Stripping out the '10,000 Things'

Decluttering our house frees our attention.
Decluttering an image, finding its essence, frees our vision and improves our painting process.

[kathyriggs]

Beautiful words. When we declutter a scene and paint it we "are" it. It's a wonderful place to be. Thank you for voicing it so clearly.

[Moretzification]

I love the expression "being in the business of resonance", I never thought it that way.

[Matlacha_Painter]

I’m happy you are still here! I must have misunderstood. You are absolutely invaluable to me…..DON’T GO ANYWHERE!

[roxannenaydan]

I love your presentations. You never talk down to your students. You give them plenty of food for thought.
Take care Ian. Be well.❤

[ganzeige]

My takeaway from this for a painting of a landscape is this: It is the meadow that is part of my composition that attracts me, so I need to paint *one* meadow instead of a *thousand* blades of grass and flowers.

[bu]

Thank you again for your great ideas shared with everybody! It is very generous of you! All my best wishes, Adri

[mlcs]

Thanks Ian. You have taught me so much valuable information.

[pbingham]

Love the idea of "resonance." That's exactly what it's all about, but I've never thought of it like that. Thank you.

[fjrouse]

Brilliant and so timely with all of us in a world of distractions! Many thanks!

[sandrade]

You have the amazing ability to even make your information wise and simple enough for my cluttered mind. Thank you

[MladenPostruznik]

That's why I was attracted to your channel in the first place. Composition - simplifying. Essence. And that is the hardest to do in art. At this level of my search for the proper process that will bring me to the essence I found this: you start with organized chaos, like blocking, and then weave it into harmony. But I keep being amazed by one thing that is so immanent to painting: how one small and insignificant brushstroke can change it all. Put it all in one logical order. Create unity.

[evandegenfelder]

Eerily prescient Ian. I’m working on a landscape (rural, farming, livestock etc) and really want it to be simple and direct. This came at such a good time for me to hear it. Reminds me “less is more”…..
Thank you Ian!

[galesaunders]

Thank you again Ian, my morning first thing ritual, watching your lessons, Love the quote today too!

[saram]

Wonderful thoughts. I was sad when I thought you were withdrawing from YouTube. I’m so glad you’re still sharing your knowledge with us!

[giannafallavollita]

Love your art tutorials ❤
Hans Hoffman quote ... 'The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so necessary may speak'. I try to paint by this quote!

[las]

Great stuff, I had to listen twice to really take that in. Thanks Ian.

[annap]

So profound and beautiful…. 

I repeatedly watched 6 parts of “ The Search for Beauty with artist Ian Roberts” from Vimeo, so many times, still can’t get enough of it… it just touch my heart so deeply, I have to keep revisiting those videos so I won’t forget to loose the grip of our hamster life, and remind myself of having the ”leisure “ …..  

This sentence from the part 5 keeps hanging in my mind “We don’t possess beauty, beauty possess us, … it’s like Grace, she reveals herself to us… “

[carolhama]

So...is that kinda like just getting the main shapes while squinting? So fabulous to listent to someone speaking the language of art!

[ronniebloke]

"Words of wisdom Ian, words.. of.. wisdom". I always look forward to your email notifications!

[JohnTravena]

Always liked that Buddhist phrase, well said! Love the thumbnail. 🍀