strong painting. Working without a photo, I changed the clouds over the rocks, darkened the water, refined the the rocks and added more shadows in the mid ground.

Old image of Cathedral Rock Reflection

There are times when emotion just isn't enough and technique must be called upon to improve a painting. For me the end justifies the studio work I added to my plein air piece. If I must choose, I choose good art over technique or emotion.