Is the Creative Process really just one BIG BUMPY ROAD??

Magnolias in the Sunshine - 16 x 20 Vanished Watercolour on Wood Canvas  $850

I am sure you have heard that the Creative Process is a Joyful One.  You’re Lost in the Moment.   It's full of Excitement.  The feeling of Success can sometimes be Overwhelming.  I am here to tell you, The Creative Process is all that and more. 

 However, it does have its Dark side. . .

 One that can take you deep into Despair.

 That can’t be right, you are thinking.  Excitement, Joy, Euphoria are just a few of the words that you hear from Creatives all the time.  And yes, you will hear those words from me as well. 

 But remember, the Creative Process is a Journey.  And like all Journey’s it has its ups and downs.  The ‘Downs” can be setbacks or stoppers. How you react to those moments will certainly affect your outcome. 
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*** Join me for Online Drawing Lessons, October 12, 19, & 26, 2023.  Enhance Your Drawing Skills –Light, Line, & Shadows can make your work Come Alive. See below for Registration & Information. 

***See my YouTube Video with further discussion: Magnolias, One Painting's Hard Fought Creative Journey.  

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 Let me explain as I take you on my Creative Journey to paint, Magnolias in the Sunshine. 

See what I mean?  Fun to create that light with Pencil.  

Early spring finds me collecting and photographing the first colours of the season.  The Magnolias are part of that group. I got some great pictures of the flowers and decided I wanted to draw them.

At first it was only sketchbook stuff.  It was fun to try and create ‘white’ petals with a grey pencil.   I found the more I drew them the more I wanted to do.

 I decided to paint them.

 There is a wonderful feeling of excitement, as plans are made for the ‘new project’.  I was bursting with ideas.  After all the practice drawings I had done, I felt confident and ready to roll. 

Threw Down my colours and 'got-at-it'.

The work began in earnest.  Size determined.  Colours chosen.  Composition decided.  Type of paper chosen.  Everything was a go!!

 I love this part of the process.  The decisions are all made.  I can just paint. 

 But then disaster occurred. . .     Everything came to a standstill.

Definitely the Background is not looking Good

My background wasn’t working.  I added layer after layer of paint. But still it appeared blotchy.  And certainly not as soft and satiny as I wanted.  And worst of all, I had a BIG space in the bottom left corner that was just tooooooo empty. 

See what I mean, That corner looks VERY empty😢

 This could be a Stopper in my Journey. . .

 And for a few days it was!

 I have several strategies that use when these moments happen.  First of all, I step away from the painting.  Not a good idea to paint when your frustrated and disappointed. 

I do a bit of research and practice.  I experimented with my background colours on a separate piece of paper.  I discovered:

-    I need to have a wet brush with a nice amount of pigment on it
-    I needed to do one wash over it.  Not try to put thick paint on it and ‘instantly’ make it dark.  Rather be happy with lighter and more even layers. 
-    Not rework an area.  You know, fiddle with it.  That only disturbs the area below
-    Let it really dry between layers.  Easy to be impatient.

My Second Strategy and certainly the most Important One is Look for ENCOURAGERS.

Yes, ways to keep myself encouraged (happy, successful, feeling good with the world).  I decided to jump in and work on the flowers.  That was my favourite part anyway. I love the process of glazing to bring the petals alive.  I started with the right corner because I loved all the things happening there.  

Definitely lots more fun than painting BLUE all day!!

That really made me HAPPY.  I could see my flowers coming to life and best of all looking GOOD. In the meantime I kept adding another layer of blue to the background and even introduced a bit of purple.  I liked the way the deeper purple-blue on the left moved into a deep blue on the right.  

Isn't that Flower in the top right Looking Interesting?

Still working on the background as you can see. Started hinting at flowers and leaves in the background and even came up with ideas for the bottom corner. My big worry now was, they weren't going to be white.  I tried and tried to left off the colour but . . .  

You know with watercolour, you can never really go back to white!!!

I pressed on.  I decided to ignore the bottom corner till more work was done.  I was also hoping once I attached the painting to the wood canvas that some of it would be cut off!!!😆 Ok, I was feeling a little desperate!

Hey, maybe those bottom petals ARE going to be  Okay??

I kept working. 

Yeah!!Things are really coming together!!

Guess What?  Things did work out!  

The bottom petals did get cut off by quite a bit and the remaining petals had colours that tied in well with the rest of the piece.  They did their job too.  Fill the space and lead the eye into the picture.  (notice that sneaky line with the bent petal that moves the eye along?! Neat eh?!)  The background did really improve over time.  Couldn't tell you how many layers it has.  There were still a few light spots but I started to encourage them.  I liked how they suggested more depth. 

I have come to realization that if you want to Challenge Yourself in your Creative Process there will be Bumps on the Road.  The bigger the Challenge, I think the BIGGER the Bumps.  My advice is to Hang-In-There, keep practicing, and always build in ENCOURAGERS in the process.  

***See my YouTube Video with further discussion: Magnolias, One Painting's Hard Fought Creative Journey.  

Come Draw with Me 

Enhance Your Drawing Skills --  Light, Line, & Shadows can make your work Come Alive

Date: Thursday, October 12, 19 & 26, 6:30-8:30pm PST.

