The Process Isn't About Repetition

"Nature is an endless combination and repetition of
a very few laws. She hums the old well-known air
through innumerable variations."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Star Gazer - Original Watercolor

Although I work in various mediums and in different techniques, I almost always work in series of paintings these days. Searching, exploring, and refining variations of the same subject uncovers hidden nuances with layers of possibilities. It exposes a certain depth and proficiency that wouldn't be present in a single work or two.

Original Galaxy and Aurora Paintings

"The process is not about repetition at all, but rather about being able to explore, investigate, examine or address particular ideas, themes, issues, compositions, concepts or topics in progressively deeper and more meaningful ways, and from a greater variety of perspectives than is possible by making just one or two. It's like looking at something under a microscope as opposed to giving it a casual passing glance. The closer you look, the more you see, and the more you see, the more fascinating your explorations get." ~ ArtBusiness.com

See more about working in a series.

"Repetition is the key to mastery."
~ Sandy Sandy
 Thanks for stopping by. Stay Safe and Happy Creating!

X ♥  O

Instagram Giveaway!

“It's not how much we give

but how much love we put into giving.”

~ Mother Theresa 💖
~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Announcing - I'm having a
#CantQuarantineArt #LearnLoveCreate #OnlineArtCourse #Giveaway

on Instagram 🎨

🌻 See part of the lesson in alcohol ink on Yupo HERE.

I will be giving away 12 FREE ONLINE SUNFLOWER SKETCHING COURSES 

on Sunday, April 5th! 🌻 See part of the lesson in watercolor on Yupo HERE.🧡

Enter to win and see more information on
my Instagram page.

“When one door closes another door opens, but we so often look so long and so
regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us."

~ Alexander Graham Bell 

Hugs, Stay Safe and Happy Creating!

X ♥  O

The Many Benefits of Creating A Series

"A series is a collection of paintings that when viewed

leaves no doubt the same artist created them all.

The theme running through the work is stated and restated

in different yet interconnected ways and the viewer can

look at the collection and understand more easily

what the artist is trying to convey."

~ Lynette Ubel / Ubel Arts, LLC Blog

In Lynette Ubel's excellent blog post, she states, "After the commitment to begin a series is made, it begins to take on a life of its own. With each additional painting in a series, the original thought grows into something more refined and bigger than a singular painting could ever be. Every addition allows the artist’s voice to get louder and clearer, demonstrating that they are on a path,

know what they’re doing, where they’re going, and what they have to do to get there."

I have noticed something happening every time I do a series. It refines my skills as well as my vision. This week's advice to an online student was; "You will really benefit from playing with the pigment without trying to create a masterpiece. (Case in point, below) Because I am rusty at this technique, I did 16 backgrounds - all one right after the other, to re-establish and refine my skills and get comfortable with the results. I didn't get it the first one or two or half dozen, but by the 12th or so try, I felt like I was starting to get the hang of it again. The bottom line is, get help from someone with real experience and don't give up. You need to set up a factory. 

Over the past four Saturdays, I've been giving private lessons to a student
who's been creating a series. She is flourishing and astounded by her progress
and inventory by "building a factory" and doing them assembly-line fashion.

I'm convinced that working on the pieces together and repeating one step at a time,

over and over again can really reinforce and expedite learning and spark individuality.

See John Cage's "Rules for Students and Teachers." 

Actually, I think I'm always working on a series of series these days, lol.

I can't really even remember the last time I worked on a one-on. 

"Not many of us can be convinced that working in a factory is a lot of laughs.

Being a factory may be even worse. But there's something to be said

for building one and getting into it."

~ Robert Genn

Happy Creating!

X ♥  O

 

The Depth Of Your Education

"The length of your education is less important than its breadth,

and the length of your life is less important than its depth." 

~ M. vosSavant

New Sketching Class Launches on January 17th!

Get 20% Off with coupon code until 1/21/20.

1. Watercolor on Cotton Rag ~ 5 x 7", matted to 8 x 10"

2. Watercolor on Yupo Paper ~ 5 x 7", matted to 8 x 10"

3. Alcohol Ink on Yupo Paper ~ 5 x 7", matted to 8 x 10"

 

X ♥  O

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

"Only one thing has to change for us

to know happiness in our lives;

where we focus our attention."
~ G. Anderson

 

2020 Calendars now available HERE.

Get yours before they sell out!

