Tag: on being an artist

Creative Exploration

Don’t Try Just Paint

Mireya
paint easy flowers with watercolor

Today’s Show Your Work chapter had profound words. I have read this book for the fourth time. I’m listening to podcasts. They are all about surrender. Ok so what are these words?

THE FIRST STEP IS TO STOP TRYING

I’ll discover a new artist. Then think of how I can repaint it. For example last night it was Carrie Schmitt? Her color is beautiful. How she paired beautiful blooms with a peacock, awesome. How can I paint them? I could apply my favorite colors? Express how nature makes me feel. Stop trying to paint. Just paint. Pay attention to what inspires me. It could be fabric at Joanne’s or Top Shop’s window display. Flowers are a popular surface design.

The problem starts when I hold these ideas too close. I try an paint that way. That never works. EVER. For one I am me. I paint like me. I paint much better when I simply paint. Besides I have my own painitng skills. So I’ll stop painting like others, or feeling the need too. I leave out the pencil and paint.

Creative Exploration

On being an artist…

Mireya

Today’s class had these up on the wall. The artist is Kandinsky and the artists are Adult Transition students. I like the hearts too. Simply tissue paper twisted around a pencil and a little glue is all it takes.

What I LOVE most about art is I can get lost. I can simply be in a state of create. No past or present just a creative and curious soul who’s fascinated with simple objects that unify to become beauty.

Working out some minor details for the book but it’ll be out sometime this week. Wait, I should try this?

Creative Exploration

Fun + Art History + Creativity

Mireya

These are some of my supplies. The old Crayola educational set is now filled with Mission, Grumbacher and Cotman. I’m in the process of organizing a new paint palette. Today I didn’t work on the book. Instead I worked on a project for the creative exploration class.

The assignment was to choose an art painting and create variations. I chose Bridge over a pond of Water Lilies. I love nature and I wanted to use various tones of green and pink to convey the majesty and warmth of nature. I mixed up the galleria blue with the green acrylic. It was amazing.

Why this painting exercise? What does this have to do with Road Trip? Adolfo Serra instructs his classmates to play. Gather up as many supplies as you can and create variates of the art. Art is open for interpretation. There are many ways we can choose to express if only we allow ourselves to play.

Today I timed myself for 45 minutes. I sketched with just a pen to observe the shapes. My phone battery was also dying so the screen blanked every 30 seconds. Still I drew. Then I painted. I painted a second variation. I mixed paints. I used a make-up brush to cover up some mistakes. No pencil. No thinking except to choose a tool. I just painted. More importantly, I painted my love for nature.

I realize that I need to take a step back and allow my self to develop, to come into my style. I can do this and I will. Now that I’ve relaxed and had some fun I’ll be ready to finish the book doodles tomorrow.

Creative Exploration

Who Cares?

Mireya

I do love Paul McCartney’s new song. The biggest lesson I learned this year is who cares.

I love my letters. I love my drawings. I enjoy my art. Sure I need to go back to hand lettering. I love color. I should keep mixing. Isn’t that the point. I could be in this place of curiosity and explore!

Or I could doubt. Why would I ever do that. I have lots more projects to paint.

…to be contiuned