Learn to… Art!

Experiencing An Artistic Identity Crisis?

Aug 24, 2011 Art General

If so, you’re not alone. Because I am too!

According to popular opinion, the key to success as an artist is knowing what you want from your art. Do you want fame and recognition? Do you want to be rich? Do you simply want to make a living making art?

Well, what if you can’t identify what you want from your art, or even what kind of art you like to do? You end up like me, spread too thin, not committed enough to any one thing to be successful.

Tough to admit? You bet!

Where does all this ambivalence come from? I’m convinced it’s the result of years of  “brainwashing” in art school. I started school believing I was into one type of art, and I left school believing I was into another type of art. Now I’m floating somewhere in between, not sure where my beliefs end and the school’s teachings begin.

Anyone who has been to university for fine arts can probably tell you that there is a definite emphasis on content and concept over technical skill or presentation. Paintings should have some type of narrative or commentary. Realistic, representational work is boring, pointless, stagnant. To paint something because it will sell is to sell-out.

Well, that was the message I got anyways. It wasn’t until fourth year that someone actually said to me, “if you want to paint realistically, that’s fine, just make sure you do it well.” But by then I was so far gone that I responded with, “I don’t want to paint realistically, it’s become a crutch.”

I’m pretty sure I believed it at the time. Now I’m not so sure.

Plagued with doubts as I am, I look at self-taught artists with envy. They seem to blindly forge ahead, confident in their abilities and direction, completely unfettered by the trappings of the “institution.” And as a result, they are successful.

So, what’s an artist to do in the face of an identity crisis?

My solution is to get back to basics and find the enjoyment in art I had before school by taking these steps:

• Stop feeling so much pressure to produce, produce, produce.
• Stop worrying about if it will sell, if there’s a market for it.
• Focus on painting what interests me.
• Stop when it’s no longer interesting, move on to something else.

I have been browsing the Wet Canvas Reference Image Library for images that intrigue me and painting whatever catches my fancy (like my horse up there). I want to rediscover the joys of painting and settle into a niche that is more comfortable and natural.

I am re-learning my artistic identity. I don’t know how long it will take, but it’s a necessary step to figuring out what I want from my art and achieving success.

Tags: art school, Creativity, motivation

Big OOPS Turns Into Good Idea: Mistakes and Making Art

Jan 9, 2011 Art General

“Big OOPS turns into good idea.”

One of the things about blogging is that, as with art, inspiration comes from many places. The phrase above was actually the subject line of a post on a wedding planning forum. The poster messed up on her invitations and in the process of fixing the mistake, found a solution that was even better than the original idea.

This sentiment can be applied to your art practice  as well!

Mistakes are not bad things. Mistakes do not mean you’re a bad artist. Mistakes do not mean you don’t know what you’re doing. Mistakes do not equal failure.

We have been programmed to see mistakes as negatives, indications of personal shortcomings and failures. In terms of art, this could not be farther from the truth. Mistakes are an indication of freedom, experimentation, play, and confidence. They are the result of doing something new and unexpected.

When you add this unpredictable dynamic to your art process is when exciting things start happening!

What would happen if you never tried something new or took a risk with your art? You would do the same thing over and over. Giving yourself permission to make mistakes liberates you from this kind of stagnation. Mistakes are the kick-start to creativity. They are what get your brain working on a problem and how to fix it. Have you ever seen the words “creative problem solving” on a resume? The key word here is problem. Without the problem, you don’t get the creative solution!

It really comes down to confidence. You need to have the confidence in yourself that when you do make a mistake, you will have the tools and ability to fix it. This kind of confidence doesn’t come from playing it safe; it comes from playing around and experimenting.

Making mistakes is essential to a dynamic and productive art practice. Go out today and try something new, something a little bit scary. It’s okay to screw up!

Tags: art tips, Creativity, motivation

Do You Eat, Sleep and Breathe Art?

Oct 6, 2010 Art General, Creativity

If not, it’s okay!

I used to feel a lot of pressure to make my whole life about art. Certainly, this was the message I got in art school.

An artist should make art, read about art, write about art, attend art openings, socialize with other artists, and essentially immerse themselves in their own art and the art world in general.

Seriously?

Honestly, if I did all of these things all of the time, I would have no time for anything else!

Add to that blog about art, tweet about art, read other artist’s blogs and art forums and it gets even more ridiculous.

Being an artist doesn’t mean you have to be an artist all the time. Artists are parents, siblings, children; they are wives and husbands; they are employees and employers; they may be golfers, or runners, or campers, or travelers, or readers, or volunteers. In short, they are human!

Artists, just like anyone, need a well-rounded, balanced life. This is good for your general state of well-being, but also good for your art practice. The things that go on in your life outside of your art are the things that inform your work.

It wasn’t until my last year at art school that one of my profs openly acknowledged this, and not until recently that I was able to generalize his advice. I was planning my course schedule and considering taking my electives during the summer so that I could fully concentrate on my studio classes during the semester. He recommended that I take both at the same time, so that my experiences in non-art classes could inform my work in the studio.

I took my electives in the summer anyways, which was the best choice for me in the end, but the lesson remains the same.

No matter where you are in your art career, it’s important to have a full, satisfying life. Spend time with your friends and family, participate in your hobbies, indulge in some down time. Your art will benefit from it!

