Whether you believe that or not, I’m sure you’ll agree that art has power. How many of you have watched as someone was physically affected as they viewed a painting? (Not just from breathing turpentine fumes.) Perhaps you’ve seen tears. Emotion. Maybe you’ve been affected yourself. Art is also used in therapeutic healing ways. Where does that power come from? There is some sort of connection or communication taking place. It’s interesting to ponder.
So how then do we prepare ourselves to be the most effective at communicating with our paintings? How can we confidently respond to what inspires us?
1. Work toward mastering the use of your materials and the fundamentals through ongoing practice and study
• Design
• Shape accuracy (drawing)
• Value
• Color
• Edge handling
2. Make sure you know why you want to paint each painting
• What speaks most to you about your chosen scene?
• How can you best portray it to the viewer?
• Answering these questions allows you to begin to put yourself into your paintings
3. When presented with multiple ideas, don’t cram them all into one painting
4. Start with accuracy, finish with feeling
· When painting from life or from a photo, it’s difficult to convey a feeling if you don’t start with accurate portrayal of what you see (your feelings are most often a direct result of the way your scene looks)
5. Apply your paint intentionally
· Try to visualize how each brushstroke will affect your painting
6. Simplicity = strength
· Strive for concise ideas and simple shapes
7. Find yourself in your style
· Your style grows from how you choose to paint over a long period of time (including your chosen materials and methods)
The artistic voice you develop is what will separate your work from that of others and give you the most fulfillment as you continue along your creative path.
Apply Your New Knowledge
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