Landscape Painting: A course Description
Before taking my classes, you may be wondering how I teach, or to be more specific, what is my painting and teaching philosophy. What am I bringing to the classroom?
Some might be asking, " What is painting about anyway and what will it do for me?"
From my own observations many young, beginning and even seasoned artists believe that art is the making of an object to be sold in a gallery. For some, marketing seems to be more important than the experience of painting. And while marketing has value it does not happen to be my focus or my purpose in painting, although at times I do show my work.
The goal in my classes then, is to take art, in this case, painting, to another level.
There are unseen forces in nature that move the entire cosmos and yet these forces seem to leave the cosmos in perfect balance. These forces are at constant play and affect everything that takes place. Whether we are aware or not, these forces affect you and me. Now lets say for example that we get a glimmer of understanding of how these forces interact or 'play'. If we are able to do that, we might be able to become 'players' within the context and activity of these forces even if our understanding remains on a rudimentary scale.
So, what does that mean?
Our world, the Earth, being a part of the cosmos is in a realm of incomprehensible beauty, mystery, design and struggle and so too are we. We are affected by all the same forces that drive the Universe. We and all humanity are a part of the Universe and we are also participants in its activities and movement, whether we are conscious of it or not.
Painting is what brings us to the process of discovery. It is the process of painting that offers the possibility of being able to see ourselves and our relationship to all that is.
Thomas Moore the author of a book titled, Care of the Soul, refers to something he calls, The Soul of the Universe, a soul that is shared by all humanity. He also calls, Beauty, The face of the Soul.
Within this class I will be offering a teaching philosophy and a unique learning process that goes beyond the academics of studio art. This philosophy and especially this learning process, will revolve around the notion of the creative process itself as a means by which we care for our soul, while at the same time discovering our oneness with all creation.
We are able to come to this awareness within the process of painting, as there are times when we are focused, that these cosmic forces will unfold and reveal themselves in a very unique way and then we become creators of beauty, not of our own intention but because of our interaction with forces we cannot fully comprehend or understand, but that we can see and apply.
Douglas L. House
