Perspective is a very important concept.

In the art world, and a realistic painting, perspective truly is everything.  Sometimes you’ll look at a painting and something just doesn’t feel right. After careful examination, proportion, color tone, or angle will prove to be off. Even the tiniest imperfection affects the entire realism of a painting.

I was mowing my back lawn this morning, and my rows weren’t staying straight.  It turned out that I was focusing on the area right in front of me, more concerned about beating down the dandelions than the end of the row I was moving toward.

Perspective is defined as:

-The art of representing three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth, and position in relation to each other.

-The appearance of viewed objects with regard to their relative position, distance from the viewer, etc.

-A view or prospect.

-The relation of two figures in the same plane, such that pairs of corresponding points lie on concurrent lines, and corresponding lines meet in collinear points.

-A particular attitude towards or way of regarding something; a point of view.

-True understanding of the relative importance of things; a sense of proportion.

-An apparent spatial distribution in perceived sound.

In real life my perspective, or the way I see and interpret things, has been influenced by my past experiences. So in addition to where I’m standing, whether I’m above and looking down, below and looking up, or horizontal and looking directly at something, I can see an object very differently than the person beside me.

That can be a blessing and a curse. With a sunny perspective and looking at a glass half full, I can find light on a shadowy day, lightness in a cloudy sky, and hope for a rainbow in a rainstorm. As an artist, no matter what I see in front of me, I can paint it differently.

I can take a photo of a beautiful scene with power lines running through the middle of it. When I get the photo home, I can simply choose not to include them. Much like God did when He created nature to begin with.

I’ve been learning and growing, maturing and expanding quite a bit in the last couple of years. When I loose focus on the future and get caught up in worry and doubt, I’m not able to plan the angle of my mower so that my line is straight. When I focus on my past I’m really facing backward, making it impossible to make any steps forward. So I will never get to where I want to and need to go. What I am coming to understand is that my best life can be made by looking ahead to my goal. As long as I’m taking one step forward with my eyes focused on the horizon I can mow a straight line.  I can make good decisions about my future and hopefully lead others along a straight path.

I’m learning better perspective in my art. Lighter tones on the horizon and deeper tones in the foreground.  I’m learning more about making abstracts, too. I’m learning to let go and let stuff just happen. Just like when I was concentrating on the ground just in front of me, I am finding that when I let go of control and just listen with an ear to God’s voice as He whispers suggestions of color, added water, texture, or lifting; that’s when magic happens. When a nice painting turns into a “Wow” painting, that’s when I can see and remember  His perspective is so much better than mine. 

I rarely begin painting any more without praying first. I ask for God to guide my hand, for Him to make my eyes see, and for His voice to guide me.  

Inspiration is everywhere. I’m thankful for life’s lessons that have colored my perspective. I’m also thankful for relationships that are helping to illuminate my path ahead, that remind me to always look for the light in the clouds, and the rainbow in the rainstorm. Just because they aren’t there right now, doesn’t mean I can’t paint them in.

Nature is a beautiful thing. You are nature. Be beautiful. Live life, grow, and shine in the light just as you were meant too.