Magic!
I’ve recently discovered a drawback to art school. I’ve always admired printmaking, it’s a beautiful medium. I still think this of course, and I’m planning on taking more of it in my second year. The problem is, when you learn how to do it yourself, some of the magic is lost. Part of what I enjoy most about art is being awed, and wondering “how did they do that?” Learning how to do all the things I admire in other people’s work…It’s a bit like finding out how a magician did their trick. Don’t get me wrong. I still love it, but now when I look at things I’m also thinking about how they did it, all the elements in play, etc. etc.
One artist however, still manages to awe me every time. Maybe because his paintings are magical themselves, but there’s something about his work that’s marvelous, mysterious, and absolutely captivating. His name is Eric Orchard, and he never fails to amaze me. Even after learning how to use gouache, (Eric’s medium) I’m still wowed by his work. He manages to infuse each and every painting with magic and imagination, and you feel it whether you’re trained or not. These are just a few of his many creations.
His paintings from a recent book are going to be on display and for sale at the Black Duck in Lunenburg later this month. I would highly recommend going to see them for yourself!