[Previous entry: "Art works on church tower...Beatles on organ..."] [Next entry: "Short-Term Memory Loss"]

09/10/2007: "The Perfect Moment"

There have been perfect moments in my life that I have pressed in my mind for future examination. Times when my kids were small. Times when I was a young adult or even an older one. Each of these moments is significant and wonderful in its completeness. Pure happiness. There are not many of theses gems committed to my memory. In my painting there are fewer. I rarely have a perfect moment of happiness in my work. Sometimes the result of a long struggle with a painting produces satisfaction with parts of the completed work. Occasionally, I feel uplifted when someone is touched by my efforts. But pure happiness? YetŠ..I keep working towards that goal: perfection in my work. I think that as I get older, the idea of improvement towards the result of creating a good work if not a perfect one, drives me more than anything else.



When I was a student in college and in grad school, my head was filled with dreams of accomplishing great feats in art. Although I was not sure what exactly these art feats were, they would be rewarded by fame and fortune. My paintings would hang in prestigious museums and I would get paid large sums for my work. It seems from my present vantage point that I was more concerned with fairy tales than the actual nuts and bolts of art. School fostered these dreams and certainly, the '60s/ '70s era during which I was a student elevated artists to celebrity status. Artists were then what pop culture icons are today. It was a great time to be an art student. I was envied by my peers who were studying more mundane subjects that would actually prepare them to make a living. I loved every minute of taking classes towards my Master's at New York University. Just being in Greenwich Village during the late '60's/early '70's was a Paradise for an art student: so much to see and do. A lot of frantic craziness, too. Dabs of color on a canvas were deemed "great art" by my professors. Of course, during that time, there were exceptional institutions and extraordinary teachers. NYU had/has a fine reputation. Perhaps I did not have these professors or I was just blinded by the times because any spots of paint on my canvases were awarded star status. At any rate, I was on my way to being "an artist" through the praise of my teachers. Until I graduated and tried to sell the masterpieces I had created in my student days. I discovered that there were thousands of other artworks of my peers for sale, too. Some were, in fact, actually GREAT ART.
One perfect moment was enrolling in The Art Student's League in 1972. That is a wonderful memory: a place that promoted teaching art exclusively by artists who were passionate about their art and students. I learned a lot about composition, form, structure. I also took a job as a structural draftsman. More composition, form, structure. Soon my paint dabs became shapes that actually related to each other. I would not change a thing about my education because it created a need to learn and a drive to succeed. When I was in my 30's a met a great portrait artist: Murray Miller. The moment I entered his home where his family portraits were displayed was perfect. Seeing portraiture by a master and speaking with him about his art was an experience I will treasure. You will not see his work in books or on the web, but he had commissions by many wealthy individuals. Murray taught me about representational painting. Before he died, he tried to impart to me the knowledge of a lifetime. I was extremely fortunate to have known him and to have been the recipient of his instruction. Once, when I did a pastel portrait of a dog, Murray told me that I had done a good job. "For me, your student?" I asked. "For any portrait painter," he responded. That was the only compliment he ever gave me in the five years we were together, but it was perfect. To be called a portrait painter by one whom I revered was deeply gratifying.

The elusive perfection in my work keeps me going. Most time I settle for the completion of a process or project. However, now and then, an idea or work captures the moment. One perfect moment motivated me to seek these perfect moments and to value them. I took an elective in geology as an undergrad. On a field trip, in a cave, I saw a single drop of water illuminated by bright, golden sunlight fall into total darkness. I thought to myself that if I could capture such a perfect moment and communicate it to others, I would have a true purpose to my life. Once in a while, a great while, the dream comes true.

Replies: 13 Comments

on Wednesday, September 12th, BradMM said

Ellen,
I'll be there (in a grass green silk shirt) - unless the walls come tumbling down...

on Tuesday, September 11th, Ellen said

Jose- Whenever, where ever....ALWAYS glad to hear from you & for your input!
Jafabrit- I feel like an art baby after 50 years! Thanks for taking the time to write: Keep creating....it's worth ALL you go through!
BradMM- Looking forward to your opening at the Williamsburg Art and Historical Center on Sept 29!

on Tuesday, September 11th, jafabrit said

Your post really resonated with me. I really can't add much more that others haven't touched upon already. I'm not sure what I am looking for when I create other than a compelling need to put into visual form things that have moved me. I have been painting 11 years now and I still feel like an art baby, with each piece being a chance to improve. I don't know what I would do if I created a perfect piece because it seems it is the journey that is feeding my soul.