All sold out as of 1/1/20, thank you!

"What we call the secret of happiness is no more than our willingness to choose it."

~ Leo Buscaglia

X ♥  O

P.S.
My paintings and prints are available for purchase online now at 15% Off.

Just Like A Sunflower

“Look at its shape, with vibrant yellows and oranges.

A sunflower can brighten your day.

It's as if it is smiling like a happy face painted on the sun.

So if you do only one thing all day, let it be to smile, so you can brighten the day of others around you, just like the sunflower.”

😊 🌻 ~ Bodhi Smith🌻💛

 🌞

My 2020 Sunflowers Calendars Are In!

Order Yours Early, Before They Sell Out!

X ♥  O

P.S.

My paintings and prints are available for purchase online now at 15% Off.

Overnight Success

"It takes twenty years to become an overnight success."

~ E. Cantor

"The idea that success can happen overnight is a myth. You have to work for it."

Even if you are creating art as a pleasant pastime or hobby, starting off with a beginning art foundation provides practical tools and understanding that can be used with any medium or subject. Being introduced to the "primary" rules about color, values and harmony, through learning to draw and really see, will give you a deeper level of  involvement, dexterity, and enjoyment. Because you had to learn to walk before you could run; it is the same in art; you have to learn the rules before you can break them. Just like in cooking, you have to learn how to read a recipe, work the equipment, select your cookware and utensils and gather your ingredients before you can cook a gourmet meal! 

"Artists get better by sharpening their skills or by acquiring new ones;

they get better by learning to work, and by learning from their work."

~ D. Bayles, T. Orland

Since I was on a roll after drawing every day in June, July and August, 

I signed up for another 30 Day Challenge, called the 30 Day Creative Gathering,

hosted by Sheila Delgado.

To see the first half of this collection, click here.

The second half of this September 2019 collection can be seen here. 

X ♥  O

P.S.

All my paintings and drawings are available for purchase.
Contact me with your inquiries about details and prices, thanks.

Challenge, Process & Progress

"I’ve found that there have to be at least three prerequisites to motivation for the artist. They are; challenge, process, and the feeling of progress. Without challenge, the muse dies.  If an artist underestimates capability or goes too long with outworn motifs, interest fades and motivation fails. Complexity, nuance, even novelty, need to be consciously added to the mix."

~ Robert Genn

This is the second half of a collection of paintings and drawings that
I created every day in September 2019. 

#17 - 6 x 6" Watercolor and Pen & Ink Sketch on Coldpress Cotton Rag

#18 - 6 x 6" Watercolor and Pen & Ink Sketch on Coldpress Cotton Rag

#19 - 6 x 6" Watercolor and Pen & Ink Sketch on Coldpress Cotton Rag

#20 - 6 x 6" Watercolor and Pen & Ink Sketch on Coldpress Cotton Rag

#21 - 5 x 7" Alcohol Ink on Yupo Paper, matted to 8 x 10"

#22 - 6 x 8" Watercolor and Pen & Ink Sketch on Coldpress Cotton Rag

#23 - 6 x 6" Watercolor and Pen & Ink Sketch on Coldpress Cotton Rag

#24 - 6 x 6" Watercolor and Pen & Ink Sketch on Coldpress Cotton Rag

#25 - 5 x 7" Metallic Watercolor on Stonehenge Aqua Black

#26 - 5 x 7" Metallic Watercolor on Stonehenge Aqua Black

#27 - 5 x 7" Alcohol Ink on Yupo Paper, matted to 8 x 10"

#28 - 6 x 8" Metallic Watercolor on Stonehenge Aqua Black

#29 - Drawing done in Photoshop for upcoming Halloween class.

#30 - Drawing done in Photoshop for upcoming Halloween class.

To see the first half of this collection, done in September 2019, click here.

X ♥  O

P.S.

All my paintings and drawings are available for purchase.
Contact me with your inquiries and I'll get back to you with details and prices.

During the summer of 2019, I drew every day.
You can see all 92 drawings and paintings that were created and posted here.
And then, at the beginning of September, I signed up for another challenge for the next 30 days.
It is called the 30 Day Creative Gathering, hosted on facebook by Sheila Delgado.
This made it 122 consecutive days of creating and I think it's a record for me.