It reminded me of something Michael Cardew had said about the creative process..."It's as if you are fishing for big, mysterious fish. You have to be careful what your net is made of and how you set it out. So, in your art, you ask yourself, if I go about it in this way...am I going to catch the fish?"
Sometimes you might catch a good painting. Other times, your catch might be a new effect, skill or technique.
But, if you're painting on location, in the moment, on-the-spot, you're practically assured that you will come away with a heightened awareness and something new and fresh.
In a recent interview, Bill Watterson explained why he doesn't sell his paintings:
"It's all catch and release...just little fish that aren't worth cleaning and cooking."