on Tuesday, September 11th, BoxEight said

BoxEight -Arts Organization

www.boxeight.com

on Tuesday, September 11th, jose said

Ellen, I'm pressed for time this week as something unexpected and sudden [of a good kind] has come up. I say this because I would have liked to comment more thoughtfully and thoroughly to this new blog of yours which I truly enjoyed. I'll come back and leave my comments next week if that is Ok with you.

on Monday, September 10th, Ellen said

Greg, Michael thanks for the support! I love to paint/create and my palette loves a wide range of subjects. Oh those artists! Velazquez and Raeburn are personal gods!
BradMM- yes, reflecting on past works is good for the future and to spur one on! What I am most proud of is that I was always THERE: doing art whether I felt like it on not. For me, that's something to look back 50 years on. I appreciate your kind words about the photograph, thanks!

on Monday, September 10th, Michael Fornadley said

Time to get off our high horses; Diego Velazquez painted a puppy dog picture with his "Las Meninas". A painting that I consider displays one of the greatest example of intelligence, guts and skill in Western art.

on Monday, September 10th, Greg said

Richard - skill is skill regardless of the subject matter. If you have studied art, you would know that even the great masters such as Raeburn, Renoir, Picasso, Goya, de Kooning to name a few painted all different types of animals. Bravo Ellen - another interesting and well-put blog.

on Monday, September 10th, Richard Trenton said

Puppy dog pictures? A front page blog with a puppy dog picture? Unbelievable

on Monday, September 10th, BradMM said

Hi Ellen, Great image on top (for me). Perfection is in the eye of the beholder - be it perfection obtained, or found... Perfection obtained, is like the best pot roast you ever cooked - out of hundreds of very good one you have produced before. I really relate to your experience of the sun-glistened drop of falling water in that cave of darkness. That illustration, likely, many of us can relate to from moments in our own lives never to be forgotten - for they were captured by our senses. Those kinds of moments raise the level of our awareness to a new degree that we can carry on through the creative process in our own works. I have made many art pieces that reached a point where I could add nothing more. I don't consider any of them as perfect - only as representations of my own limitations for that time. We are not capable of achieving perfection - however, we are very able in recognizing when we have met our moment of, "Tao," in a completed work. That is what I strive for in my journey to raise the level of awareness to all other components in my existence which - when gathered, will reflect upon the art of my works in the future. The best of what I could do 10, or 50 years ago - I'm still proud of today. Thanks for your blog, Ellen. Sincerely,

on Monday, September 10th, Ellen said

Mark, Walt, THANKS! I agree with both of you and am ever grateful that you got the point. So often one reveals imperfections or inner thoughts only to be patronized or have the reader miss the message. I ever strive, Mark, but understand that the gestalt is what I'm after, Walt. And every time I give up, I realize that it's the quest that's key.

on Monday, September 10th, walt said

I had a similar teacher who only once gave me a sideways compliment when he said "King, you had a good drawing till you messed it up." It was the only nice thing he said to me all that semester. But I got what he had to teach. I took him two semesters later and realized I'd gotten all he had to teach. I realized it was time to move on to others who had something more to add to the total gestalt.

But I'm afraid I can't believe in perfection...maybe the idea of it but not the reality of it...it is a bit like insulting God by saying the creation isn't good enough most of the time...but this once! Wow!

But you define your own perfection and your perfect moment and in that sense I understand what you mean. I yearn for the evolving moment, the hint of what will come, the possible and the potential of what is in front of me. That the shape is in the right form and place and color and value with the right energy to make the hint happen...to define the object and the subject at the same time and through that speak of something beyond them both. For me it is the gestalt...is that just a 'perfect moment' in disguise? I guess it could be.

on Monday, September 10th, Mark said

Perfetion, something we all strive for but for most is as elusive and trying to grab a handfull of fog. I strive for perfection in my work. I seldom reach it and never compleatley when I think I have, and some would walk by those paintings where I feel I reach a high level of perfection and not even notice it. One's perfection may be anothers imperfection. I have been asked "Why do you do this to yourself?" I answer, "I must."

Perfection is different for different people so to try and define it is fruitless, and why even try. But one must never give up on achieving perfection, the whole while one should not ever reach perfection. If ever I created the perfect painting, it would most likely be my last, how could I do any better. Then what would I do with my self? So the elusive "perfection" should remain a whisper of possibilities and never a reality.