How Artists Can Create Their Own Vision
Sunday, March 22nd, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
Artists provide a window into their world through their artwork. From classic artists like Monet to abstract visionaries like Warhol, we look to these creative people for different perspectives on life. However, you don’t have to be a legend to enjoy painting. The stroke of a brush on canvas or paper can be a creative outlet for anyone. In this article, we have some tips for would-be painters to help you transfer the images from your imagination to the world.
One of the most difficult challenges that an artist faces is making their artwork flow. If you think your paintings are too tight and controlled, try some of these exercises. They will help you relieve the pressure that you may be feeling and put you back in touch with the creativity flowing in you. First, try painting with your ‘wrong’ hand. If you’re left-handed, put your brush in your right hand, and if you’re right-handed, put it in your left. It may feel awkward, but it is this lack of co-ordination that will help you because it forces you to be less rigid. It may also help you to see your subject from a different perspective.
Lighting is also very important to artistic works. This is because it gives the subject a very special look or feel. Most prefer to work in dim or muted lighting. Think about every art gallery you’ve ever been to. Chances are that the lighting has been soft. This is because harsh lighting makes it difficult to really absorb the emotion of a piece of art. Even an artist who works with still life can benefit from using soft lighting. Instead of using a direct light, move the light to the side. It will give you more interesting shadows to work with. Also, don’t feel that you have to include every detail you see. Your painting should reflect what your heart and imagination sees and not necessarily what your eyes see. You’ll be surprised at how little is necessary to capture the essence of something.
Many contemporary artists choose unusual colors in their artwork. This is a very valuable exercise if you feel that your work is staid and boring. Nowhere is it written that water has to be blue and clouds have to be white. The gods of fine art won’t strike you down if you want to paint a portrait of someone with purple eyes instead of blue! Instead of worrying whether you’ve got accurate colors, try some that are completely unrealistic. Paint a self-portrait in your favorite colors rather than skin tones. The result will probably be a lot more emotive, and certainly more dramatic.
Visual artists can experience the same kind of block that writers do. If your work doesn’t have the flow and emotion that you want it to have, then take a break and go for a walk, cook dinner, or doodle on a sketch pad. It’s during these times that you may be hit with inspiration. Artists sometimes put too much pressure on themselves to create a masterpiece. Painting for marketability or mass appeal isn’t real art. Paint what you honestly feel and the rest will flow naturally.
