Discovering Your True Artistic Self
Each sheet of twelve studies, began the same way. All started on a 22” x 30” sheet of Arches Oil Paper. All were sectioned into 12 individual blank spaces, and all used a limited pallet. They usually started with mark making, using Art Graf, stencils, oil bar and Cray Pas and ended with Cold Wax and oil paint. Play in the beginning was very important. The play progressed into them telling me what they wanted to become.
Nicholas Wilton, a great artist and teacher, uses this approach to creating. He will be having a free workshop, that you might be interested in. Here is the link to sign up https://art2life.lpages.co/2021-free-a2l-workshop/ While introducing the workshop, he had three questions to ask you. Below are the questions and how I answered. I think they tie really well into my journey of discovering what I love and where I am going with this series.
1. What are the parts that you love about your work?
a. Arches oil paper
b. Cold Wax medium how it creates texture and transparency
c. black lines (on again and off again, heavy and light, marks)
d. High intensity and high contrast
e. oil paint (how it glistens and mixes; mixing is sensual)
f. movement (I tend to always have movement and rhythm)
2. What is the reason you are creating this way?
a. more freedom
b. playful
c. expressing with no limitations
d. experimental
e. sensual
f. learning to fearlessly be myself
g. with Covid in the background, it fills a need, physically, spiritually and emotionally
3. How will your art look in the future, perhaps 3 years from now?
a. By letting go of control, I believe I will have more growth in a shorter amount of time.
b. I probably will be painting large 36″ x 36″ or even larger
c. I can imagine my paintings being more visceral, fearless and raw
d. I will be disclosing more of my true self
Please try asking yourself these questions, they are quite revealing and might increase your growth in a real way.
The painting above is called “Another Tomorrow” 36” x 36” Cold wax oil, and mixed media on Arches oil paper is the third painting of my Twelve of Twelve series. Again, because of our need to isolate and stay home due to Covid, it has made my art more colorful and passionate. I notice my work is becoming less inhibited and sensual.
Thank you again for your time. I appreciate you.
