Recently I awarded myself one of my periodic “art retreats” in order to recharge the creative batteries. I spent three days in the Dales village of Kettlewell, walking and scouting for new themes for paintings. In some respects it was disappointing …. mainly because I had been unable to find suitable self-catering accommodation, as I usually do. On this occasion I was in a pub.
Having returned I have been able to complete one picture which is more or less satisfactory. On reflection, I think that its weakness (apart from a compositional weakness which I am not sure that I can correct) is the fact that it only makes sense in the company of the verse of poetry I took as a title. I think that this works well, but I am nagged by the idea that a picture ought to stand on its own feet without the need for an accompanying “prop”. Then I reflect on the fact that nearly all pictures will be given a title by their creator, and often it is not possible to make sense of the artist’s intentions without referent to that additional information.
I’m going to have to continue thinking about that one.