It was to spend at least two days a week in my art studio. No set amount of time... just get in there. Generally speaking, that's Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Because I just can't help the teacher inside of me and love to share the joy of artmaking with others, I thought this time I might take you on the journey of the creative process with me! My goal is to give a method to the madness, bearing in mind that it is not the only method. Just one way of breaking down this mysterious process into some tangible parts!
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But this past month I also tackled a one-year-old birthday sign for my friend's little boy.
When I say tackled, what I really mean is chipped away at, inch by inch, in between prepping meals each day and taking care of a squishy three-toothed mongrel who shall not be named :)...
Project #1:
One Year Birthday Chalkboard
Chalkboards are so in right now. I love the look. But I.looathe.chalk...as a medium. Well not so much me as my poor hands feeling like sandpaper and my ears at the sound of that sSkkrreEEeeEEK.One Year Birthday Chalkboard
So here is a faux chalkboard using black foamcore and metallic markers. The concept is entirely stolen from a wonderful Etsy artist - MoulageCollection. I changed up the fonts and added a couple of my own flourishes to not make her angry. I give her all the credit for really adorable concept. Such a cute photo prop and makes a memorable display at a first birthday.
That got my creative juices going. So it was time to tackle a couple of paintings for the kitchen area. Would you like to join me in the mysterious CREATIVE PROCESS?
:: engaging teacher mode ::
Projects #2 and #3:
Colorful paintings for my wannabe farmhouse-y kitchen
Colorful paintings for my wannabe farmhouse-y kitchen
Step One: Think Backwards
1. Placement - Where will the painting be placed? It should suit the space so that it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb, in a bad way. You want it to make a statement but bearing in mind the room, and house, as a whole.
2. Size - Always measure your space before going out and buying or making your canvas.
3. Style/Feel - Know what you are going for. *Note: Sometimes you won't know until after you've started gathering inspiration, which is in step two. If you know what you're going for, it's easier to get there...basically.
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| Need something above sink |
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| ...and in awkward, lonesome corner |
1. Collect samples of inspiration for your painting from a variety of sources: photographs, magazines, google images, or actual objects. Pinterest is a great source for keeping your digital inspiration in one spot and being able to see it altogether. Before pinterest, we would pin inspiration to an actual cork board like this one. Or much like an interior designer's presentation board like this one.
2. Trust your gut. Don't think too much during this step... just gather what immediately strikes you. Then step back and look at all you've found. Make comparisons between items. Are you starting to get the concept for your piece? Take some inspiration pieces out and see if that changes the vibe.
3. Pare down. Once you start getting a more clear picture of how the painting will take shape, get rid of the unnecessary inspiration images.
4. Analyze your samples. Look for the Elements of Art among your sources, and start noticing HOW these elements of art are employed. For example, find shapes in one particular picture. Then analyze HOW the shapes are used - flat shapes? Small shapes? Lots of shapes? Now look at the use of line. HOW are lines used - diagonal lines? straight or curvy lines? overlapping lines? line quality that goes from thin to thick?
By doing this, you will be informed of how you can use line, shape, etc., in your painting to achieve similar results.
The Elements of Art are the hammer and nails of the artist's toolbox. HOW they are used will affect the outcome of the piece.
Elements of Art: line, shape, color, form, texture, space, value
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| Elements I'm noticing here: pops of bright red, pink, and green color, crisp lines, hand-drawn line quality, repeated simple shapes making patterns, floating shapes, simple objects like flowers/strawberries/mason jars, flattened forms, delineated values, lots of open space, overall graphic quality and bold design |
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| I also found some images ranging from photos to artworks to textiles. At first glance, these are much more naturalistic-looking. So now I'm in back in decision mode of step one....which STYLE do I want the painting to have? The natural, representational style making it look like a true photograph? Or the more graphic, retro styling of the dish towels? |
Entertain cute baby.
Step Three: Gather Materials
What you need: Pencil + eraser (or some sketch with chalk and just wipe off), palette, gloves, rag, palette knife for mixing, gel medium for extending colors further without diluting them, water in jar, acrylic paints, maybe some collage materials, acrylic gesso for base coat.
Colors: I like to buy the primary colors - cadmium red, ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow, titanium white (opaque), zinc white (transparent), black, then the colors that are just difficult to mix like a good purple and cerulean blue. All the rest of your colors can be mixed from these and are much more vibrant looking that way. For example, a pretty grass green is mixed with yellow and black. Golden is favorite brand of acrylics. Liquitex is good for less expensive paints.
