Using SHAPE to change things up - Painting & Drawing Tips

Are you feeling that your work has lost its freshness? Your SPARK is just not flashing.  

Nurse Stump WIP (Going to be a new piece in my Deep in the Forest Series) - Different shapes require different focal point placement

Max and I walk in our neighbourhood twice a day. We both love to walk and I for sure love to get out.  

Even those dark and stormy days are great.  Everything is different with the wind blowing and rain pounding down.  Max is not so big on the rain part.  In fact on those days he walks very close to me (like a really well trained dog, don't I wish).  He wants me to be the wind and rain break.  

Walking the same route may seem boring . . . . . but its not.  

I like to change things up a bit.  Change the direction. Change the route.  Change the time.  Little things. But they do change my perspective. Make things different. 

The same principle works with your art. . . .

I know you have your favourite subjects/techniques/habits.  They are comfortable.  They support you as you work. But sometimes they can also steal your SPARK.  

Excerpt from RABBITS IN THE GARDEN - changing the shape means different elements in the fill areas. 

Try a different shape for your finished work. . .

This can be as challenging as you want.  If you always work in a landscape format, try portrait.  If you always work in certain sizes, try one bigger. or smaller.  Always do a rectangle, try a square.  Stretch the shape.  Long and skinny or tall and stretched.  Using canvas, paper or sketchbook.  Change it up. 

Why is this good for your artistic soul?

1.  Changing it up pushes you to new places.  Suddenly you need more information to fill your space.  Your subjects/techniques/habits aren't changing.  They will support you as you move ahead.

Gowlland Point, Pender Island, BC - Using both pages in your sketchbook creates a new shape for sketching.  

2. Changing it up creates new compositions.  The shape of your work determines your focal point placement.  New shapes makes you create new paths for the eye to follow in your work.    

3.  Changing it up makes you see different things.  If you walk a path in one direction then turn and walk back.  You will see new things.  Your perspective is different.  Painting your usual subjects in a different format, means your images will be cropped and supported differently.  Ways that you haven't tried before.  

Mouat Bay, Texada, BC.  Changing up your sketchbook with cutouts brings surprises into the mix

4.  Changing it up bring surprises.  These are the SPARKS that can get your creative juices flowing.  You will find yourself asking the 'what if. . .' questions.  What if I try . . .?

Go ahead, make a few changes.  My big change right now is my long narrow drawing "Nurse Stump" at the top of the post. At 9 x 17 inches it is quite different from my usual landscape work.   It did require me to think about the kind of foliage I was going to add and where to put it.  My ink work is done, really excited to add the watercolour!!  

Have fun and see you next week.  

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Wendy