We all are getting older, some of us a little older than others. The musical world is full songs about the perils of old age. Here are ten songs which give the highs and lows of getting older.
— Read on hubpages.com/health/How-to-Become-An-Expert-on-Anything
Informational
3 Reasons I Like To Use A Limited Palette Challenge
I am the type of artist who likes to use color in my paintings. In fact the brighter the better. However there are times when I enjoy limiting my palette to just several colors. Here are three reasons why.
1. I love the challenge. A little palette of colors offers more of a challenge in order to to create a finished a painting.
2. The outcome is dramatic. In the end the outcome is more dramatic. This is the reason I like black and white Ansel Adams photographs.
3. Less colors I have to fuss over. A limited palette means you have less colors to use but you need more of your muse in order to create a finished work of art.
Take the limited palette challenge. It is very rewarding.
5 Reasons You Should Consider Yourself An Artist
If over the course of your lifetime you are creating works of art but have still uttered this phrase, “Man I would love to be an artist.” It is time to Stop. I can say that because I have been in your shoes. I never took myself to be a serious enough creator to call myself an artist. I was what I’ll call a dabbler in the Arts. But one day it hit me, I am an artist. Here are the five reasons why this realization came to me.
1 I have created hundreds of art pieces and feel the urge to create more work of better quality. Art is no longer a hobby. It has become part of who I am.
2. My work looks good to me. There was a time I measured my work against others. Then I came to the realization. My work is not going to look like theirs because it comes from my heart. Sure I can learn from others but with the knowledge the final piece of art will have my creative twist.
3 I have art supplies out the wazoo. If you’re any kind of artist you know what I mean by this one. We artists seem to accumulate art creating materials. At times I feel like a art supply hoarder. I try a new medium and get supplies and then add them to a shelf in the art room.
4. I no longer need all the how to books I’ve bought over the years to try and learn just one more trick to become a true artist. Over the years I also relied on those books books to give me an idea of an art style. Now I create my art from pictures I take or get from free use sites and then put my own spin on them. The books are no longer needed.
And most importantly
5. My mindset changed. I no longer call myself, a dabbler. I am an artist. I create art my way and am proud of what I’ve created and continue to create. Even the pieces which don’t work out the way I wanted. I am still learning my craft. While I learn it is time to start sharing my art with the world. Oh yeah part of the sharing means taking the next step….selling your work.
The Perils of an Introverted Artist – Part 3
I was trying to think of what to talk about in part three. Well here goes nothing. In part 1 I talked about the perils of being an introvert. How shyness keeps us from putting our work out there for others to see. In part 2 I offered several ways to get our artwork out there from behind the scenes. Here are some reflections on how well my ideas in part 2 are working.
While, by using this blog and Facebook to has offered more exposure to my artwork the one thing I still struggle with is generating art sales. Don’t get me wrong I am not expecting to become rich off my art. I just wish I could sell some of my art in order to make a passive income.
I have started an Etsy shop and also started a store at Fine Art American and plan to post more art for sale in August. I however know part of selling is getting out there locally and that is still my dilemma. I put this out there for advice from those who have been in the same position. Offer your advice as comments.
The Perils of an Introverted Artist – Part 2
I told you I would be writing a part 2 so here it goes. In part one I covered why it is hard being an introverted artist. Mostly it had to deal with art marketing. It is hard to put yourself out there when you feel not up to the task. Well here are a couple of ideas I use to give my art exposure from behind the scenes.
1. Start a Facebook or Instagram page on which you can offer your art for family and friends to view.
2. Start a Blog. I use WordPress but there are many others out there for you to choose from. The good thing with my blog is that when I post on here it automatically goes to Facebook, Twitter and other places.
3. Join a local art group. Many local art groups have non-juried art shows where amateur artists can show their work.
4. Look for local shops that cater to showing and selling art by local talent. A word of warning you still may have to talk to the shop owner and offer up your work.
These are a few of the things I do to alleviate the effects of my introverted tendencies when it comes to putting my artwork out there. There are others. Look for my next article in this series.
The Perils of an Introverted Artist-Part 1
I am an introvert. Many people who know me would probably disagree with that because I am a talker amongst those I know but it is true I am a shy guy. Social situations are a nightmare for me. When others are conversing I am standing around trying to get some words from my brain to my mouth.