Don't feel the need to always use a brush. Using a flexible metal palette knife to paint with can be really beautiful.
Don't be afraid to work on more than one artwork at a time. They tend to play off each other better in the end that way... looking like they coordinate and all. And when you get tired of one, the other is already started so you can jump back and forth more easily.
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| You can never have too many...? |
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| Favorite palette: Get a piece of glass and masonite cut to same size at Lowe's. Paint one side of masonite white. Attach them to each other using duct tape around edges. Cover palette with cling wrap when not in use. Cleanup: wipe off excess paint with rag or paper towel. Rinse rest in sink. |
Entertain Cute Baby Some More.
Step Four: Brainstorm & Sketch
On left side of sketchbook is brainstorming for the two different paintings. On the right side, I've started sketching ideas for the first painting.
1. Brainstorm. Try to get onto paper what's in your head, not being concerned with any visual accuracy.
2. Timed "Thumbnail" Sketches. A thumbnail is just a small, quick sketch. Don't spend too much time focusing on how these preliminary drawings look. Timing helps with immediacy and getting you to your goal - the actual canvas. At this point, you're just trying to get the concept and overall composition (how all the elements are arranged). I could give you loads of tips on effective composition, but that's a whole 'nother lesson. Message me if you like!
*Note--There's nothing wrong with simply painting from a photograph. But try to take your own photograph so that it's original. Or, as I'm doing, take inspiration from multiple photographs or sources and compile them into your own.
Remember that YOU are the artist, not the photograph. In my experience, the photograph helps me get into the painting, but there comes a point when I'm focusing too much on what I 'see' in the photo rather than what I 'see' on my canvas or in my head.
Step Five: Paint Base Coat
Use acrylic gesso or cheap white paint, two coats in alternating directions. Let dry. Save time and cleanup by using large cardboard scrap to spread gesso over entire surface.
Step Six: Make Final Sketch on Canvas
Get proportions right in the drawing before adding paint. No paint ever made a bad drawing look better.
Step Seven: Paint on Canvas
GETTING SET UP:
. Leave space on palette for mixing colors
PAINTING TIPS:
. Wear gloves so your hands look better than mine
. Use a palette knife to mix colors and brush to paint...keeps nice brushes from getting all goopy
. Don't paint an entire canvas with one brush - I recommend three going at one time. I would teach my middle schoolers to choose one color at a time and mix a dark, medium, and light of that color. Assign one brush for each, holding them in non-drawing hand, then go to work.
(You can also hold palette in your non-drawing hand and just pick up your brushes from table as you're ready for them).
. Use hog hair or plastic bristles for acrylics in a variety of sizes and tips like these here. A good resource for what types of brushes to purchase is here.
. Don't leave a brush sitting in a jar of water. Unless you want to constantly replace them. It wears out the handle and the ferrrule (the metal part that attaches bristles).
. To keep brushes from drying out, place them under cling wrap until painting process is done.
. Try not to let paint get into the ferrule. Try to keep it towards end of bristles. Realizing this is usually impossible.
. Water and gel medium is used to make paint extend further on the canvas. Gel medium acts more as a suspension while water dilutes it a bit. Experiment with both.
CLEANING:
. Use dawn dish soap and warm water for cleaning brushes, holding brush downward under running water to keep paint from getting into ferrule. Or try scrubbing bristles into palm of your other hand with soap.
. Once brushes are clean, water runs clear. Using your fingers, press bristles back into shape.
. Don't let acrylic paint dry on your brush. It's near impossible to get out.
. If paint dries on palette, apply medium to entire surface and let sit overnight. The next day, easily scrape it off with metal/plastic scraper, depending on if your palette is glass/plastic.
There are so many great ways to go about making art. This is simply one method. Hopefully it's helpful! And hopefully within the next month or so I can have more pictures of the paintings up for you.
Lastly...
Remember the reason we create is because we have a very creative CREATOR! He created the Heavens and the Earth (Genesis 1:1) and everything in it, and He saw that it was good (Genesis 1:31). God created all the animals and every unique individual, and He is worthy of our praise. So as you create, worship our Creator!
Don't be afraid.
Just get started.
A painting, like life, is a process. It goes through some yucky moments and some great ones.
Embrace happy accidents.
HAVE FUN!
What is YOUR creative process?
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