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If you are a lover of art history, as I am, you've no doubt studied several artists' works

through their painting lifetimes.   They started out in one direction and often changed their

style completely by the time they died.  Picasso's early work was very conventional, easy

to understand and followed the traditions of his education.  Van Gogh's early work was

dark, and I thought, crude.  But then he was learning his craft as well as who he was.

I think of these two artists, not because I compare myself with either one that's for sure,

but because their work changed so dramatically.

I have now been painting full time for nearly 30 years.  I began working in charcoal and

pastel doing portraits and figures, my early loves.  I traveled through water color, oil, oil

bar and unbelievably settled into acrylics.  Subject matter doesn't seem to hold me back 

as I set a goal for each new work.  For example, with Blue Mystery my goal was to work on

values using limited colors.  Of course, I wanted the painting to hold together and be interesting

but not overly realistic.  My more recent works have followed this same mind set but are

more abstracted.  

So how does this relate to Picasso and Van Gogh's painting journey?  Well how often have 

you had someone, a spouse, partner, friend, gallery owner say, "Well that's different for you."

Meaning what?  It doesn't look like your work?  Why aren't you painting like you use to?

I like what you use to do?  Or, wow I like this new approach.  I believe our work should change.  

It's normal.  How boring would it be to continue painting the same way and the same things

year after year, decade after decade.  Besides if you compare works, there usually is a link; colors, brush

strokes, textures.  It indicates growth and learning.

While I may create some really questionable pieces while I experiment with new ideas and materials,

I think I will welcome "Well that's different for you."  After all, if it was good enough for Picasso and

Van Gogh, it should be good enough for me too.