New Isis Theater, Fort Worth
. . . having a working command of the creative process–that is, all those elements that lead to the making of art–is truly essential. The creative process unfolds as you find the essential tools in your toolkit. It means finding your subjects (not someone else’s) and finding your materials (not someone else’s) and most of all it means finding a way to live your life so that you can engage again and again the things you care about the most.
Ted Orland, The View From the Studio Door
As Sunday fades into the late afternoon, I realize that I will soon have to lay aside my art work and take up Shakespeare for tomorrow morning’s summer school class. Teaching pays the bills; I do that so I can live to make art. Teaching supports my habit, though I must immediately add that this is the only profession in my career that has truly fit me. I have never stopped loving the educational enterprise. Perhaps that is because I am still a student, and always will be.
I have made two trips to the Fort Worth Stockyards in the past four days, both times in triple-digit temperatures, and both times returning to my studio with a renewed interest in pursuing a series of studies in the edifices on North Main, especially the New Isis theater. As I continue to work on this watercolor, as well as additional compositions of this historic theater, I will have much to report concerning its history. I have been fascinated to find pages and pages of data on this remarkable structure and the stories it embodies.
I have not put much work into this piece yet, save for the sign, the part that holds the most fascination for me. I’m about ready to move down into the awning and left to the pair of doors ready for rendering. The sign was a great source of joy, and I guess I can say that the most “fun” part of the painting is now behind me; everything else should just be supporting detail. Having said that, I may be closer to the end of this sketch than I realized when I began this blog post. But so it goes.
Thank you for reading.
I paint in order to remember.
I journal because I feel that I am alone.
I blog to remind myself that I am not alone.
Tags: Fort Worth Stockyards, Isis Theater, movie theater, Ted Orland, View from the Studio Door
Recollections 54 The Art of David Tripp 
June 30, 2013 at 4:16 pm |
nice beginning; i’m sure it will be another winner!
internet is too slow to load the like button, but consider it ‘liked’ – z
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July 1, 2013 at 11:24 am |
Thank you! I’m still tooling around with it. Don’t think I have much left to do.
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June 30, 2013 at 5:46 pm |
I have never seen the Isis before, but I imagine elaborately costumed actors/actresses on the doorstep, or a newspaper boy holding the critics’ reports. I can’t wait to see your painting, since you have actually been there.
Always learning. 🙂
Traveling on Tuesday.
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July 1, 2013 at 11:25 am |
Thank you! There is so much on the Internet, concerning its history. I’m still reading up on it. I’m nearly finished with this first sketch, and anxious to begin another.
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