From four years ago, here's another refurbished post:
What does it mean to be creative?
Whenever you have made something that has not yet existed, you have created. There is a mistaken idea that for a work of art to be creative, it must be far out, allusive, mind-blowing,
beyond comprehension. Don't be misled by these grandiose ideas of creativity.
Keep in mind that when you create an art work, that piece was done by you--YOU, an individual on this earth, unique in that YOU are YOU. And if YOU did it, then it hasn't been done before.
Whether it's a painting of a barn or the planet Uranus, if it has not been done by your hand, guided by your muse, your point of view, then when YOU paint it, it is a new creation.
Too often, though, your muse and/or point of view might be missing because you feel that you lack either the skill or the self confidence to go beyond what feels comfortable--something as
simple as using a tiny brush from the beginning and carefully copying with it the image you are painting.
With that one specifically in mind, there are fun exercises that can stimulate our creative juices and often give us new ideas about how WE go about expressing ourselves visually with
confidence.
HERE'S AN EXERCISE I ENJOY
1. Begin with a simple subject. Here's one I'll play with.
2. To get started, do a quick sketch of your subject. Keep is small--6x6 inches works well for the exercise. Here's mine. (I'm working on my Wacom tablet connected to
my laptop.)
3. Select a brush at least 1/2 inch wide at the tip, larger is better. Using only this brush and whatever colors you choose, do a study of your subject using just
12 brushstrokes. (A brushstroke is defined as from the time the brush hits the surface until the time it leaves the surface.) Keep a record of your strokes so you don't loose track of your count.
Still working on my Wacom, here's one of mine done on the computer, one stroke at a time. Helpful Hint: Start with the darkest darks and build to the lightest lights.
► By continuing to move the brush forward while you maximize its coverage without picking it up, you begin to use it as a tool rather than just a paint applicator.
► Once the brush starts feeling like a tool for shaping, you will gain move confidence using it.
► As you get more confident using the brush as a tool, your muse and point of view will surface and become active participants in
your painting.
The more you do this exercise, the more confident you will become in your painting.
Go Braves! Sorry Astros fans, I just couldn't resist!
You can access the archive of all my newsletters at anytime by going HERE. |
