Paintings

When I was 10 years old someone gave me a paint-by-numbers kit. It was a picture of an old mill with a waterwheel. I attacked it with enthusiasm and when it was finished I was horrified. Here was the ugliest “painting” I had ever seen, and I knew in my heart it was not my execution, it was the entire concept of paint-by-numbers. Like bad cooking, there was no love in it.

Do they still manufacture these kits? I sincerely hope not because they are probably responsible for millions of people coming to believe that they cannot paint. Luckily, I refused to accept that and I managed to convince my mom to buy me some real oil paints, a couple of brushes and canvas boards. The first thing I painted was the neighbor’s garage and back yard, which my bedroom window overlooked. I’ve been pushing paint around on canvas and boards ever since.

As you can see from the paintings I’ve selected here, I’ve experimented with all kinds of painting styles over the years, first because I considered the different styles a challenge, and second I guess because I am easily bored.

I wonder whatever happened to that garage painting. I probably threw it out because I once heard a famous artist say that a painter had to discard his first 100 canvases. How stupid is that?