The Artist's Hand

"Not just for Rabbits", oil on canvas, 12" x 12"

Initial Layout Sketch of "Not Just for Rabbits"

In conversation with a friend yesterday, he mentioned what he enjoyed most about original work was seeing the artist's hand. Today art is so mass produced or screen printed (I'm not knocking the art of screen print, for the record. Love the graphics that often are the result) that the personal touch of the artist, what makes their work their own, is often lost.

I have never been one to keep a sketch book (I currently have close to two bookshelves full of 1/4 filled sketchbooks that were forgotten a week after purchase), and usually dive into work. Many classically trained artists would cringe at this method, but I simply am to eager to get started on the actual painting.... or at least paint a study. However, I am drawn to the initial layout, and often want to keep that layout and go on to the final painting. I came to the realization yesterday that what I loved so much was that I could see my hand in my work- I could see all the marks that really only make sense to me, and to be honest am not quite sure how they come to exist on the canvas. I look at an object and go... and there is the sketch.

Above is my sketch of a cabbage, along with the image of the result. I enjoy them both, but am now striving to keep my "hand" more in my work.

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