Art Instruction

Art Lying Down or Standing Up

| Whitt’s End Art

I do most of my artwork lying down. No I don’t mean me personally. I mean the canvas I’m using at the moment. I almost always have it flat on my art table. The odd thing is when I’m creating I will strand the painting up to judge whether or not I like it uop tot that point.

While there are some advantages to the lying down method, like less strain on my old arms and joints. I have some shoulder issues which cause me some pain when I keep my arm up for long periods of time.  Another plus is I also don’t have to worry about paint runoff.

Still I feel like I’m missing something by not painting or drawing with my canvas on an easel. When I’ve used an easel or propped by sketch book up in the past it has helped me see the angles and lines better on such things as portraits.

What do you think? Is it better to create lying down or standing up and why?

5 Reasons You Should Consider Yourself An Artist

| Whitt’s End Art

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.

Finding Inspiration for Your Art

| Whitt’s End Art

I am often asked where I find inspiration for my art. First I consider myself more of an art doodler than a true artist. So with that in mind I just look around and paint or draw whatever tickles my fancy. While this may not help you with finding ideas to paint or draw here are some of the places I have turned to in the past when I got stuck in painter’s block.

1.Repaint a former piece. Take a former piece of art and re-imagine the piece in a different style.

2. Look to the masters. Go the library and get a book of paintings of your favorite artist  My favorite is VanGogh. Take a photo or picture of your choosing and try to create a painting the style of the painter.

3. Look to what is today’s source of inspiration for many people, Pinterest. The website is a treasure trove of ideas for art and more. I often find something on the website which catches my eye then I go and try and create a painting or drawing.

4. Look for one of those of those sites like Something to Draw and scroll through the pictures until you find one you feel compelled to reproduce. Make sure the site you pick your photo from is truly a free to use site.

5. Take a road trip. Often times I will get in my car, cell phone in pocket and head out to take some pictures. The main thing when you do this is to just take the pictures and not try to find perfect art. I often find when you do that you miss some pretty cool pictures.

6. Take an art class where you learn something you don’t already know.

7. Find an online list where they challenge you to draw something each day. I am using one of those lists for each month of my drawing challenge. I find these list invaluable because they make me try to and draw things which I would never think of drawing before.

This is only a short list of ways to find inspiration for your drawing or painting. There are many other ways out there. Just Google it and you will find all kinds of  ideas.

 

 

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?.