Original paintings are often meaningful
Indian people are sometimes surprising
I want you to meet Ramesh
Alias ‘The Chai Guy’
Ramesh The Chai Guy from India with his trusted bike
He’s a polite, beautiful quiet spoken Indian, who seems to really enjoy his humble occupation
The ‘Chai Guy’ travels around Bangalore on his bike selling tea
He appears 11.30am sharp everyday selling his wares. As sure as the sunrises, Ramesh is on time
Now, I have spent many years in Asia, and here’s a fact…
Point 1. Asian people are not normally known for their punctuality.
I love Asians.
But if an Asian understands a westerner is precious about time, they’ll make you wait even longer. Just to prove a point
In Australia, I drink tea
But Chai is my favourite
There are many varieties of Chai in India, unique local tastes that originate from different regions of the country
Below is The Chai Guy’s bag of tricks
His unique system of working
Ramesh’s unique basket of different varieties of Chai Tea which is carried on his bike around India.
But here’s what really fascinates me…
Like the Chai Guy, Indian people can be highly structured, organised and very disciplined with time
But most times, they’re completely unstructured. Even totally confused about time
This is why it interests me…
The same characteristics are the key to incredible creativity
A balanced system somewhere between the structured and unstructured, confused and clear thinking, is very important when creating a quality original painting. Creativity requires a high level of organisation and structure, but also disorganisation and free flowing space
It’s the system of working that’s essential
Point 2. Top artists know how to balance confusion and clarity into self-disciplined activity.
At any moment weird things can happen in India
The electricity might go off for extended periods of time. Hot water may cease. The taxi may not appear. Noises might suddenly go off. All for no reason
But back to being punctual…
This is why I am obsessive about time…
Just in case something weird happens. And I need time for the unexpected. I like to arrive at least 30 minutes early to everything
Especially as a foreigner living in a strange country, leaving things to the last minute creates enormous anxiety, which I prefer to avoid
If I have an exhibition coming up, my original paintings will be completed many weeks, if not months beforehand. If a commission deadline is looming, I will be finished many weeks earlier
Here’s another reason why I am so particular about time…
It goes very quickly
Point 3. I like to have time available to relax and make important refinements to my original paintings at the end of the creative process.
However, I know many artists who operate in a frantic rush to the end. But I can’t live with that stress and panic.
It’s the minor creative refinements at the end of the process that can really improve an original painting. Becoming aware of these minor adjustments requires much time and careful contemplation.
Here’s what is essential, in a productive system, to enriching ones creative life…
Reflection
Just gazing in contemplation
Silence
When I was a child I had many enjoyable experiences with my father. One of those special memories, around age 12, was something that only a sensitive artistic boy like myself would enjoy
I have always loved native Australian birds
Point 4. When birds fly, so do my thoughts, birds set me free from the earth bound world.
Especially Pelicans gliding high above in the bright blue Australian sky
As a child, after work my father would come home tired. He’d grab a beer from the fridge and we’d both check on our canaries. I would sit beside him on the bench and watch our colourful canary’s fly gracefully across the 4 meter long aviary.
He would ask about my day at school. And I’d reply, ‘It was good’.
But generally, we said very little to each other.
In the quietness of bird watching, the canaries would occasionally reach their lungs to heaven and break out into glorious song. It’s beautiful to hear a canary at full throttle.
We listened and watched the birds for hours. Observing the finer elements of bird life, until mom would call us for dinner
These days, when I finish a painting, the same principle applies
I need quality time with my original paintings, to observe the finer elements. I need to observe the texture, and how the paint fly’s across the canvas, the composition of the original painting, and how the colours sing
“Australian Rainbow Lorikeets” by Simon Brushfield. Acrylic, Linseed Oil and Charcoal on paper (Sold: Private Acquisition)
Peaceful reflection creates space and freedom in the mind. Allowing whatever that enters to come and go, without judgment.
Just observing.
Final Point. It’s observing the finer elements of life that really make the masterpiece meaningful.
If you’re interested in purchasing an original painting, or maybe you would like to commission Simon, please click here.
