I think that people who paint and people who do not paint look at and see paintings differently. 

We daily look at hundreds of images...maybe thousands...printed, online, televised. It is easy, when walking through a museum, to look at paintings, especially representational paintings, as just more 'pictures' as if we were leafing through a magazine. 

But we are not aware or appreciative of what goes into making a successful painted image. There is more to admire in a painting than just the subject matter. There is more than the "what" to a painting. There is also the "How "! There is much to learn and to master about composition, line, values, color theory, anatomy, brush work, perspective, how to direct the eye, how to hold the viewer's attention.and so much more!!

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Bo Bartlett's original painting above.



    haven't been inspired to paint anything original recently so,to keep busy,I copied a      piece by Bo Bartlett.   ( Top painting)

It's instructive.

I have to find and mix the correct colors. There is the matter of maintaining values etc....and I always seem to gain just by pushing the paint around with a brush.

This one, entitled "Lifeboat" , is my favorite of his works.

Now, I have a copy of my own !

Oil on canvas 22 x 28 inches....the original is 88 x 100 and is in a private collection.