#32 - My Evolution

"915 Street Scene"

"Platform"

"Parked Car"

"Skyline"

Fellow Art Lovers:

Very important, I want to thank all of you who visited my studio during the Dec. 10-11, 2011, Open Studios Sales Event. I hope you enjoyed and learned from the event. For me, it was a very good event for several reasons. One factor was sales; yes, those who purchased paintings showed in a material way that they appreciate my art. Of course, this is good. But in all sincerity, the monetary side is less important than the validation a sale represents for me.

And here I want to tell you, the comments many of you made in the conversations in my studio showed me that I'm at an important point in my art. There is an evolution under way; it is natural, and in some ways I'm not sure how much influence I have in guiding it. But in other ways, there are important decisions to be made.

My Normandy landscapes, which I paint with a palette knife, have been recognized as having an emotional impact; something in the application of the paint communicates the love I feel for the trees and fields and beaches and skies of Normandy.

Now, my urban scenes and people are impacting viewers in the same way. The Inquirer art critic, Victoria Donohoe, was extremely perceptive when she wrote, in a review of my show at the Society Hill Synagogue: "Like a primitive artist, Kosman seeks to infuse a sense of personal intimacy into everything he does." One couple, I'm sure, felt this when they spent some time closely examining maybe a half dozen of my urban scenes and finally purchased "Street Scene" (Blog # 30), which I renamed "Carriage Girl."

Here I want to mention that these street scenes showing people facing life are important to me. Yes, I do think of the human situations they are facing, and I ask myself how I can get an idea across to the viewer, maybe just in a facial expression, a way of standing, the juxtaposition of several persons, or some motion. I'm not trying to be corny, but for me, this is an important part of my art.

And then there is the issue of the freedom of the style. One woman seemed struck by urban scenes done with a palette knife in a small format and asked her companion - successfully- to purchase a trio of them. These three pieces were similar to the three shown above (Platform, Parked Car and Skyline.) Another woman, who exhibited some solid art knowledge, said that the simple, forceful urban scenes like these had a impact on her.

The other day, I painted the urban scene "915 Street Scene," which is actually on the street just below my studio's eastern windows. Frankly, I felt I got my groove. I worked with brushes, and something clicked, and the paint went on, fast and furious.

Now, the questions arise: Was I in charge? Or was this a natural evolution of everything that came before?

I know what I will do: Use the creative energy without getting stalled in questioning it. And you will see the results.

If you have some opinions or input or guidance, I would treasure hearing it.

Finally, fellow art lovers, thank you for your support of my art and of my ideas.

Sincerely,

William Kosman