Buck Paulson

Consider the One

PLEASE NOTICE ME TOO!

I want to tell you about a couple of experiences that have led me to enjoy my being able to paint in my studio even more than before.

The first one happened while I was teaching and coaching in Canada. It was a very close basketball game with our team clinging to a one-point lead over a traditional rival. I was totally focused on the game when I heard a call from the far end of the bench, “Mr. Paulson.” Then, a little more urgently, “Mr. Paulson!” I turned and saw one of my substitute players, Dennis, with his hands up to his mouth. “What Dennis? What do you want?” I asked.
“Mr. Paulson, what do we have for Science tomorrow.”
‘WHAT DO WE HAVE FOR SCIENCE TOMORROW? WE ARE IN A BASKETBALL GAME DENNIS!”

Years later, it still haunts me. Dennis didn’t want to know what the Science assignment was for the next day. He wanted me to NOTICE HIM TOO.

A number of years ago, I had a studio-gallery up town. One day I decided to take all of the paintings off one wall, and then re-hang them one at a time in order to photograph them individually. I was amazed at how good some of the smaller ones appeared when they didn’t have their over-powering neighbor paintings to obscure them.

These two experiences came home to roost during my recent painting strategies. I want to have focus! I have found that by setting a timer for one hour of painting on a canvas, I am able to FOCUS on that painting more than before. I know that I can’t finish the painting in an hour (contrary to my PBS offerings) so instead, I spend quality time on one area of the painting. When the timer rings, I go to another painting. This keeps my painting time fresh as I work on a couple different paintings during the studio session.

FOCUS…whether painting, coaching, or in conversation with others. Quality time is the byword!

Labels: 9" x 12" Seascape

posted by Buck Paulson @ 7:35 AM