The Daily Spectrum

     Daily painting blog - day #1. In line with Shakespeare's quote; "... to be or not to be", that is the question of life we all must respond to. For myself, "to be" is to paint on a daily basis. Without a daily brush stroke - I barely exist.

     Are you caught in the mid-winter doldrums? Craving something bright and new? Fresh air would be pleasant - or fresh cut flowers even better. We cannot just pick up and move to a different location, but there is another hope; we can pick up a paint brush and do some painting!

     I'm not talking about the drudgery of painting interior walls. I'm exonerating the hallowed fame of basic art supplies and water or acrylic paints. My name is J.M. Langdon and I've not only been a painter for over 35 years; I've grown into a fine artist. Self-expressionism is it's own form. How do we communicate with others?

     Traditional paintings depict scenes of reality for that particular time period - a recording of history if you will. Abstracts, on the other hand, record only the artists emotional status at that moment.

     I began exploring abstract painting back in November 2011 in preparation for a gallery showing that took place a few months later. Since my life is in creating, expressions of new realities flow through me from the land of light and love. The process begins with the design as well as the question - is this going to be a realistic rendering, or pushed beyond what it is into something completely different. This holds especially true in regards to my abstract works.

     The process itself takes over as I go into a trance (this is the best way I can describe it) and the painting becomes itself. This process used to scare me. Like many humans, I fear the unknown. We can be afraid of what we do not understand. However, the more I let go and let it be, the creative force takes over and masterpiece after masterpiece is created.

     Abstract painting is fast becoming one of the greatest opportunities for banishing malaise and reducing stress. I crank up the radio and dance to my painting. Michelangelo believed that sculptures were hidden in the marble he worked with. I believe visions are hidden within the blank canvases. It is my job to discover them. My work is to reveal the brilliance that wasn't there before. Each brush stroke brings me closer to the moment of crystal clarity, and in that moment I see a perfect reflection of myself.