Create Meaning in Your Paintings

“Create meaning in your work.”  That phrase may seem daunting to some, but below are a few tips that might help.

(Thomas Moran,  painted glorified important Luminist landscapes never had not been seen by most Americans)

But first, what is MEANING? Meaning is the responsive chord that is struck in the sensibilities of the viewer. Okay…but how do we do that? I have listed a few thought-provoking and useful ways to help bring more meaning to your work:

• Capture a remote sense of nostalgia in your work. Bring back popular or significant aspects of historical, classical or regional subjects, interests or vistas.
• Paint striking aspects of your own local scenery. Concentrate on dramatic, fragile, or beautiful points of interests in which you live and work.
• Learn how to use the hidden meaning of color in your art and paintings.
• “Pitch your tent in the shadow of a great edifice.” Paint works that are thematically or technically linked to some widely recognized work. And, I do not mean copy! Only be inspired by…

For instance…my still life paintings are loosely inspired by the Dutch masters. Without knowing why, collectors say they are drawn to my works because they evoke a sense of comfort and nostalgia.

But, I know the real reason.  Humbly, “I pitch my tent in the shadow of a great edifice!”

• My work harkens back to a familiar form of art we all know and even learned about in history class.
•  I do this by using the same warm undertones. 
• I also have my light source moving from left to right like most of the old masters.  They did this because they knew we obviously read from left to right. 
• We are often mislead to think that art is not true art unless it says something new and different. They say we are just technicians – not artists! I believe this is why so many people leave art school feeling overwhelmed with no sense of direction.
• Many spend years trying to paint important, new or shocking pieces and never become successful. It can be a curse! It happened to my talented, Great-Uncle John McNee.  He was a close friend and protege of Picasso.  Although Uncle John was very talented, he never really found his own artistic expression.  He was a frustrated artist although John went on to become an important art professor who spearheaded legislation to create the University of Illinois as a four year university.

But, I must add…don’t expect just because you paint the Grand Canyon in its full glory that the painting has meaning…the work must be technically good. And if not – keep practicing your skills!

So I say, let your passion and talent drive your paint brushes! Paint what inspires you and it will add meaning to your work. Utilize the historical works of others or nostalgia for things lost to help you create artwork that is meaningful to contemporary collectors. When your paintings captivate an audience you will then know how to create meaning in your work.

 And I mean it -  Lori

Related posts:

1. Create Texture & Application in Paint using Yin/Yang