In order to compensate for my shyness I will often joke around or worse yet just remain silent. Why am I telling you this? Well, I am guessing there are more artists out there like me. Those who are fine in their talent and creativity but when it comes to selling their work work, like me, they suffer the many perils of being an introverted artist. Here are a couple of ideas of what I’m talking about.
1. The social implications of hawking or selling our art. To sell our art means greeting there and talking to others about our art. I don’t know about you but When I get the itch to get out and sell my art my inner introvert kicks in. I then stand back, look at my art and say to myself, “Hey it’s not that good anyway so no one is going to buy it.” I am then satisfied I don’t have to go out amongst people I don’t know well and go back to my creating until the selling bug comes calling the next time.
2. The fear that if my art is good and people start buying it I will have to start attending, “artist’s events”. While this one is not as much a big deal for me it is still a thought that gathers in my mind. It is not so much the meeting of people in this one that bothers me because I worked retail for years so I am ok when people come to me. The fear here once again is seeking out one on one conversations at these events in order to network myself among other artists, the people who sell art and hopefully those who will buy my art.
Here ends part 1. Watch for the sequel otherwise known as part two coming soon.
5 Ways I Find Ideas of What to Draw
Someone in one of my comments recently asked me this question, “How do you choose what you want or draw?” Off the top of my head here are fives ways I seek out art inspiration.
1. I look. What I mean by this is I’m ever vigilant for the things around me which fit into what I like to draw or paint. The world around us is full of ideas if only you train yourself to see them.
2. I use free picture sites and apps. There are several apps like Unsplash and Pexe which offer royalty free to use photos. Some of these I use outright. Others I use but change the picture.
3. Old Art. There are several websites which offer up old images as inspiration for art. Two of these websites are 99Designs.com and Vintage.com.
4. Pinterest. While a lot of the art on Pinterest is copyrighted you can still use it for inspiration or for practice.
5. I redo old art. I am constantly drawing. Many of these drawing accumulate and end up sitting in a bin or file at my art table. Every so often I will get out these pictures and rework them or colorize them.
3 Reasons Why Art is My Therapy
In my 60 plus years on this earth I have discovered one truth, well besides the fact God is alive and well, life is a rollercoaster. One day your climbing the hill and every thing looks good from the top but once you reach the pinnacle and the car your riding in clicks and heads down the steep hill things can change quickly. It is on these days I lean on God but I also get out my drawing pad and some for on pairing medium and commence to creating. While I don’t consider my art to be anything special there are three reasons art is my therapy.
1. Creating is calming. Sitting down at a table in your hand and a drawing pad or picture to color is calming. There is something about sitting there that make you feel peaceful. Maybe it is because of my second reason.
2. Art is time filling. When you art tome seems to fly by. Some call this the left brain/right brain switch. I call it the joy of creating. From the moment you .ay down the first line of a drawing to the moment you see the finished painting it is time well spent. Which leads to the third reason I like art as a therapy.
3. The finished drawing brings joy to the heart. When you look down at what you have created it brings such a peace and joy to your heart that at times I wonder if this what God thought when He created everything then stood back and said “This is good.” Art is a process and while the start of any pieces of art is exciting to me, the end is where I get the most satisfaction.
These are the three reasons art is good therapy for me and could be for you. I am not an art therapist but if you want to email me I would be glad to talk to you about how you can get started.
Daily Drawing #217, Taking On Your Giants
One of my favorite historical events in the Bible is the story of David and Goliath. Here is a young man taking on someone who towers over him. My drawing “Looking Up,” is a modern take on the Biblical story. It is a representation of what happens when someone gets the courage to take on a bully. The simple pencil drawing offers a look at how daunting our giants can appear. In school I was bullied quite a few times and was reluctant to take a stand. I was like the rest of the Israelite army standing back leery of what was to come next.
This message is the unplanned third in a series on dealing with the giants of all kinds in our lives. David showed how easily it is to stand up against giants. His giant was a physical specimen our giants can be a disease, a bully, financial and much. No matter what the giant is the key to defeating giants is to do what David did, put your whole faith and trust in the God and like He did for David, He will deliver you from your giant orgiants.
The Ugly Artist 