Hobble the arts and you hobble innovation

"The creative scientist needs an artistic imagination." From Psychology Today http://blogs.psychologytoday.com:80/blog/imagine-that/200902/a-missing-piece-in-the-economic-stimulus-hobbling-arts-hobbles-innovation As the economy stumbles, the first things to get cut at the national, state, and local levels are the arts. The first thing that goes in our school curricula are the arts. Arts, common wisdom tells us, are luxuries we can do without in times of crisis. Or can we? Let's see what happens when we start throwing out all the science and technology that the arts have made possible. You may be shocked to find that you'll have to do without your cell phone or PDA…. …The fact is that the arts foster innovation. We've just published a study that shows that almost all Nobel laureates in the sciences actively engage in arts as adults. They are twenty-five times as likely as the average scientist to sing, dance, or act; seventeen times as likely to be a visual artist; twelve times more likely to write poetry and literature; eight times more likely to do woodworking or some other craft; four times as likely to be a musician; and twice as likely to be a photographer. Many connect their art to their scientific ability with some riff on Nobel prizewinning physicist Max Planck words: "The creative scientist needs an artistic imagination." Bottom line: Successful scientists and inventors are artistic people. Hobble the arts and you hobble innovation. It's a lesson our legislators need to learn. So feel free to cut and paste this column into a letter to your senators and congressmen, as well as your school representatives, or simply send them a link to this column. One way or another, if we as a society wish to cultivate creativity, the arts MUST be part of the equation!

I first found this great article by reading Alyson B Stanfield’s great Art Biz Blog

http://www.artbizblog.com/2009/03/artistinventors

All the Best,

Michael Orwick

Orwick Arts LLC

http://www.michaelorwick.com/

http://michaelorwick.blogspot.com/ And if you're into social networking, I'd love for you to follow me on Twitter and friend me on Facebook.Follow me on Twitter --> http://twitter.com/mikeorwick Friend me on Facebook --> http://www.facebook.com/srch.php#/profile.php?id=519196660&hiq=michael%2CorwickConnect with me on LinkedIn --> http://www.linkedin.com/pub/3/9b7/74bBe sure to leave a comment and let me knowyou stopped in

Painting demo at freed gallery Saturday, March 21st 2009

Micheal Orwick Paints at the Freed Opening his month long solo show Saturday, March 21st 2009 Michael Orwick, painting his stories as an "inspired expressionist", will open a show of his impressive work at the Freed Gallery in Lincoln City with a demonstration of painting on location. On Saturday, March 21st painting from 1 to 5 Orwick will paint on location at the gallery, engaging the observers in conversation and demonstrating technique as he works. http://www.freedgallery.com/ The Freed Gallery - 6119 SW Hwy 101, Lincoln City, OR 97367 Additional Information: 541-994-5600 E-Mail: info@freedgallery.com Midway through his college career, Michael took a short sabbatical from his business classes at the University of Oregon. He moved to Australia where he filled up sketch pads with drawings and small paintings. Michael said “the thought of returning to business classes never crossed my mind”. Michael majored in Illustration at Pacific Northwest College of Art and began his professional art career as an animator, moving quickly into illustration where he enjoyed bringing the ideas of others to life. His fine art paintings are narrative in scope and open to interpretation by those who view them. “I love creating art that invites you to wander into the painting and weave your own story." Some new paintings:

Ancient Silhouettes

12x24 oils canvas

Stricken with Light

18x24 oils on Panel

Share shade upon us 12x24 oils on canvas

Escape

8x16 oils on panel

Golden Again

12x24 oiols on panel

When Day is Done

16x20 oils on panel

All the Best,

Michael Orwick

Orwick Arts LLC

www.MichealOrwick.com

http://michaelorwick.blogspot.com/

Why Paint Landscapes, why paint in Plein air

Why do you paint so many landscapes as opposed to cityscapes or portraits? Painting landscapes has to do with comfort and reverence. I feel comfortable in nature, as if I belong. I can sit or lie down and just be still. I can breathe and take it all in with feelings of gratitude, or I can poke around, explore and learn without feeling nosy. I always feel like a slightly unwelcome guest in the city, where a sigh of relief is maybe muttered by the collective whole each time I leave. Over the last few years, my appreciation for landscape painting has increased exponentially. It’s not just that I get paid to paint, but that I get rewarded to go out and seek and admire fantastically beautiful places. Many of us have watched the sun set. I, too, love to do that. But my work also grants me permission to sit and stare at trees, flowers, rocks, and water in all their forms and moods. With or without my easel and brushes, I watch as the light shifts, the winds blow, and the morning becomes day, and the day becomes night. When I do this in the city, I may well be considered a little crazy. I like people, I really do, and I’ve enjoyed painting portraits. But I feel that a good landscape is like a portrait which shows emotion and past experiences. I often have the feeling of looking at an old oak and feeling like I’m gazing upon a wizened old man-heavy from experience, shaped by personal strength and perseverance. A small sapling can have so much grace as it reaches and searches out the sun with the spirited energy of a young child. I love watching nature change throughout the days and seasons, whereas it often seems as though many of man’s creations vainly struggle to stay the same, as if trying to defy time. In contrast to human constructions, all of nature, even rocks, proudly displays the effects of time and weather, conveying a life lived and being lived in accordance with the natural order. When a landscape painting is going well, it is not so much about the end image for me; it is about being in the painting, being with the painting. I often get lost in my work, losing a sense of time and specific place. Landscape painting is like meditation. While painting nature, I sense calmness, a type of Zen, and the action becomes a prayer of gratitude. I can only hope that the people who see my work share in some of the feelings I get from painting them.

All the Best,

Michael Orwick

Orwick Arts LLC

http://www.michealorwick.com/

http://michaelorwick.blogspot.com/ And if you're into social networking, I'd love for you to follow me on Twitter and friend me on Facebook.

Follow me on Twitter --> http://twitter.com/mikeorwick

Friend me on Facebook --> http://www.facebook.com/srch.php#/profile.php?id=519196660&hiq=michael%2Corwick