My view of painting

        What I would like to discuss here may not be an artist's individual artistic pursuit, nor his particular style, but the essence of Fine arts (including painting).

       There is no contradiction between the freedom of Artist' creation and the essence of Fine arts. As long as you realize art is not omnipotent, then you should also agree that its freedom(or it can be called "function") has limits. For example, a painter intends to challenge philosopher, scientist, writer, etc., I will consider him as a layman in arts.

        Realism" is not limited to painting. Other forms of art (dance, film, literature) can also be "realistic". But I don't think all realistic arts are aimed at pursuing "truth". Otherwise, arts will be redundant, because no matter how "real" art is, it is only close to reality. Reality itself is there, in the sense of "truthfulness", it is impossible for art to exceed reality itself.

       Fine arts are different from science. Art observers cannot completely abandon themselves and describe objects purely and objectively without any prejudice, Instead, they should express the subjective states caused by the stimulation of the objects. In the end, art is not a reflection of the world, but a reaction to the world. This reaction cannot be purely visual, and should also include a series of psychological processes, especially emotional response. The reflection of the object is intended to be consistent and in line with the original object, but the "reaction" occurs on the observer's side. It is a result caused by the object, and it can be different from the cause (object).

        You can use words to describe an image created by an artist (in "visual art"), such as "sea"; but the aim of the artist is not to show you this image belongs to the category of "sea", or to remind you the definition of "sea", but rather the impact from a combination of light and color, shapes and tensions in a specific scene. Moreover, when a painter is in working, he doesn't even need to notice whether he is observing the thing called "sea" or something else.

        Painting is a visual art, one must frequently use eyes to observe, whether you are painting or appreciating a work. In my teaching, I seldom repeatedly explain the name of a plaster statue, which origin, what experience and achievements it posses, but I like to talk passionately about the beautiful structure of the plaster statue under certain lighting and the combination of light and shadow. One collector was very excited when he had collected my award-winning painting. He asked me if I could write something about my initial thought of the painting. I still didn't write yet. I feel if I wrote it out, it is just nonsense or unctuous. This is not because the intuitive response of the painting is much richer than any written language, but when faced with a painting, even if your words are beautifully portrayed, it is pale and weak, like wearing a raincoat in the shower.

        Only if there is nothing in the world beyond what the words and language can refer to, then there is no need for painting. The paleness of the language can be contrasted with the thought of music. It is completely different from words and speeches, the work of our ears, the eyes are powerless, the relationship between painting and language is also true. but painting is a combination of images, which easily leads people to use words to describe and explain. Language and writing are too overbearing. It invades all fields and artists must resist.

         I'd like to point out something to be on the alert: never start painting from ideas or using voluminous articles, obscure titles to support your paintings in order to convey people to "understand" you. Painting and appreciating paintings do not require conventional knowledge and thought, but it needs is intuition and spirituality.

        Painting, especially in terms of realistic painting, is actually a very mysterious thing. The mystic is: it is neither a substitute by photos nor can it be reached by ordinary text and language. Some people say that the appearance of the camera has brought a crisis to painting, but I view it the opposite. With the emerging camera, painting is finally liberated to the right path, because the camera only took over a part work of art instead of the entire painting art.

        As an art, painting has its own principles. These principles may be more important than information from the target audience. If there is difficulty in painting, this is the most difficult aspect. Just like a chef is a chef, not because he uses good cooking materials, but because he has good skills. A painting, one wants to view it repeatedly and still holds the desire to look at it, that must be a good painting. Perhaps that means that a certain world being forgotten by the busy, practical reality has been rediscovered.

        Some people say that I am a seascape painter, but what I want to say is that I actually have a desire to express a lot of objects and scenes, but the sea excites me the most. The interesting thing is that I still don't know what the "sea" really is.

        Having said art of painting is intuitive and should minimize the domination and interference of language, still I write these words, which seems to be a bit contradictory, but these conceptions do influence my own painting. If there are other painters who also agree with my point of view, the same dogma actually dictates their artistic practice, and I can be sure that their paintings may be better than mine, but never will be the same as mine. Thus my words shall not be counted as a declaration of personalized artistic style.

        Ruo Li

        Summer of 2019
        In alabama

When I packaged this painting, the setting sun happened to shine on the painting through the woods. It was wonderful and interesting.

The flowers in the front yard this year (2022/6) are blooming happily.