back to wolf kahn and intention

These two plein air paintings were painted at the same site with different intentions, one today the other was done on Saturday.
 In each one I set an intention- not exact, but an articulated idea. I did a notan for each and a few written notes on the page.
The painting at the top was about the softness of the grasses near the pond. The sky needed to lean into (through use of color) the pond so that the pond was more special.
The painting below was designed to be in 4 bands of color. Working on harmonious vibrations between bands. I know that next time I will reduce it to 3 bands...4 was too much.

 I had Wolf Kahn in my mind, in particular an old story I once heard him tell. I have been reading my old sketchbooks. I found the page with my notes that recorded Wolf Kahn's wisdom. He's a wonderful man who seems to get his points understood through story.

This is my favorite Wolf-ism.

"Aiming is wrong. If you know ahead of time what you are doing it won't be good. You need to surprise yourself. "
He went on to share a story about a pitcher from the Astros baseball team who had bought a painting of his. "We got to talking and he had questions about my painting process. He said it was just like his process. He said that he trains, but can't plan his game ahead of time. He can't aim too much or the batter will know what he is going to do. He just has to have a general idea about where he wants the ball to go. Then he uses his full strength and lets go."

All the pitcher/artist's training and practice pays off, but he/she lets go. Trust.

Hear that painters- train and go.