Tags: being an artist, Creativity, motivation, time management

Is Your Painting Finished? 5 Questions to Ask Yourself

Sep 29, 2010 Drawing

How do you know when your painting is finished? With some pieces you just know, but with others you need to make a conscious decision to stop. It can be difficult to figure out when your painting is finished. You often don’t know it was done until you go too far and realized you should have stopped ten minutes earlier!

Here are some questions to ask yourself to help determine if your painting is finished.

1. Is there enough contrast?

A fully realized painting should reflect a full range of contrast between values (light and dark) and hues (vibrant and unsaturated). When looking at values, it can be helpful to squint your eyes. This highlights the contrast between the lightest and darkest areas of your painting. You can also take a picture of your painting and digitally make it a gray-scale image. This gives you the best indication of the range of values. With not enough contrast in value, your painting will appear gray and flat.

Paintings should also have a mix of hue intensity; the brightness of colours. If you’ve used all of your colours straight out of the tube, you may want to think about toning some areas down by tinting the paint with white or a complimentary colour. This will only make the neighbouring hues look that much brighter!

2. Is your subject matter appropriately rendered?

I tried to word this in a way that could apply to any painting, regardless of subject matter. What I mean is, have you executed your painting in a way that reflects your style and aspirations? If you’re going for a realistic style, are there any areas that are clumsy or need more work? If you’re going for a loose, expressive style, are there areas that have become too tightly overworked? Don’t get lazy with what you’re painting and don’t make excuses.

3. Does the composition make sense?

Composition is the arrangement of the formal elements of your painting on the canvas. It can play a big part in the feeling of your piece. Have you considered the way the parts of your painting interact with each other? Even if you do thumbnail sketches, you may need to make changes to a painting’s composition. For example, when the subject matter gets too close to the edge of the canvas, it can create tension. If this isn’t intentional, it can take away from the effect of the painting.

4. Does it convey the right message?

You need to know what it is you’re trying to get across in your work and make sure your painting reflects that. Sometimes this can be hard to figure out all by yourself. A good way to answer this question is to get other people to look at your work. Other people will react to only what they see and feel in your work, not the ideas that are in your head. If you find that people are responding to something you didn’t intend, you may want to re-consider your approach.

5. Could you live with it?

Would you be happy hanging your painting in your house? Try it! Live with it on your wall for a few days. This is a really good way to get a new perspective on your piece. If there was an area bugging you, you may find that you suddenly know how to fix it.

Some paintings come together with almost an audible click. You step back and it’s finished. Others are a struggle every step of the way. With these pieces, it’s incredibly important that you be critical  and evaluate each element of the painting, asking yourself what it brings to the piece. If you don’t feel that sense of completion, don’t panic! Turn on your critical, analytical side and evaluate the painting to determine if it’s finished.

How do you know when a painting is finished?

Disclaimer: Of course, the answers to these questions greatly depend on the style of painting you are doing. While it’s my opinion that most successful paintings have a full range of values, not every painting needs it. It really depends on what you are trying to achieve with your work. Whatever you’re going for, these questions reflect some of the things you should consider along the way.

Tags: acrylic painting, art tips, Creativity, oil painting

How to Deal with a Creative Block

Aug 1, 2010 Creativity

As I sit here staring at a blank notepad, I realize the similiarities between blogging and art making. Writing a blog post, like most other creative endeavors, can sometimes be like pulling teeth. And I thought to myself, “how can this be turned into a learning experience?”

Some days just are not conducive to creating art. It could be that you’ve spent your creative energies elsewhere, or that you’re not in the right mood, or that the circumstances aren’t quite right. When it comes to creative blocks, there are two basic ways you can respond: push through it, or ride it out.

Ride the Wave of Non-Creativity

There will be times in your art career when you do not create. It’s best to accept this now.

There can be a lot of guilt associated with not creating. Sometimes our minds and bodies just need a break. At these times, you need to forgive yourself and not torture yourself with things you should be doing. Instead, embrace the hiatus as what it is: a chance to re-energize, re-organize, and re-invest yourself in other activities.

Taking some time off doesn’t mean that you’re not an artist. It doesn’t even mean that you’re a bad artist. It just means that you’re taking a break.

Riding it out isn’t always the best option. You might find that your break lasts longer than you expected, or you may be working under a deadline. In these circumstances, it’s better to push through your creative block.

Pushing Through

Pushing through the block simply means creating anyways, whether you feel like it or not. This can be done in a journalistic way that expresses your frustration. Today’s image is a page from an old sketchbook of mine. I clearly remember feeling the need to do something, but being entirely uninspired. Simply writing the words “why can’t I create?” vented some of that frustration and helped me feel a tiny bit productive.

The important thing to remember when pushing through a creative block is to not put pressure on yourself. Try something simple like doodling and keep the focus on experimentation and play. You could also try enrolling in a class that will give you projects, criteria and deadlines to work with.

Once you get the ball rolling, creativity often takes on a life of its own, much like this blog post! Whatever the cause, creative blocks are frustrating. Ride it out or push through, just don’t stress about it.

And on a completely unrelated note…

Want to Write a Guest Post?

You don’t need to be an expert, you just need to be willing to share! Your experience and knowledge is a valuable resource for other artists.

Guest posts are win-win. They provide me with content for my blog in areas outside my experience, but more importantly they provide you with a chance to share your ideas, get exposure for your art and website, and network. All guest posts will include an author’s bio with a link back to your website or blog.

To submit an article, e-mail me at info@learntoart.com.

Tags: art tips, Creativity, motivation