What's Stopping You from Creating Now? Painting & Drawing Tips

We have SNOW!! 

Well of course, it is winter here on the West Coast.  But we hardly every get SNOW and if we do, it is gone in a day or two.  What the heck is this stuff still doing here??!!

It's time to hibernate.  . . . 

Conditions are right: minus something crazy outside, no place to go, hardly any daylight.  Time to hit the studio, get the creative juices flowing and worry about coming out in SPRING.  

I have just the thing for you to do: 

1.  Try a NEW PROCESS:  Monotypes

Easy to do.  Requires few materials.  Interesting, Inspiring Results.  

I was introduced to Monotypes 2 years ago and really fell in love with the process.  It really appealed to my love of mixing abstract and realism.  You may find other ways to integrate it into your process.  But regardless give it a try.  

Three pieces created using the Monotypes Process in one of my first attempts  

Above are 3 pieces of watercolour paper which I painted using the Monotype Process and acrylic paint.  I thought each had some interesting shapes and colours.  Very Abstracty but also Interesting. I used them as pages in my Book Art.  

Do you recognize the page from above with my duck added?

I loved how this page worked out.  The feeling of rich, deep foliage in front of the duck is vivid and real.  Yet it is something I never could have planned and painted.

Can you see how the top right page was turned and became another duck swimming in the water?

Yes, this is another one of the pages from above.  It became one of my favourite pages in the book. For a step-by-step description of the process see my post: Have You Tried Monotypes?   and accompanying video " Getting Started with Monotypes (Monoprints) ".  

2. PERK UP YOUR DRAWING SKILLS

Pick a subject.  Something that interests you and DIVE IN.  I have tried this many times and each time come away with Wonderful Treasures:  Inspiration that has kept my heart pounding and mind churning with ideas for days; A renewed confidence in my drawing skills that has filled me with joy; And Projects that jumped off the shelve and out the door.  (Some were even sold while still WIP.)

Tulips in the Sunshine - My Focus Tulips

One of my favourite topics was tulips.  I used only a few tulip shapes. I reversed them, cropped them and bunched them up.  I experimented with composition.  With medium.  Zoomed in.  Zoomed out.  I got to know the shape well and felt my confidence grow and I worked them into different settings.  My sketchbook was happy and so was I.  

I tried other subjects: pumpkins, deer, squirrels, ducks, owls.  Whatever caught my eye.  Certainly the one that surprised me the most was my Snowmen.  I started off with my usual style and finished by pushing myself to the limited.  I was thrilled with the results. 

3 Snow Friends - Definitely something totally different for ME  

Surprised?  If you have followed my blogs and know my style you would know this is not my usually fare.  This was totally outside my box but I love these guys.  They remind me that if I open my box their are lots of new things waiting for me to do.  

For help in getting your Drawing underway check out my post "Can Repetition REALLY be FUN?!! There is a video to go with it as well "Repetition Can be FUN" and if you need a reference picture I have a Free Download of Tulip Pictures to get you started.  

If my Snowmen are calling to you, check out their own special post "What?? A Treasure Hunt can Help my Drawing Skills? and of course they have their own little video "Building Drawing Skills with a Treasure Hunt".  And if your snow is like ours right now - crisp, light and dry - lousy for making snowmen, I have a Free Download of 5 Interesting Snowmen that you are welcome to use.  

These are a few projects to get you started.  With your new found confidence I will try and entice into more Intuitive Work with my next post.  I know, again strange words coming from me.  But yes, even if you like things a little more structured than others, you can indulge yourself.  I like it this way, I still have my box, but I use it in many ways.  Have fun and see you next post.  

Looking to Move your work to NEW LEVELS?  

Contact Me for:

1. Private Drawing Lesson: (3 Sessions 2.5 hr each $250)

Do you want your animals to breath, your flowers to sparkle or your people to walk?  Whatever subject your like to paint or draw I can build a drawing program for you.  Private Lessons allow you to focus on the skills you wish to develop.  Wendy is a experienced teacher, providing a calm, relaxing experience as you learn how to use the principles of drawing.  Beginner to Advanced are welcome.  Special rates for younger students.  More info here.

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Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy