Learning from the Masters

Yesterday I attended the National Gallery of Victoria’s exhibition on French Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. It’s a fantastic exhibition which offers food for the soul and is one of the most well curated exhibitions I’ve attended. I loved the quotes and descriptions which not only provided an insight into the success of these high performing masters, but offered inspiration and motivation for the modern-day creator.

Here’s three quotes by Pierre-Auguste Renoir which stood out.?

“Paints in tubes, being easy to carry, allowed us to work from nature, and nature alone. Without paints in tubes, there would have been…nothing of what the journalists were later to call impressionism.”?Renoir

This quote encapsulates the power of innovation. An idea translated into a reality which adds value, has the potential to change life’s landscape.?

The simple paint tube created a new style of art, inspired a new generation of artists and art lovers, and eventually resulted in hundreds of galleries being built to showcase the art which was created.??Now 200 years on, we are still benefitting from the simple yet incredible innovation.?

“An Artist under pain of oblivion must have confidence in himself and only listen to his real master: Nature”?Renoir

Renoir was often troubled by his perceived artistic shortcomings in the face of natural beauty, however despite his insecurities he leaned into his discomfort, painted, learned and improved. The results as we know, were splendid.

For me, this quote speaks to the need for authenticity, to halting limiting beliefs and honouring one’s own inner strength. For Renoir, this didn’t always come easily, but with continued practise he reaped rewards.??

“I am in the process of learning a lot. …I have perpetual sunshine and I can scrape off and begin again as much as I like.”?Renoir??

Renoir may have been speaking literally, but this quote also resonates metaphorically.

High performing people are often those who have an abundance of curiosity, a desire to learn, who emanate optimism and consistently experiment. If we look at our work as a canvas that we can scrape off, repaint,??build upon and learn from, then mistakes are merely drops of paint that become part of the masterpiece.?

If you're not locked down and able to get to this exhibition - do! You won't regret it.