All by Myself

Perspectives from The Artist's Road

Solitude Watercolor 1889 (PD) Winslow Homer

“The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.”
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Contemplation and focus are at the core of the artist’s work and necessitate great periods of time of working alone. An unfortunate side effect can be loneliness. Combining the need for working alone with choosing to live a rural life has made us acutely aware of the balance needed between solitude and social interaction. Our lives parallel the “life” of a painting itself. Created with sensitivity and in solitude, some argue that a work of art isn’t completed until it has been shared. We agree.

How do we find balance? Our internet community and social media have been a form of connection we could not have dreamed of a short time ago. Opportunities to paint together with friends or at organized events have become much more available in the last few years. These can serve…