Why Did I Paint It?

Bill Sawczuk on

Choosing the Subject of a Landscape Painting

I am often asked the question, " Why do you choose to paint what you do?" When I decide to paint plein air on any particular day, I usually have a general area as a destination, hoping to find some outstanding subject matter in that area. It's often similar to a reaction that a tourist might have when coming to a scene that demands a photograph. The particular subject matter might be as awe inspiring as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, or as intimate as a squirrel feeding on pinecone seeds. It is a scene worth remembering in photographic detail or in paint. A major difference is that the artist can manipulate the composition in many different ways, such as adding features or leaving things out. Colors and moods can be changed or left as is. The important thing is to retain the initial impression in the artistic effort. The artistic effort is often successful but sometimes not . It takes years of outdoor work to be able to capture the essence of a scene and to impart that feeling of "special" to the viewer.

 

Teton Waters, ©Bill Sawczuk, oil on linen, 24x24.

What Once Was, Bill Sawczuk, oil on linen, 16x20.

Winter Cottonwoods, Bill Sawczuk, oil on linen, 14x11.