two hundred sixty-six

"'Looking Up' like Les III said to do (from the bottom up)"
by Chad Beroth

Recently sent to me:

I wanted to say a quick thanks for the inspiration.  And not just for the "cloud-ish" paint inspiration or the title, but I mean for inspiring me to do my best to "look up" when looking up has seemed pretty impossible to do in my chaotic life lately. Your show was a source of inspiration for me.  My life is hell right now, but I'm doing my best to stay as positive as possible. Thanks for help with that. Cheers.  cB

Artists perceive, feel, and convey for a living.  Some by choice.  Some by default.  Some transform their views and their emotions into tangible paintings.  Some aim to engage others with their resulting output.

It takes a viewer to consider what the artist is sharing visually.  (Communication requires at least two bodies -- the sender and the receiver.)  From the moment we attempt to convey we are now on a road trip with a slew of variables.  Does the viewer prefer the media selected by the artist?  Is the viewer interested in the topic displayed pictorially?  Does the artist possess the desire to talk visually?  How is the lighting in the gallery?  Does the curator act as tour guide and lead the viewer into consideration/comprehension of the work?  How is the viewer persuaded to stop in front of the work?  So on and so forth.

If/when the viewers are moved they often share with others their experience.  In the example from Delurk Artist, Chad Beroth who sent me the recent text above -- he's amid significant life struggles.  Those of you who know him know he pretty much does everything from a place of emotive art (or awesome twisted imagery of pop icons).  And like many of the creatives I interact with who similarly face struggle and meet it head on with art tools and canvas to process and share -- part of his art is nabbing the viewer and keeping their attention with a bit of plucking of the heart strings.  That's a magical part of his art -- the pitch.  He like many of us wears his emotions on his sleeve and shoots from that heart hip in artfully communicating his experience.

"Dressing Up The Clouds"
by: Les III

And so with orange paint Chad is using what he has to go forward -- just like the lady in the painting from my recent body of work "Looking Up".  She's dressing up the clouds by painting her silver lining with the only color she's got -- orange paint.  Thank you for acknowledging and interpreting the inspiration, Co-Delurker Chad.  It is reassuring to know others perceive hope in "Looking Up".

And like Chad -- acknowledging how art impacts you is a major part of this whole visual communication thing.  Now, I'm not saying everyone's got to be an advocate and start social media blitzes on why we should talk about art -- but when you catch a case of the feels for a particular piece -- sharing with others what an artwork means to you is important -- especially if the one you share it with is the artist who made the art -- the visual communication cloud cycle is complete.  

To see more of Chad's paintings, check out his current exhibition "The Art Of Sinking" and also his late father's art, via Delurk Gallery during the month of August.  Keep looking up, Chad and congratulations on your solo effort.