Why do I paint?

Recently, I was out painting with a friend near Tesuque, New Mexico.  This is unusual for me because I like to paint by myself. I do not paint with a group, I like to be alone, less distractions.  And, I might add, I do not consider an outdoor painting session as a social event.  The day was beautiful, no clouds, and a blue sky as I looked out upon the Sangre de Cristo Mountains .

I set up my easel and prepared to paint, looking at the white canvas.  I always feel a bit like Van Gogh who told his brother Theo that he “stands before a blank canvas and decides he has to put something on it.”  I began my work, and as is my habit, I began to put a touch of paint here and a touch of paint there.  After a while the scenes begins to appear.  As I was painting my friend came over and suggested that I raise the mountains as there was too much sky.  Well, I do not suffer criticism or suggestions too well when I am painting.  I told him “no” it’s fine for me.  I really do not like suggestions like that because they interrupt what I’m doing and throw me off my mindset.

After awhile, when I did not heed his advice my friend asked me “why do you paint anyway.”  “Well, eh well, eh you know, I paint, I paint because I like to.” I took as him saying “you are not painting well, so why bother.” I ended the day and didn’t give it much thought.  But over the next several days the question kept popping up in my mind, “why do I paint.” I thought about it and I could not come up with a satisfactory answer.  I don’t really know.  If it were a question on an exam I would probably write down a bunch of cliches, but I really didn’t have an answer.

So, being an attorney for 49 years, my research mind kicked in and I decided to see what others thought about this question.  I found many articles and items on the subject of “why do I paint.” Some were quite insightful, many were the cliches one would expect.  Below is a sampling of the answers and ideas.

“ I paint because it allows me to express myself, my emotions, and thoughts in a visual form, transcending the limitations of language.” Ipshita Biswas.

Some say they paint, not because they want to, but because they have to.

“ I found I could say things with shapes and colors that I couldn’t say in any other way- things I had no words for.” Georgia O’keefe.

Some say it is mindfulness training. Painting puts you in the present moment to focus on the task at hand.

“Painting is another way of keeping a diary.” Vincent Van Gogh.

“The only time I feel alive is when I paint.” Vincent Van Gogh.

“Every artist dips his brush into his soul, and paints his own nature into his painting.” Henry Ward Beecher.

“I could paint for a hundred years, a thousand years without stopping and I would still feel as though I knew nothing.” Paul Cezanne.

My research led me to conclude that there are an infinite number of reasons why artists paint.  I could go on and on, adding quotes, but there are as many reasons as there are painters.

So after all of this, I’m still not sure of an answer to the question, “why do I paint.” I’m not sure that I need an answer. If one paints, stick to it. Keep on painting and maybe the answer is deep inside oneself and it is better to let others decide.  I do not think a painter needs to articulate a reason as to why they paint.  What do you think.