Informational

A Messy Studio = A Prolific Artist?

| Whitt’s End Art

art-studio

I am kind of embarrassed to put this picture out there but I am doing so for a good reason. In the picture you see and unfinished painting on the easel as well as one on the floor.

My art studio as you can see is anything but clean. The other part of my studio, which you can’t see looks worse. I find I am more productive when everything is lying about. I do make an effort to clean up my studio from time to time but find I do my best work among the clutter.

How about you, do work best when everything is nice and neat or does clutter equal inspiration?.

New Year’s Resolutions for Artists

| Whitt’s End Art

Love this blog post. Idea information fo all artists

maxmallie's avatarMax Mallie's Blog

This is a time when we all declare to make some changes with New Year?s Resolutions. The turning of the calendar page to whole new year signifies a beginning and a clean slate to play with. An artist, however, may have a different looking list of resolutions than the average individual. Usually, it contains goals for creating more art!

I?m a firm believer of resolutions and goals. There?s something very creative about them, with the possibility of recreating yourself in the process. We all are works in progress after all, and life is about change. Even as artists, we grow and change, and our artwork reflects our journeys.
If you?re a creative individual, here are some artistic New Year?s resolutions that you can use to become a better artist. Even after a 40-year career, I still strive to be better! An artist never quits learning or growing as long as…

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Pruning for production in your art life

| Whitt’s End Art

A fruitful artistic life requires a little pruning.  In order to make as a successful artist you must be willing to prune some things from you life in order to insure your energies flow in the right direction.

There are three ways to prune your art life.

Get rid of the aspects of your art life which are too much to sustain like the many distractions and procrastination’s which pull you from your work. Simply put do way with all those parts of your art life which take away the creative energy from what you truly love.

Secondly, to become a thriving artist you must put to rest those aspects of your art life which are to sick to survive. If you’re like me I will not give up on creating something no matter whether or not it is what I deem as sick art.  Let me give you an example.  I have tried for years to become a portrait artist with limited success as you will see by some of my posts. I have not given up on my love of portrait drawing but I have realized over time I need to temper my enthusiasm for portrait drawing in order to spend more time in my other art endeavors which I am better at.

Finally a thriving art life must not become to crowded. Don’t try to to fit too much doing into your art life or it will take away from the creating.  If you’re passion is visual art like painting or drawing don’t try to branch out and do other things like crafting. Practice the art you love and you’ll always find the most joy and the most success.

Art Challenge #9

| Whitt’s End Art

Drawing done with a 3h and HB pencil. I am still trying to perfect  my skills with drawing portraits. There are aspects of the picture I like, the purposely big eyes but there are also aspects which I would render differently, like the angle of the nose.

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Tree over the mountain

| Whitt’s End Art

Love the beauty in the lights and darks of this photo

ClickToArt's avatarArt at the push of a button

B&W, Eng Alm, Karwendel, Notis Stamos This is now the wallpaper on my mobile.

Happy new year! My first post for 2017 is another favorite from last year. This became a favorite during post processing though, when I had the idea to make the tree leaves light against a dark sky, instead of the opposite, which was my original idea when taking the shot.

© 2016 Epameinondas Stamos

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Art and the Christmas Tree

| Whitt’s End Art

As I sit looking at my Christmas tree a simple thought came to me, being an artist is kind of like choosing a Christmas tree.

First you have to look around for a tree which when you sit see it you say to yourself I have to have it. Art is similar because when you first start out you may try a few different types of art until you pick one which resonates deep within your heart. I tried a few artistic outlets like music and writing until I fell in love with visual arts.

Second you need to decorate your tree just the way you like it. If your like my wife you put  on some lights, then arrange the  ornaments until they look perfect and then maybe top it off with some tinsel. As an artist you have to settle on a style all your own. This is what will set you apart from others.  The process of developing your own style is a journey not unlike decorating a tree. You try some things, maybe you don’t like them so your rearrange them until you get something all your own.

Lastly if you have a live tree you need to nurture it by keeping it well watered.  The same is true of your art. The only way to keep your art vibrant and growing is to keep it well watered. This requires you to always keep practicing and trying new things.

Art in the New Year

| Whitt’s End Art

If I’ve heard these words  once I’ve heard them a thousand times. What are the words, “I can’t do art I’m not an artist.”  That is what I thought at one time too until I picked up a book by Betty Edwards entitled, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.  Her book enlightened me to the fact I could be an artist. I could draw.

Don’t get me wrong art is all about practice. You have to put your butt in the chair and practice, practice, practice and then practice some more.

Here are some websites dedicated to teaching anyone how to draw:

How to Draw It

DrawSpace

Draw/Sketch on About.com

These are only three of the many websites out there. The key is to find one you like and roll with it.  There are also numerous books available at your local library or on Amazon.com. Of course if oyu want a drawing partner just drop me a comment or a tweet and I would love to help you discover your artistic talent.

Finding time to create

| Whitt’s End Art

I like many artists have a problem. I love to create art but can’t keep my butt in the chair long enough to finish a new art piece. Over the long years of creating I’ve accepted some truths and also had some light bulb moments.

The truths are these:
1) Art is not something to be forced. A piece of art comes not by forcing the piece into being but by taking the time to let it come out of the heart. So if a piece is not coming together at the moment come back to it later when you have the time.
2) Art comes in many different forms. I used to think art had to be something I sat down and created but it isn’t. Many times I have taken my art on the road and created something outside like a piece of art out of wood for my lawn.

The light bud moments are these:
1. Art comes in many forms. When I am work I love to doodle and can crank out a drawing in a few moments.
2. Don’t put to much pressure on yourself to create. Don’t get frustrated if you do not have enough time to create or just don’t feel like creating at the moment the moment when you want to create will come.

What does all this have to do with finding time to create. Easy we all have time to create art if we eke out a few moments each day.