This is kind of a first for me.  I've never had a nasty comment on my Facebook page, but today I received one and I have to admit I feel like I was punched in the stomach.  

Someone referred to my work as "derivative", and "poorly done at that".  Wow... that hurts.  

The first thing I did was look up the word derivative to see what it meant:

Derivative:

1. 1. 
   (typically of an artist or work of art) imitative of the work of another person, and usually disapproved of for that reason.
   "an artist who is not in the slightest bit derivative"
   synonyms:imitative, unoriginal, uninventive, unimaginative, uninspired; 
   
   
   

I was shocked to read this definition.  I wonder who this person perceives me to be imitating?  People have commented that my paintings remind them of several different artists ... Emily Carr, Ted Harrison ... someone even said it is like "Group of Seven meets Picasso", and although I admire all those artists... i believe my style is completely different from any of them.... although I can see an influence.  

The thing is... I don't know enough about other artists and their styles.  I've not taken art history classes, and I haven't travelled and visited art galleries much.  I paint images from my mind that are inspired by where I live, and hike, and play... also from memories, and just thinking.  One thing I have heard consistently about my work and usually from people who are interested in art is that my work is unique, and they haven't seen this type of work before.  

Anyways.... it is up to me how I choose to handle this.  After checking out this person's Facebook page, I can see that his focus is usually on the negative aspects of life.  I see no interest in art or the good parts of life.  I'm saddened that he felt it was important to put me down but you know what... I chose to put my work out there to the public so I have to learn how to handle the good with the bad.  I could just really use some (((HUGS))) today.  :)

I've discovered that there are some subjects which I paint that I can get lost in... or perhaps distracted by.  I know this can happen when I'm not painting as well.  I can't go for a hike without being absorbed body, mind and soul, by a tree, or the sky ... or the mountains.  So often when I paint, I find my focus shifts and it is difficult to create a "focal point".  I think that having a focal point is something that is important to the composition of a painting... but I must confess that I do struggle with that in my own work.  

For example... this painting was inspired by a recent hike.  I was absorbed with the patches of red on one of the slopes and started painting in my mind.  I noted that the trees were of a certain shape... and I noted the beautiful distant mountains.  So when I went back to my studio and started this painting... i knew exactly how I wanted to paint the slope, and I did.  Then I started on the sky and the distant mountains.  As I painted the sky... I felt the wind, the coolness, the vastness and forgot about my slope.  

Then, of course... the trees... which are never ever an afterthought for me.  Ideas kept coming... and I actually went down in the middle of the night to try out a colour I had been thinking about.  I forgot about the slope again.

So... then I wonder as I look at my painting.... do the trees distract from the slope?  Does the sky take away from the trees?  Is this a well-composed painting?  

I think perhaps lots of artists question their work.  Painting is such an experiential thing for me... i really get lost in it.  I think that is one of the things I enjoy about it the most... disappearing into what I am painting.  I also LOVE... being able to share what I see.  

This painting is called "High"