Mary Luttrell encourages us to keep immersing yourself in art. Everyone says, “I know what I like,” but your tastes can change radically, the more art you study and expose yourself to. You can learn things this way that you can’t even articulate. But you’ll just start using them, unconsciously.
My dad is a very well known painter. He thinks all artists steal from each other, and I agree. And it’s okay. But take that thing and fool around with it... make it your own. You have something utterly unique to offer the world. Let it shine through and become what it wants to be.
Never let someone convince you to stop trying, (as I did, for years). Whether or not the world ever recognizes you for the results, you get to commune with the Creator every time you pick up a brush. That in itself is priceless.
Her background story is ... 1. As I said, I see being creative as God coming through me. I’ll take credit for working at it and trying to learn, but not for any talent I may have.
2 My career as a graphic artist taught me that design is critical. A gorgeously painted image that’s poorly designed will fail. I’ve discovered that good design can elevate a mediocre painting and make a decent one pretty great.
Shitty paintings are necessary. We’ve all gotta do them! The disappointment of face-planting while trying to communicate something has taught me more than popping out successful pieces (which, at my stage, often feels accidental.) Making art is hard. It’s painful and it’s glorious, and we need both experiences.
Just as the Trinity is all about relationships, so is a good painting. That negative space and dark value to this positive, lighter valued one. That hard edge to this soft one, right next to it. When a painting works, it’s usually because the elements are successfully relating to each other.
When I just copy something, I’m offering the world nothing new. As a conduit for creativity, my deepest essence is what gives my work its life. But it’s NOT my identity, or self concept. I have to get those the heck out of the way! When “Mary” is almost not even there, then God can come through, and something spectacular happens. For me, THAT’S where all the joy is.
You can email Mary Luttrell at mary.luttrell (at) yahoo.com