The Art and the Craft of Painting

Published: Sat, 10/13/18

Dear ,

Is there a difference between the art of painting and the craft of painting?

What about this: What if the art is where ideas and expression abide while craft is the mechanics through which those are expressed and made visible. Look at this Sorolla painting and check off how much of it is pure craftsmanship. Then, where's the art?

Think of Michelangelo. During his lifetime, there were plenty of sculptors who were equally as skilled as he in the craft of carving stone. Was it the artist within him transmitting through the craft that made his sculptures more alive and mystifying than theirs? Could he have done these things without all the hours he spent honing his craft?

We know that the more attention and energy we give to mastering our craft, the more automatic it becomes for us. Could it be that when we no longer have to think about the HOW it's done, the art emerges more freely? And could it be that it's the love of what we are doing that allows the art to soar?

Happy Painting,

Dianne

dianne@diannemize.com

You can access the archive of all my newsletters at anytime by going HERE.