"Paintings With Personality"

Last week, I decided to have some fun with watercolor and collage. This is one of my results, it's small piece, only 5"x7". I call it Rocky Road.

I watched, Seven, the 1995 Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman film the other night. In the movie, the bad guy was killing people in the manner of the “seven deadly sins.” That made me think about Jamie Wyeth and his paintings of the “seven deadly sins,” using seagulls to depict the sins. Which led my thoughts to which of the sins an artist might commit.

Below, I have listed the seven ‘deadliest’ and how they might pertain to fine art. Do you fit any of the descriptions?

Wrath: Take note of the things that make you angry. Do you get upset when someone else gets awards or into a show you don’t get into? Are you irritable or angry when your art work doesn’t go as planned? If so, you are guilty of the sin of wrath. Anger will get you nowhere, only patience and hard work will bring the results you want.

Greed: Here in the United States, having more seems to be the norm, gain is the primary focus. Have you joined the crowd by creating your art for shows and sales, or do you create because you love what you are doing? Art brings pleasure when you put your soul into it. When all you think about is what will sell, your creativity goes down the drain and your art becomes boring.

Sloth: Many ideas come to creatives when they are relaxing. Which is a good thing, just be careful that you aren’t really procrastinating or being lazy. Does everything seem like it’s just a little too much trouble? Do you often put things off until tomorrow? Then your sin, and mine, is laziness. If you want to succeed as an artist it takes dedication and hours of work.

Pride: Are you able to learn from other artists, or do you think your work is just as good as, or better than, all other art? Do you stay home from exhibits or receptions where your work wasn’t accepted, or you didn’t get an award? With that kind of pride you can’t reach your full potential. Listen to other artists, study, learn, work, make changes and create better art every day.

Lust: Have you ever had an idea that possesses you, something you think about all the time? Are you passionate about getting into some art club or art society? Do you absolutely have to have the brush, canvas, paper, or whatever the art material that every well-known artist uses? Skill and experience, willingness to change and grow are more important than any materials. Study your work and decide what you can do to get better, not what you can buy.

Envy: Have you ever felt resentful of someone and the attention their art work is getting? Is someone else getting all the accolades? If those feelings make you start doing things differently, and you get better as an artist, they are good, as long as you don’t let them possess you. Try to turn all envious feelings into something good and give yourself time, you’ll get there.

Gluttony: Are you always buying more books, DVD’s, brushes, paints, or every art item that promises to make you a better artist? Too much of anything is hoarding. Stop buying and spend your time mastering the materials you have.

My deadliest (notice I didn’t say only) sin is sloth. Since retiring, I have become very lazy. Which is your deadliest sin? Please comment below. Later, Judy

www.judyballance.com