The year just passing was generally happy, productive and prosperous, about the best one could expect of an unemployed, multi-careered, aging easel painter. Notice I don’t used the “R” word. Retirement is for those who no longer work, or at least no longer have to. But it’s time to start something new.
In 2011, somewhere between 100 and 300 paintings were made—closer to the latter if one includes rough sketches, practices, explorations, figure and face studies from the model, workshop demonstrations, ideas that didn’t go anywhere, as well as all the projects of great hope and happy result. Though just a fraction, enough paintings sold to keep us in essentials . . . food, art supplies and travel. With our family spread all over the country and England, travel matters.
But for all life’s fullness, there were a few days in December where I recognized “a damp, drizzly November in my soul.” That’s Ishmael’s line in the opening to Moby Dick, and I, like him, began finding myself in a funk, or as he put it, “growing grim about the mouth” and having to exert “a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street and methodically knocking people’s hats off.” Not really, but I felt I had to do SOMETHING to shake the malaise.
Rather than follow Ishmael and go to sea, I’ll follow Melville. He started writing.
It’s nothing new, really. I had such leanings long before Painting called out to me in the streets on an evening in November (really) some 15 years ago and drew me irresistibly to herself. “Painting rather takes over,” as Father Vincent Van Gogh discovered. But he also wrote . . . more than any other artist, thanks to his daily correspondence with his life-supportive brother. He wrote on many topics and it’s good reading. I have three volumes of his mind on my shelf.
So I’ll do the same.
What I’ll write, I don’t know myself. It’ll be something of a blank slate. I’ll start a blog and call it that. Blank Slate. Allows for anything. A journey without a map. But of discovery just the same.
I’ll keep painting, to be sure, ever pursuing that illusive white whale. The other blog, this one, the e-gallery, will continue on, with its review of themes and directions. This one is more or less monthly; I’m thinking the Blank Slate will three times a week.
Full disclosure: Though there will be no intent at persuasion, like with any writer of his own thoughts, there will be evidence of my world view, and that, like Van Gogh’s, is Christian. (That because of another spirit that called out to me in the streets, in Mexico, some 40 years ago.)
So, if you’d like to see these Blank Slates filled in as we go, just click the option below. You’ll get it as e-mail notification. Or if you’d rather just drop in from time to time to see what’s new, they’ll be posted on the Hyatt Moore Painter website under the Blank Slate heading. You can always opt on later, or off at any time.
We’ll start at the first of the year. Look for it January 1.
Click above to view larger. Anne’s sold work not shown as bunching them up like this would really do them no justice.
Art of the Year Past
Just as a quick review, here is a representative sample of the painting sold and now enjoying new homes in the year, 2011. They don’t look their best, all bunched together like this, and the scale is really thrown off. For example, the painting of pears in the bottom row was about eight inches tall and the violinist next to it was four feet tall, and the red abstract next to her was approaching 6 feet square. The mix of subject matter and varying degrees of realism to abstract is interesting, but not particularly instructive. It only shows that I like a wide range, as do, apparently, my buyers. And so it will likely be in the year(s) to come.
Meantime, we wish you a happy and productive one.
.
Ongoing and Upcoming Events
Blank Slate
The new blog, Blank Slate will feature musings and meanderings, insights and entertainments, and words rather than brushes for the art. Watch for it starting in the new year. To subscribe, click here.
Moore & Moore Art Gallery in Dana Point
Open by Appointment
949-240-4642
Semi-Private Coaching for Painters
Offering 2-hour sessions on Mondays and Wednesday and Saturday mornings
in the Hyatt Moore Studio, Dana Point.
For more info click Art Coaching Flyer.
Or call 949-240-4642
Printmaking Classes
In the Anne Moore studio, Dana Point
To see more of Anne’s, work go to: www.annesprints.com
Call 949-240-4642
3:23 pm
Hyatt, hi
I like the new blog. It’s a nice way to show a bunch of
various work.
At a time when art sales are in a slump, I don’t know how
you can keep up the positive outlook!
You are so funny!
Happy New Year!
D. Peffley
3:39 pm
I have your painting of “the last supper” right in front of me as I sit at my desk here in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. Mine is just the little one put out by SIL. But this is what I live for — people from every tribe and nation seated together with our Lord. You offered me a larger copy for $200 when we were in South Africa — I wish I had bought it now.
Every blessing.
Howie from Addis Ababa
4:07 pm
I admire your work and style so much and have always enjoyed getting your newsletters. Now I have another thing to look forward to receiving . . . your new blog “blank slate” . . . and I love the name!
5:03 pm
Yoshi and I are and always will be your fans! Thank you for being such a blessing and inspiration to us this year. I am looking forward to “Blank Slate,” but please don’t stop creating your gorgeous paintings! Do check out http://www.alcantaratrio.com sometime :)
8:28 pm
I so look forward to your blog, because during your painting instruction, you are focused on giving to those of us in your studio. And maybe your blogs will tell me a little more about how your painting style evolved and impressed me so that day at the San Clemente Paint Out when I met you and Anne.
Largely because of your instruction and influence, I am finally actualizing the desire to paint almost full time. I should submit to the Concise Oxford Dictionary a new “proper verb” heard often around my home which is “Hyattize” (capitalized per your name). To Hyattize something means moving my paint brush in a way that reflects your influence over the last few years.
As 2011 ends, I thank you, Hyatt, for your instruction, guidance, and patience–and am particularly grateful for every time that I have given you my brush to Hyattize a painting for me. Love those red splashes of color. And my appreciation also to the beautiful and gracious Anne for welcoming us and offering refreshment.
Here’s to 2012 and more red and yellow flesh tones. Your readers would probably enjoy hearing about the day you tossed out a student’s tube of paint called, “flesh.”
8:47 pm
Hyatt, I love the way you write and talk, just like your art, you paint a canvas of thoughts in my mind. Carmen
10:55 pm
Hyatt – everything you do just seems to speak to me :) I love your montage of paintings sold – so cool even better that they are not to scale :) also I love to write as well -and your words flow just as beautifully as the paint on your brushes :)
I went to the candlelight service at Heritage with a friend – imagine my delight when i saw all your work hanging in the entry and halls :) felt like i was home – much love to you and your beautiful family – can’t wait to see what’s new for you in 2012!!!!!
6:06 pm
Love the new blog! You are absolutely a writer!! Can’t wait for more :) Enjoyed seeing several of the paintings we own and love in your montage of 2011 sold.
Excited to paint with you this Saturday!!