If this painting looks familiar. That is because it is. I created the same piece of art earlier using soft pastels. For this one I used acrylic paints on a 9×12 canvas. I like both mediums because of the vibrant colors. I hope you have blessed day and as always remember to live like God is watching , because He always is watching over us.
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.
It has been a while since I attempted a landscape. I created this landscape of a small run down church using acrylic paints on an 8 x 10 canvas panel. One of my favorite thing about acrylic paints is the brightness of the color.s. They seem to pop off the page. I think our Christian life should not be like the church in the picture, run down and in need of a lot of repairs but like the colors on the canvas, popping out and noticeable.
I love the spring and summer because it is when God’s beauty is on display for all to see. There are so many varieties of flowers it creates numerous opportunities for what I call flower “portraits.” This portrait was created using a scrap piece of scrapbook paper using soft pastels. The painting is around 8×12. I love God’s handiwork. It sets off a rainbow of colors. The Bible tells us in Genesis that God separated the land from sea and first populated it with plants. I can only imagine Adam’s first glance at the garden around him. How the breath would escape from his lungs when he see the would of beauty around. I love creating flowers because it is just a brief glance into that beauty.
This 6 x 9 closeup view of some daisies is done in soft pastel with some highlights of color pencil. I often think this is how God sees us not from far away but up. Lose and personal like these flowers. This makes me realize more how I have to self examine my daily walk so I am a good reflection of God to others.
I like to take some subjects and get up close when I paint. It takes something real and gives it an abstract feel. I created this abstract flower using Nu Pastels and some Prismacolor pencils on a 6×9 Strathmore drawing pad. The Bible for many even some Christians the Bible is abstract. This is because we do not take the time to get up close to read and study God’s word.
Another in my series of churches. This one the Little Red Church is done on a 6 x 9 inch Strathmore drawing pad in soft pastels and color pencils. I like creating scenes with small church because they remind me that the church is much more than a building it is the people inside the building leaving through the doors in order to do God’s work in the world.
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.
I used to love to draw landscapes. Then I stopped. I started to focus on not her for self art. Only recently have I returned to my landscape roots. This offering, “House On The Hill,” was created on a 6 x 9 piece of Strathmore drawing paper using soft pastels and Prisma color pencils. Life to me is sometimes like this picture we ha e habits we try to stop but sooner or later we return to them. It is only through the power of Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit that we can truly be free. The key however is to trust which means letting go and focusing on God.
