Studying California as an Artist
I had never been in California before, but I had this opportunity to move to Pasadena for four months Jan. through April, 2018. Having recently discovered my love for oil painting, I decided the best way for me to see and enjoy Southern California would be to paint it. This personal project focused on exploring and studying a new environment, and developing a sense of self as an artist. The method of the project was plein air painting from direct observation in different natural environments near Pasadena, California.
Each weekend I would hike out in a new spot, or spend the day at a new place (mostly beaches), and then I would make a small painting study. The paintings themselves are the product of the project, a reflection of my experience, a ritual or meditation, and above all an artistic practice. They are just studies, not finished works, and were created in that intention, as a student of painting. There is a certain freedom to just being a student which I have enjoyed, not calling myself an artist. I guess this can be seen as a contradiction, but for me it has given the opportunity to just enjoy painting without the official pressure of trying to be “an artist”. I can focus on painting to see what’s around me, and following through with this project I made for myself has offered some kind of growth as an artist as well.
