The Art of Charles Spratt
  • Home
  • gallery
  • About
  • Charlie's Blog
  • ART NEWS
  • MAA Plein Air
  • Contact

Why do I keep Painting?

8/21/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture#2231059 Fantasy Forest 11x14 Ferguson Forest, Kemptville, ON, Aug 2023
At times when I’m alone in my studio, my thoughts turn to a question that is often directed my way: “How do you continue to get a charge from plein air painting after 45 years of doing it?” A short, quick answer can be found on my website Home Page.
"Four decades of painting, guidance from some wonderful artists and travelling a never-ending road to artistic improvement inspires me to paint every day." 

A longer version: When I was forty years old and immersed in business and family responsibilities, a kindly gentleman named Grant Tigner introduced himself to me at a volunteer board meeting in Ottawa. He explained that he was a full time artist. In our conversation, he invited me to go painting with him one day. That simple act of kindness introduced me to the world of struggle and rewards of painting outdoors.

It was like a ‘calling’ for me. Through Grant’s guidance, I was introduced to other professional artists who helped me to get started on a journey of discovery. Along the way I painted with many struggling artists who became life-long friends, often meeting them on painting trips from Halifax to the West Coast. As they say “Thanks for the memories!”

Not having a college or university art education was a draw-back. Still, I was blessed to be able to learn so much from others. And when I was asked to teach watercolours and acrylics later on, I found a bond with other struggling artists: particularly in the area of plein air painting. While I have retired from teaching, I take pleasure in helping others through the Plein Air Ensemble program that ran four-day painting trips twice a year for 34 years until this year, and the MAA Plein Air program for artists each Thursday from June until the end of September.

Four years ago, I received a major dynamic energy boost when I was invited to join the Ten-Collective Art Show, held in Almonte in April. Then Covid came along and the show was cancelled for two years. However, I participated in 2022 and 2023 and I can say that the experience of meeting new and old friends and clients has been totally invigorating. I await with much anticipation to returning to my booth with new work in April 2025.

I am so grateful for the many years of painting and look for more to come; AND with my best painting effort yet, just around the corner!


Charlie
August 2023



0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    C. Spratt

    The Art of Charles Spratt

    Archives

    April 2025
    January 2025
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    December 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed


​HOME

​​

GALLERY

ABOUT

BLOG
​ART NEWS
MAA PlEIN AIR
CONTACT


©2021 - Charles Spratt Art  |  All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • gallery
  • About
  • Charlie's Blog
  • ART NEWS
  • MAA Plein Air
  • Contact