Cost: Early Bird $60 Before Oct 8, $75 after

Registration: Wendy@artbywendy.com

    Experience new ways to interpret your line; Explore the magic of playing with light and shadow with Wendy in this series of 3 Online Zoom Classes.  Classes are 2 hr with access to recordings for limited time, individual discussion on weekly projects and limited class size.  Beginners to Advanced Welcome

These are Live Group Classes including, 

     ·            A Fun, Relaxing Atmosphere for Making Your Mark

·               When to Erase and when to Wait 

·               Making a A Setup Drawing that Works 

·               Understanding the Subtle Points that create Success in the Drawing

·               Exploring how Light affects the Shadows in your subject 

·               How to Harness Your Inner Critique so he works with you

·               Use your Line, Shapes and Shadows to Control the Eye Movement and keep your viewers in your space

Contact Wendy to Register 
Gift Certificates Available 
"Thank you for a great workshop!  I have enjoyed myself and learned a lot and am loving my pencil!" Patricia, artist
  

Always  Available at Art by Wendy's Studio

Original work, Commissions, Private Drawing Lessons, Prints and Cards of her Work, 

Be sure to like and share my posts.  You won't miss a single post if you Follow by Email 

Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy

Strategies for Composition - Painting & Drawing Tips

OMG!  I love those Magnolia Flowers! 

When Spring comes they are one of the first flowers to Brighten the Day.

(Special Note: Only 2 Outdoor Classes Left Aug 18 & Sept 1 - see details below ↓↓↓) 

Magnolia Flower (Photograph) 

The Magnolia flowers on my neighbour's tree and were glistening in the sunlight.  It is just a small tree.  Actually more like a bush, but Oh such a bright spot in my day. 

 Of course I had to draw it. 

I took some pictures and decided it would be a great subject for my drawing classes. Drawing and painting ‘white’ things is a really challenge. 

(Try you own hand at "Magnolia in the Sunshine" - Click for a Free Downloadable PDF )

 We decided to focus on just one bloom and really blow it up in size.  Layout and initial shading proceeded pretty quickly.  The darks are easy to find, there are hardly any.  Then the petals became the focus. 

That’s when the questions started. . . . .

 How to create the white? ? ? . . . 

A white on white paper needs a contrast to show up.  I know, it’s obvious, it needs a background.  But what should the background be?  I find this a common question from students and one that often plagues me as well. 

 This is where your personal artistic spirit comes into play.  What appeals to you?  A realistic graphically detailed setting?  An angular graphic shape?  Or are you somewhere in between. 

Magnolia in the Sunshine - Sketchbook Practice - Melissa

Melissa, my student, chose a more graphic type design of light and soft values.  It made her flower petals pop and created drama.  It was great.

 

Magnolia in the Sunshine - Sketchbook Practice, Wendy 

My choice was also a graphic type design of lights and darks but it also reflected the natural environment around the flower.  (A touch of realism).  My flower pops and has great drama as well. 

 Which is right? 

 Both are. Our drawings both look nice.  They both make you feel the power of the sun on the magnolia and our love for the topic.  They both reflect our personal touch. 

When setting up your painting/drawing you chose the subject.  You choose what to use and what to discard in the reference material.  That is your Artistic Touch.  The choices you make put your personal touch on your work.  

Magnolia in the Sunshine - Sketchbook Practice, Wendy
Fun to play around with this flower in colour too!! 

Try your own hand at "Magnolia in the Sunshine" - Click for a Free Downloadable PDF    What kind of a background will you use?  Melissa and I would love to see what you do.  

Outdoor Sketching Classes - Only 2 Sessions Left!!

Class Dates: 
Aug  18: 10-12:30pm           Sept 1: 10-12:30pm 

Outdoor Sketching Classes are 2.5 hr sessions and located in parks in North Surrey and North Langley.  Beginners to Advanced are Welcome.  Mediums supported: watercolour, pen, pencil, watercolour pencils and coloured pencils.  You can sign up to as many sessions as you like.  Class Size: Max 3.  $50 per session.  

Arrangements made for inclement weather.  
You are welcome to contact me for help in organizing your supplies for an Outing.  

 I am available for booking special outings for you and 1-2 of your friends. 

Gift Certificates are Available     Contact Wendy to register 

Up-Coming Outdoor Sketching Events:

Aug 20 & 21 - Kilby En Plein Air Weekend - $20 - ( 2 day site fee & Sunday Elevenses) - Kilby Historic Site, Harrison Mills.  Register: kpickering@kilby.ca  See you there!!

 Move your work to NEW LEVELS?  

Contact Me for:

1. Private Drawing Lesson: (3 Sessions 2.5 hr each $250)  North Langley, BC (Walnut Grove) 

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.  Contact Wendy for More info

2.  Online: Teaching, Mentoring or Critiquing Your Work - Don't live in the Fraser Valley,  I would be happy to tailor a program just for you online.  Drawing and Painting Lessons, Mentoring you on your Art Journey or Critiquing Your Work with an Eye to Move It Forward.  Drawing & Painting Lessons: 2-30 sessions $75.  Mentoring or Critiquing 30 minutes sessions $25.  Flexible schedule and sessions can be longer or shorter depending on your goals. 

3.  Available at Art by Wendy's Studio

Original work, Commissions, Prints and Cards of her Work, 

Be sure to like and share my posts.  You won't miss a single post if you Follow by Email 

Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy