There are two reasons that really inspire me to produce Art. The first reason is producing art for children. I feel I’ll never get a better audience for my art than a child. They are brutally honest in the best possible way…if a child of any age tells you they love your work well that is high praise indeed. My 5 year old niece Scarlett is my biggest fan and my greatest critic and I love every bit of her! It’s quite scary the perceptive way children are able to see when they look and deliver their verdict. I always think more fool you if you don’t listen to kids but then I was a teacher for a long time and I have always loved the spark and honesty young people have (some people call it being cheeky!).
The second reason is producing memorial art to capture pets that have passed away as a keepsake for their bereaved families. I have recently been asked to paint both cats and dogs that are no longer with their human families and I always feel it is such an honour and privilege to be asked. I’m not a photorealist in style, I like seeing the brushstrokes and leaving areas less defined. In my opinion, capturing any living creature well relies on the accuracy of the eyes and the expression on the face…beyond that I have no interest in painting every single hair. I appreciate artists who have that technical ability and level of interest but although I love realism and detail, i think a looseness is needed in places to keep energy in the work. The painting at the top of this blog is a memorial artwork of Rosie. The pebbles fade out to keep her as the focal point. I do love her cute little face.
Have a great week! Linda
Linda Rodgers Art & Design 