The Pursuit of Art

It has been raining all morning. Unfortunately, this means it is a gym day as opposed to an outside run day for me. Gym days are less exciting for a few reasons, but the main reason for me is boredom. When I arrived at the gym today, I opted to use the elliptical machine instead of the treadmill. Two tricks that I discovered to keep myself more entertained on the elliptical are listening to music and using the reverse mode on the machine. The change in direction from forward to backward and then forward again keeps me engaged.

In my art, I also get into a rut due to boredom and it’s hard to break out of it sometimes, particularly when painting alone. But here are some techniques I utilize to combat the issue and keep my painting process interesting:

1. Paint with your eyes closed
   You can do this by just closing your eyes or by using a blindfold. Make sure to set up your workspace and know where all of your materials are before closing your eyes. You may want to set a timer for two minutes to allot yourself a specific time frame. You can try different techniques with your eyes closed like thinking of a memory and painting/drawing, or if you’re listening to music, trying to paint/draw to the beat.
2. Work on more than one art creation at a time
   When I leave a piece of good paper next to me and use it as I would scrap paper, this sheet can sometimes become more interesting than the piece I am working on. I may use the sheet of paper for wiping off extra paint or drawing a quick sketch. Then after a while, I may notice that the “scrap” paper has more energy than my actual piece (where my focus is often on fully integrating colors and shapes, a process that can sometimes result in a loss of energy). When that happens, I like to try finishing the artwork that started as scrap, just as I would a regular piece. Try applying this approach to your artwork in whatever way makes sense for your medium.
3. Flip your substrate upside down
   Rotating your canvas or paper will help you see the basic shapes in your work. Once you see these shapes, make sure your piece still works from each perspective of your rotation. Can your eye still easily move around the canvas, or does it get cut off?
4. Switch hands
   Try painting or drawing with your other hand for a timed segment. Try making small movements followed by loose, large movements with your painting/drawing instrument. How does it feel?
5. Exchange your art with another artist. Work in rotation on the same piece.
   I worked on my first collaborative piece two years ago. It was for an art show where you could only enter if the piece was collaborative. An artist friend and I exchanged the painting about once a week. We each did whatever we wanted to the painting and stopped exchanging it after we both felt it was complete. The painting sold within a month of completion and we split the profit.

What tips or tricks do you have to energize your art and get out of a rut? Did you try any of the suggestions that I listed? If so, how did they work for you? For other ways to spice up your art, try my 7 Day Creative Challenge!

Do you ever have a day where you want to create art, but you just don’t know where to start? The first few minutes in creating something new are the most daunting for me. A blank canvas gives me the chills! There is so much possibility, but what if I mess up along the way? When I pick up my paint brush I ask myself questions like: Where should I start? What color palette should I use? What do I want my end product to be? And, I often get so caught up in the details that I don’t even start.

 

Sound familiar? To break out of this rut, I invite you to participate with me in a 7 day creative challenge. I will be painting for my 7 day challenge, but you can draw or sculpt as well! When you are ready, here are the 7 day departure points:

 

Day 1: Complementary Colors

Complementary colors are colors that are across from each other on the color wheel. Examples are red and green, yellow and purple, and orange and blue. For this challenge, limit yourself to a set of complementary colors and see where your creation takes you!

 

Day 2: Nature
For this challenge, start creating while being inspired by nature. My suggestion would be to go on a nature walk. While you are on the walk, take inspirational photos and collect leaves or sticks that you can combine into your creation or be inspired by.

 

Day 3: Black and White
How far can you push yourself while limiting yourself to only using black and white? Can you think of any artists who are known for monochromatic painting? Pablo Picasso and Kasimir Malevich come to mind. Who can you add to the list?

 

Day 4: Shadows
Shadows and silhouettes are all around us. For this point of departure, let’s examine interesting shadows that we find in our day. Think about the positive and negative spacial relationships in your drawing, painting, or sculpture. Let this be a point of departure for your new creation.

 

Day 5: Concentric Circles
Concentric circles are circles with a common center. Wassily Kandinsky is known for his famous painting Squares with Concentric Circles. Join me and originate your own piece of art with the concept of concentric circles in mind.

 

Day 6: Collages/Cut Outs
I challenge you to draw abstract lines on your canvas and fill in each area. Or, if you want to take the most realistic path, draw an animal, flower, landscape, etc. Spread glue on each area of your canvas and cover it with torn or cut pieces of paper. You can use paper that you have painted different colors or cut or tear from magazines. An optional last step is to add a coat of fluid matte medium to seal your finished collage.

 

Day 7: Lines
Join me in combining lines in an interesting way. How much will your lines vary or stay the same? What types of lines can you think of: straight, curvy, dotted, jagged, transparent, thick, thin?

 

Feel free to share your 7 days of creations (or just your favorite pieces) by adding the link to an image of your piece in the comments below! I look forward to seeing what you come up with!