Don’t think too much about making the perfect art piece. Instead, pull out your materials, your paper, your pencil, or whatever you need. Clear off a surface and start.
What should I paint?
Sometimes it’s necessary to go through photos, or drawings, or objects.
Always take reference photos… If you use photos as part of your process, this should be on your mind off and on as you go through the month. Your photos or other subject matter should give you a special feeling. You should feel attached. I like to find personal subject matter that has a certain magic. That, of course, is in addition to lighting and composition and color choices.
The Process
While working, let go of thoughts of other’s judgements (good or bad). whether they love it or hate it. Focus and observe. Think about relationships between foreground and background. Be adventurous… a little bit or a lot.
Andy Warhol said: “Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.”
I’m reminded of my classes with Gary Pruner, my teacher. He used to say something like: An artist can create their own world. Just say “What if”
It was great to have a teacher who demonstrated how to work, how to achieve, how to push yourself; one who teaches the value of work, and not make it “too precious”.
Work a little each day and before you know it, you’ll have a body of work. Practice and understand the basics. Art is a discipline.
Every master, every great song writer, author, musician, poet and artist has spent untold hours of labor on their craft. Each hour builds skill. Mastery doesn’t come easily. It doesn’t come magically.
As visual artists we hone our skills with our inner and outer eye. Paint what you see… study relationships, this area to that area. At the same time, paint what you feel.
The works must be conceived with fire in the soul but executed with clinical coolness.” Joan Miro
“If you hear a voice within you say ˜you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” Vincent van Gogh
“Every artist was first an amateur.“ Ralph Waldo Emerson