Feynman And I'm Doing It For The Fun Of It
"The Brain changes with every flicker of experience." ~Deepak Chopra
Inspiration can come from the most unlikely places. The inspiration for my painting came from watching a video of Richard Feynman, one of the scientists belonging to the Manhattan Project, and the inventor of the atomic bomb. After the destruction in Hiroshima, Feynman had such a strong negative reaction that he found it very difficult to go back to work. He felt what is the use everything will be destroyed anyway.
Feeling stressed and doomed he realized that he was going to change his approach to life and work. He was going to “do things for the fun of it", for no reason, no purpose at all. As soon as he started playing and doing things for the fun of it, he said, "it was like a cork came out of the bottle and everything poured out."
Richard Feynman recounts: "I was in the cafeteria and some guy, fooling around, throws a plate in the air. As the plate went up in the air I saw it wobble, and I noticed the red medallion of Cornell on the plate going around. It was pretty obvious to me that the medallion went around faster than the wobbling. I had nothing to do, so I start figuring out the motion of the rotating plate. I discovered that when the angle is very slight, the medallion rotates twice as fast as the wobble rate—two to one. It came out of a complicated equation! I went on to work out equations for wobbles. Then I thought about how the electron orbits start to move in relativity. Then there's the Dirac equation in electrodynamics. And then quantum electrodynamics. And before I knew it… the whole business that I got the Nobel Prize for came from that piddling around with the wobbling plate." A replica of the Cornell plate is now part of an exhibit marking the centennial of the Nobel Prize.
I was having difficulty going into the studio to paint. By listening to Feynman’s words it allowed me to go into the studio, just play and "do it for the fun of it". I realized that one of the fastest ways to stifle creativity is to be stressed. My attachment to the outcome was more overwhelming then the need to create. By playing and letting go, it allowed me to explore and create in an uninhibited way. I love this approach and hope the cork will come out of the bottle for me as well, but I guess I can’t get attached to that either ;)
*ART20K footage completed 13,462 square inches
*Above painting~ "No One's Home", 30" x 40", acrylic on museum wrapped canvas, price $3000
*All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!
Art20K challenge Pro's and Con's
Ideas not coupled with action never become bigger than the brain cells they occupied~Arnold H. Glasgow
I am past the halfway point of my Art20K challenge for this year 2013. Last year I had painted 52 paintings for 2012, which totaled over 15,000 square inches. My intention this year was to have the freedom to paint larger, but at the same time I added to my goal 5,000 more square inches. I am at a pace right now to paint close to 25,000 square inches. In comparing both of the challenges this is what I have learned thus far.
Obvious, I have more time to paint much larger paintings.
Majority of customers can only afford smaller paintings, painting smaller offered more sales, but less dollars.
I have already sold twice as much in dollars this year, selling larger paintings.
Painting big allows me to be more creative and experiment.
Painting big is very freeing and inspires me to take risks.
Difficult to submit weekly posts and stay connected to fan base, due to the time factor painting larger paintings.
I'm painting for myself.
I realize I need to paint a variety of sizes to satisfy my customer’s needs, giving me a wider customer base.
I love painting large.
Large paintings create an impact in art shows.
I've discovered a new dimension and style to my current work that couldn't have been discovered with smaller works.
Why do you prefer painting larger or smaller and why?
*ART20K footage completed 12,262 square inches
*Golden Years 36" x 36" Acrylic on museum wrapped canvas, price $3240
*All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!
Is Bigger Better?
Changing my challenge this year to paint 20,000 square inches, Art20K, instead of amount of paintings, as in last years goal, #Paint 52, has been quite thrilling. I have found myself painting much larger and in turn experiencing much more freedom and joy painting. Creating a body of work feels more substantial painting larger and more conducive to preparing for a show. Although, I love painting larger, I have found myself asking questions about the upside and downside of painting large vs. small.
Is it easier to market smaller paintings than larger, due to their affordability?
As an artist, should you make sure you have a balance of sizes available for market?
Does certain subject matter demand a larger format?
What are the advantages of painting larger or smaller?
What are disadvantages of painting larger or smaller?
What tools are needed when painting a large painting, that may not be needed when painting small?
Is studio space an indicator for size selection?
Does painting large equal being a serious painter and more appropriate for gallery representation?
Is intimacy affected when painting larger?
What are your feelings about painting large vs. small?
Thank you for your responses always love hearing from you and hearing your perspective.
*ART20K footage completed 3,540 square inches
*Painting above, Title: "A New Balance", measures 36" x 36", Atelier Interactive Acrylic on museum wrapped canvas (no need for framing), Price $3240.00 SOLD
*All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!
There's No Such Thing as Luck
"There's no such thing as luck. There's only preparation meeting the moment of opportunity.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
There is no turning back, as I glance at the materials being shipped to my house in the last week one by one in preparation for my Art20k project. Large boxes have met me at my door, almost daily this past week. I am already imagining what will be discovered on these blank canvases.
No excuses Janet, you have the materials, the tools, everything is “ready to go right now”. The excitement is palatable, as I tally the canvases: six 24”x 36”, six 36”x 36”, three 30” x 40” and three 36” x 48”. Total available square inches equates to 21,744 square inches, more than enough inches to cover my goal to accomplish painting 20,000 square inches for this year.
Sometimes, you have to work backwards towards your goals. Meaning, first I set the goal, thus I know how many canvases to purchase and materials. Taking the leap and purchasing the materials all at once is very motivating. I trust the universe to help me fill these canvases. I’m ready. I’m determined. I’m excited. I’m inspired. I’m prepared for opportunity. Wish me luck ;)
**Art20k total square inches accomplished so far: 2244 square inches
*Vintage Kauai, measures 30" x 40", museum wrapped canvas (no need to frame), Oil and Acrylic, price $3000.00.
*All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!
Exploration ART20K
Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new~Einstein
There is something to be said about knowing your strengths and weaknesses. Your strengths allow you to build one on top of the other. Color is probably my biggest strength as well as composition. Weaknesses, I have too many to mention. But that isn’t important, a couple is all I need to get by. What is important for me is to explore.
Now that I have taken the ART20K challenge, I am left with the opportunity to paint larger. As I paint larger, it allows an element of exploration that cannot be found in the much smaller paintings. Having the extra space on the canvas, gives an illusion of a much bigger world to play with. Exploration in space, is created in a two dimensional world.
Perhaps, a journey to abstraction may occur or just playing with the “Color Field”. Something will appear; I’m already sensing and feeling it. Two new words for me this year will be exploration and experimentation.
*"Gauguin in Hanalei", measures 30" X 30", Atelier Acrylic on museum wrapped canvas (no frame necessary), price $2250.00
*All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!