The Point of Painting Flowers
During my last year of high school my art teacher told us that our art should have a purpose and a message if we are going to create meaningful art. She was preparing us for the potential that we would go to university for fine art where we would be expected to have a thesis and our art would have to stand up to academic critique. She gave examples of artists that drew attention to big issues like Keith Haring and artists that questioned what is art like Piero Manzoni and Marcel Duchamp.
During that school year I attempted to try to create art with meaning, that had a call to a higher purpose, but all I ended up with was a pile of paintings that ended up in the burn pile. I struggled with painting “meaningful” subject matter because I didn’t feel connected to the subject matter. Because I was eighteen, with relatively limited life experience, painting art with meaning often meant that I was adopting outside viewpoints and regurgitating them onto the canvas. For me, there was no joy or personal insight in creating this type of art.
The real shame of that year was that the belief that true art had to have this big profound meaning meant that for a long time I thought that painting flowers was a frivolous pursuit. This limiting belief didn’t mean that I stopped painting flowers, but that I for years thought that my art was not serious art.
I have grown out of this limiting belief through my own art practice, having realized that creating art that brings me joy has just as much value and meaning as any of the art my teacher had referenced. In fact, I would argue that creating art that is an expression of joy is exceptionally meaningful in a world that can be hard and unhappy at times.
This is the point and purpose of my flower paintings and landscapes: to delight; to bring joy to the viewer; to remind them of a time or a place in their past; a happy memory; romance; love; warmth; a smile and a kiss. All these important feelings bring so much meaning to my art.
So I guess all of this is to say, that sometimes we can have a limiting belief that will stick with us for years and it is okay to shake it off. It’s okay to pursue what you really love and there is meaning in that.
Until next time, I hope that you find a little joy to inspire you this week.
Laura