The Artistic Process

A student of Herb Jackson describes his process. extracted from Excavations; Roger Manley

… Almost nothing turned out an immediate success, but one learned to work WITH, not ON a painting.

Each painting went through stages as the images gradually refined and emerged. Deliberate and dedicated effort to artmaking was a revelation… the whole process of exploring new approaches, reaching dead ends, finding creative solutions and editing and refining to reach a satisfactory result – that is all the steps that are always part of true art-making…

We’ve all seen hack artists… wielding sponges and palette knives to crank out chalets and mountain lakes or stands of bamboo in a matter of minutes that would do any motel room proud… but we almost never get to see the prolonged work and thoughtful effort it takes to get beyond the kitsch… and come up with something more significant.

You can see Herb Jacksons work at the Art Cellar in Banner Elk, NC. Well worth a visit.