A Change In Perspective

It was another mother-daughter day.
This time my youngest daughter and I toured two famous artists’ studios.
We have been to the museum before and enjoyed the paintings of these two men.
This day was different, this day we would walk where the famous artists walked.

A shuttle left the museum at 10:00 in the morning.
We drove a short distance to the first studio.
The studio of N.C.Wyeth, the man we know as illustrator.
The man who wanted to be known as painter.

Newell Convers Wyeth was a student of the artist, Howard Pyle.
N.C.Wyeth created over 3,000 paintings and illustrated 112 books in his lifetime.
Twenty-five of the books he illustrated were known as the Scribner Classics.
The first of the Scribner Classics he illustrated was Treasure Island in 1911.

Wyeth was commissioned to paint large murals.
An original mural takes up much of the back wall of his studio.
The man who painted larger than life was indeed larger than life himself.
Walking into his studio was like walking back in time.

His brushes and palette were there upon the table.
N.C. Wyeth was a collector of props since they helped him with his painting.
He had a magnificent gun collection, though he never hunted or was in a war.
He was right-handed and he used the left sleeve of his smock to wipe off excess paint.

N.C. Wyeth had five children, one of whom was Andrew Wyeth.
Andrew went on to become one of the foremost American artists of the late 20th century.
Two Andrew Wyeth reproductions are in my home.
The Master Bedroom hangs in my bedroom and Christina’s World in the dining room.

Where N.C’s studio was larger than life, Andrew seemed to be a minimalist by contrast.
N.C was neat and orderly; Andrew was a bit messier with paint everywhere.
Both father and son were avid readers and their collection of books was astounding.
N.C collected props and his son, Andrew, collected toy soldiers.

What struck my daughter and I was the sign on Andrew’s studio door.
I am working so please do not disturb. I do not sign autographs. Beware of dog.
My daughter and I had our own private tour and the guide explained the sign.
Her explanation gave us better insight into Andrew, the artist and man.

Andrew’s studio was formerly a one-room schoolhouse.
When it came on the market, N.C. Wyeth purchased it since it was next to his property.
He hoped that one of his five children would decide to live in that little house.
One daughter and her husband, who were both artists, lived there and painted there.

Soon they moved west which left the house empty.
Andrew married and moved into the little house.
The unassuming white clapboard house was easily spotted from the road.
Andrew allowed the woods and brush to become overgrown, secluding the property.

I smiled when I saw the area where Andrew and his wife kept their phone.
There was no phone book, rather Andrew wrote phone numbers on the wall.
They are still there in his handwriting, now behind Plexiglas.
It is rumored that if they had an argument, his wife would paint over the phone numbers.

Andrew parked his car in the back of the house and hid it.
He put the sign on the door to deter visitors who might want to meet the artist.
The house cannot be seen until you actually arrive at the door.
It was a privilege to go into that private space where very few people entered.

I understand that need to step back.
I understand that need for seclusion.
It was not rudeness.
It was necessity.

I am by no means an artist.
Though I am a writer.
The creative process demands attention.
The creative process does not fit into a neat little box.

Whether artist or writer, you tend to see things differently.
You bring the nuances that you see or experience into your work.
Wyeth captured a simple wicker clothes basket leaning against a wall.
His painting of a pig makes you feel as if you need to brush away the wisps of hay.

I have had a summer of stillness.
A summer of purposefully pulling back, though not out of rudeness.
Rather because of a desperate need to change perspective.
I should have had a sign similar to Andrew’s on my door.

Instead, I remained quiet and still and spent my time listening.
Listening to the world around me and to the whisperings inside of me.
I was waiting on God.
And true to His character, God showed up.

In my life, God often uses concurrence.
His Word, a sermon, a book, a song will all have the same theme running through them.
One line in the new book, Go Set A Watchman, spoke to my heart helping my perspective.
God will do that; He will answer in the most unusual places.

The title of Harper Lee’s sequel is taken from the book of Isaiah.
Go set a watchman, let him declare what he sees. (Isaiah 21:6)

A watchman was usually posted some distance from the battle.
A watchman looked for signs of victory or defeat.
Stepping back, out of the fray, is the only way to get that perspective.
Being still and listening gives you insight that is not possible when there are distractions.

Go set a watchman.
Do not disturb.
Listen and watch, take it all in.
Be in the process of changing your perspective.

I noticed that in each artist’s studio, there was a large mirror.
It was explained that each artist liked to see their work from another perspective.
They could look at the piece head-on or they could look at it in reverse in the mirror.
Each artist felt the need to do that; his own artist’s perspective was not enough.

A summer of stillness.
A change in perspective.
A going back with a new vision.
A glance in the mirror to see what another sees.

We all go through life with our props.
We appear bigger than life to some and smaller than a flea to others.
That mirror perspective is necessary.
Being still and silent enough to be able to take a backwards glance.

Try to see what another sees from a different perspective.
A necessary perspective of backwards glancing and forward moving.
Go set a watchman, let him declare what he sees.
Approval or disapproval does not matter, but the declaration matters greatly.

Hang up your own Do Not Disturb sign.
Be still enough to hear the necessary things that will help you move forward.
Notice what is in front of you and what is behind you in the mirror.
Your voice is needed; declare what you see.

 

2 responses to “A Change In Perspective”

1. They say that 90% of the artist’s work is done before she touches a pencil or brush; in other words, creative people are always “working” even if it doesn’t look like it. We need times of quiet to let our minds go where they will and for God to enter in. Sometimes it is with a thought, an insight, or an idea for a creative piece. This was a great post, something I can really relate to. Glad you enjoyed your visit to the Wyeths. Sometime I’ve got to go, too. I wonder if they knew God and acknowledged the talent they had as coming from Him.

   Reply

   • Sue,
     God truly gifted N.C. and Andrew Wyeth. I pray that they did know Him. God knew them. God has gifted Jamie Wyeth (Andrew’s son and N.C.’s grandson) as well. We are all blessed by the artistic talents of these men.
     Gina

     Reply