Starting the year with a recommendation

 How Painting Happens (and why it matters) by Martin Gayford

This was a Christmas gift from my thoughtful kids and I've just finished it! 

A good indication that something has resonated with me is the amount of times I mark what I want to remember. Photos taken at a show or museum, notes from a meeting, and, in this case, lots of post-it tabs throughout the book; all a good sign that the experience has left an impression. For me this was an entertaining and informative read that is as much about creativity as it is the specific medium of painting. 

Martin Gayford's presentation makes the information accessible to the reader and easily applicable to one's own method of self expression. He doesn't rely on traditionally dense art jargon from the past. In each chapter, he breaks down the components of composition and execution with examples that address things like texture through brush strokes or effective use of color. Consideration of these elements is valuable to any artist, regardless of their medium choice.  

Gayford has shared quotes from both celebrated "masters" and contemporary painters which give perspective on their personal philosophy, their approach to their work, and even analysis of the art work of other painters they find inspiring. These insightful comments help the reader to grasp how creatives react to, assimilate, and integrate outside influences into their creative process. What is refreshing is the variety of voices that have been elevated. It draws from the past and the present, leaving you with a sense of future possibilities. 

It also feels contemporary and more balanced than books written in earlier decades. For example, I have been slowly moving through the second edition of "The Story of Modern Art" by another art critic, Norbert Lynton, (published in 1983.) Five female artists are highlighted in this book, representing 3% of the artists featured. At the very least, this is a dated, narrow, and biased presentation of the "story" of modern art. It absolutely overlooks the documented contributions and influence women painters had on their male contemporaries; the ones we hold up as "ground breaking" artists.     

In letting a wider range of painters speak to what has influenced them and what they aspire to, the reader of How Painting Happens gains a greater appreciation for the continuity of painting. This book honors the fact that ALL artists build on what has come before, and they are all a part of that history. 

An art fan trying to better understand what they are looking at in a gallery will definitely gain an appreciation for the painting process with this book. Anyone who enjoys connecting dots on a timeline of history, anyone interested in how the human activity of making marks has evolved, and still is evolving, will also find this gratifying. 

For the creative who is looking for encouragement from experienced voices, and who knows creative inspiration doesn't always come labeled with our specific interests in mind, you will find morsels of wisdom to chew and digest, like this one from Philip Guston:

"Occasionally I feel I've grown too adept at what I'm doing. It seems to me that one of the differences between interesting and uninteresting painters is that interesting painters start anew every time they paint a picture, and I try to do that. Then, I try to find something that I have absolutely no idea how to cope with."

A little heads up though: if you're looking for the answer to "why it matters" (from the title), you will not find it all spelled out for you here. You will have to extrapolate a response as you digest the messages from this book.