In this week's Vlog I have made a small painting in my sketchbook following my process of building up layers. But what it demonstrates as well as building an interesting surface, and the introduction of the use of stencils is how to give strength to the hero's in the painting. Prioritizing the colour heroes as well as the shapes and elements in the painting that are important to the success of the composition.
This week I thought I'd lift the lid on my TOOLBOX!! I've rummaged around and taken out my top tools that I use when making my work and I share with you WHY I like to use them.
The interesting thing about 'favourite tools' is that people believe if they "...JUST had better quality brushes, or paint... or whatever SHE/HE uses... then my work would be better.... "
Well, for some things like paint, I think you get what you pay for... but what will REALLY make your work better is not really about tools - it's about the WAY you use them. I talk about this too...
Watch the vlog
This week my Vlog is an exploration in line in my sketchbook. I've been updating one of the activities in my stARTs course and it's got me really interested in a couple of things - big shapes and delicate lines. I've always been a sucker for these two, but I feel like I'm going BIGGER with the shapes and more explorative with the line.
When I start my paintings I begin with play. I had to learn to play with the paint and the tools and whatever else I had to use just like a curious kid. "What happens if I use this?" "What happens if I do that?"
I recorded it, so you can see what it takes to play if you are like I was and sometimes find it hard to let go, forget about what you're making, and just get lost in the MAKING. Watch the Vlog.
The journey from difficulty and confusion to clarity and joy. That’s the path we are all on with our Art. We are all at different stages of that path – some at the beginning bogged down among the weeds, and others further along emerging into openness where the path widens and the walking is more easy. We can kind of see the way forward – a bit.
Finally, the insistent call of the outside world drags us away and we close the studio door on that tangled grid-locked mess of paint, hope, and self-belief. As we square up to the dishwasher and the dusting that secret smile is now a nagging sense of dread. Am I good enough? Why can’t I figure this out? I’ve killed my precious ….
Now it’s time to carefully sign my name in the bottom right corner, lay down an isolation coat, a couple of coats of varnish and ….. drumroll please, GIVE IT A TITLE. The signing and finishing coats are simple, consider them done! But the title – ugh. My brain slumps in my head, solitary dying sparks fizzle – I’ve got nothing. Not a clue or even a microscopic gem of an idea. NOTHING!!
There was a time when starting a painting was both exciting and frightening. I would sit gazing into space wondering what the painting would look like, what did I want to paint, would others like it….?? Ultimately all these questions would lead me to face the biggest question of all WAS I GOOD ENOUGH? Before I had even squeezed some paint onto the palette I was facing a battle. I wouldn’t back down, but it was definitely a fight. Sometimes my enemy would allow me some small gains, but always there was the lingering doubt that someone would discover that I really wasn’t good enough. I wore The Imposter Syndrome like a heavy weighted hat on my head.
One thing I constantly keep in mind is that by adding more paint – even if it’s the wrong colour, doesn’t fix the original problem, or creates another; in the end it will only make the painting better. The surface will get richer, and I will be putting myself right in the place where I can discover something new.
Things only got worse. In a matter of days we were in national lockdown, my partners business closed and the kids at home for school. For a couple of days it felt surreal, as if we were playing out some blockbuster movie (without the paycheck). Email after email came through cancelling all activities and planned events for the foreseeable future. Normality was on hold and whatever we are living in now is it until who knows when.
