As with music, art is essential to the well being of my spirit, even though I am not gifted enough to produce any music or art on my own. I think this is why I have taken to coloring so intensely. I would like to make the analogy that coloring books do for art what karaoke has done for music. They both allow someone without talent to experience what it must be like to be a musician or an artist, albeit in an extremely limited way.
I met a local artist at the recent Celebration of the Arts at St David’s Church. She had two paintings in this juried event, one of which I was particularly attracted to: in glorious yellow, it showed a woman holding a medium size chicken, or young turkey sitting quietly in her lap.
It turns out that the artist created not only a painting, but a story to go with it. I do not know which came first, the story or the bird, but what struck me that there was both. Of course, it is not at all unusual for a painting to have or be based on a story element, but, well, let me illustrate.
Suppose I am coloring a drawing of a boy delivering a large package to a house. As I am coloring, I find myself making up a story as I go along. “What is in the package — a beautiful new dress, or an exquisite new coat?” Who is this delivery boy — someone from a poor family, proudly wearing a new uniform from his first job? Perhaps he is smiling so cheerfully in anticipation of the surprised pleasure that the package will bring when he delivers it — who will answer the door? Will he receive a big tip?
Flashback — I instantly recall Bob Ross, the PBS art instructor, who, in Mr. Rogers style — with a soft, warm voice, talked out loud as he painted. He explained not only the techniques, but also the composition of the painting in story form: “This little tree wants to grow in this sunny place, right here.” I hope this is becoming clearer, it is difficult to explain. It’s not the narrative told by the painting, it’s the story in creation of the painting.
Getting back to the woman holding a young turkey: “She really wanted a puppy, and her father said ‘No,’ then gave her the turkey instead.” We are all free to create a story to go with the painting, but it is interesting to know that artists do this as well. It is an insight I wouldn’t have had were it not for coloring.
