Painting with a Concept     At first, learning to paint must include painting things well. This is reasonable. Consequently, most painters feel they have succeeded in this quest when they can paint the subject convincingly and capture a look of reality. However, though painting images can be captivating, any thinking person might ask if there is something more than this technical proficiency.     If you have ever been moved by a great work of art, you may have wondered if it possesses something else. "How can paint, shapes, color, and edges be so compelling?" Paintings with more impressive technique often lack this ability to move the viewer. Instead, they impress with rendered detail and inspire wonder at the work involved. Some may lack technical prowess and instead rely on sentiment or storytelling to capture the viewer. Some may simply depend on bravura brushwork.     Standing before a great painting, the inquisitive painter must wonder where the magic lies. The image fixes your gaze to the surface beauty and compels you to return again and again, leaving a lasting impression, but why?     The underlying culprit is the concept. Rather than seeing each object as a separate entity, concept establishes a relationship between objects, thereby making something that is greater than the parts. This underlying visual message creates a beauty beyond subject matter and is the real reason behind the painting. Abstract ideas in paint, though difficult to grasp, directly affect the depth of the work. The less personal and the more universal the motive, the more compelling and sublime the statement becomes.               Back to Top