GIVE IT A GO!

The first rule of landscape painting is to paint.

‘‘No drawing,’’ commands Palmerston North landscape artist Jack Register, who has generously consented to be my tutor for the day

‘‘The sooner you learn to use a brush like a pen, the better. I prefer people to paint immediately and that’s what you’ll be doing. It shouldn’t take too long. We’re not going to muck around.’’

So, no standing on a scenic Manawatu riverbank, or picturesque George St corner with pencils or pastels deftly sketching procrastinatory studies for turning into some visually compelling piece later on. Bang go any notions of immediately improving my lamentable drawing skills.

‘‘The painting should come out of your head. You shouldn’t just blindly copy a tree. If you want it to look like a photograph you’ll be there for days.’’

Like so many ideas, learning the art of landscape painting from one of the masters seemed like a good one at the time.

I pictured being outdoors on a bright sunny day, sizing up the perspective and selecting a subject before laying down a few lazy lines and a squiggle or two.

The weather had other ideas, which is why I am in Jack’s studio in front of a blank sheet of paper taped to an Italian-made replica of a portable French easel designed in the 1800s.

‘‘They’ve never improved on the design.’’

Given the rain, water colours are appropriate.

‘‘Water colours are great. Some

‘‘The painting should come out of your head. You shouldn’t just blindly copy a tree. If you want it to look like a photograph you’ll be there for days.’’ Jack Register

people will tell you they’re difficult, but that’s not right... You’re the ‘difficult’, not the watercolour.’’

Jack turned 80 this year, but retains the enthusiasm of youth.

‘‘The idea is to keep everything simple. I’ll start off by showing you how easy it is. Your inner artist is already there. What I’m hoping is that this will help it to come out,’’ he says.

After the demonstration, which includes insight into some of the artist’s techniques and tricks, along with instructions about the best way of applying that most important part of any painting – the signature – it’s my turn.

‘‘Start with a broom and finish with a needle,’’ is another piece of insightful advice about brush selection. With water, a couple of brushes and some tubes of colour, I really have no idea what I’m doing. The result is derivative and flat.

‘‘You’re painting how you think I want you to paint. You need to relax and just express yourself. Paint to impress yourself, not to depress yourself.’’

The next attempt shows a little more flare. Jack is kind about my progress.

‘‘A painter should paint like a musician plays. Stop thinking about the tools and let things out.’’

Once the ‘‘things’’ are ‘‘out’’, it’s time to consider framing, and a surprising fact. The frame is 25 per cent of any painting.’’

If later I remember nothing else, I will remember that.

It’s been a stimulating session. Days later I’m still buzzing and looking at art supplies. But as for giving up the day job...