Petrus Spronk
Hey artist, an open letter to those participating in this year’s annual Daylesford Rotary Art Show:
A while back I was asked to judge this year’s Rotary Art Show which will be held October 31 to November 5. What, on earth, possessed me to accept this thankless task? An activity which leaves most people unhappy with the outcome when there is an only one winner.
And what does the judge judge anyway?
If art was a foot race, the first person over the line would clearly be the winner. But what about when there isn’t a clear winner. What is being judged? When the winner would not be clear cut and another judge would most probably choose another work to be the winner from the same exhibition. What then?
Thinking about some of these issues you may now understand that I had to give this job of judging the exhibition some thought before I would commit myself. Since, in the end it, is a pretty difficult task because most participants want to win and are unhappy at the outcome unless, of course, they are the winner.
Anyway, from the outset it is of course a ridiculous idea to judge art. Plus entering an art exhibition, is not unlike entering a lottery. Because if you were to enter an art exhibition/competition, and there were numerous judges, you would most probably find that there would be as many different winners as there were different judges.
“Why?” you may well ask. If there were five judges it is most likely that there would be five different winners. It would be most unlikely that there truly would be only one winning painting.
I feel that since I have been approached to judge this exhibition it is only fair to let the participants know what I am looking for in a painting. Another judge would probably be looking for something else. And who is choosing the judges and why?
So here goes. As the judge for the 2024 Rotary Art Show. I would do my best to make something from an unreal situation. I would like the winning painting to get me high. To excite and inspire my spirit. To surprise me by what has been produced. To be innovative and to show me that you know something about painting – the composition, the colour fields, the pricing, and so on.
For instance, in a landscape painting am not looking for a likeness of nature. We have cameras for that. I am looking for more of an interpretation, more of a representation of the landscape.
I am looking for something new and fresh. A new or different way of painting. Where the artist has taken a risk. Because if you never ever take a risk, you never ever get high.
Tell me a story. And in the telling show me what you know about painting. Do you understand, for instance, the warm and cool colour spectrum. Do you know what happens when you put a warm colour in a cool colour field together. What is needed to create a quiet painting, and what about a restless one.
What is an abstract painting? What is it that you abstract?
Have you considered how you apply the paint? You most probably use a brush bought from the shop. Have you tried painting with a home made brush or a piece of card board? Or (and don’t be afraid) use your fingers?
And then, have you considered looking at the work of the great innovators in art? Painters such as van Gogh or the pointillism of Seurat? Have you looked, and considered, trying the techniques of the impressionists and post impressionists? Or what about the surrealists?
Be daring, like the artists from the modern school.
Be different. Be yourself. Allow your spirit to express itself.
See your world as an artist would. And how would that be?
If you want to enter a painting for the 2024 Rotary Art Show, you’d better get painting. Entries close on October 2. Dip your brush into the paint and allow it to dance over the canvas, the dance of life, the only dance there is.
Paint for the love of it and forget about any prize winning because it has nothing whatsoever to do with art.
Petrus Spronk is a local artist and author who contributes a regular monthly column to The Wombat Post.
