Play It Loud - Acrylic and oil pastel on 12" x 12" canvas, 2014
Lately I've been focused on creating my own take on abstract impressionist paintings (see previous posts). A certain style is calling to me this painting season and I'm rolling with it - scratch that - I'm loving it! But that doesn't stop me from having pulls in different directions that I can't help but indulge in. These two paintings are bold and bright and totally expressive and different from everything else I've been doing lately. Truth be told, I haven't been in the best mind set lately, and sometimes just letting it all out via the brush is great free therapy. If it happens to go outside the "what I'm working on currently" playground, so be it.
I recognize the validity of working in a series, but maybe it's the stubborn Taurus in me that wants to rebel against any kind of rule or expectation, even from myself. As far as I'm concerned, just painting, just making art in any form, is a mission accomplished. So hey - I made a couple of paintings that don't fit the current mode/zone/series/whatever you want to call it. Like them or not, they needed to be made. I will always paint what I feel needs to be made. Even if it's just for myself and no one else gets it or likes it. It's something I would tell young artists to do no matter what voices they have swirling around their heads about what to do and what no to do. Oh yeah... maybe you are a young artist reading this blog... in that case... JUST DO YOU! I mean it.
I think working in a series is a revelation for an artist. You have to do it, even if it's just one time (but once you do, you'll be hooked!). At the same time, during the time you are working on that series you may feel a little twinge to do something else, and all I'm saying is to follow that and see it through.
Take the time away from a series or project that you are committed to when inspiration calls from a different corner of the room. Allow yourself to invest the resources it takes to create this new thing that may not be anything ultimately but you've just GOT to explore it. In my experience, there is always an audience. If you are an online art seller such as myself, forget the business side of the equation, just go there, let yourself do it. Given my facebook page's responses to paintings, it is always very interesting to see who likes what. I am a firm believer that being a one trick pony artist isn't necessarily the right goal for every artist. You can put a lot of your various takes on subjects and styles out there for people to see and yes, sure, maybe it will turn some people away because of inconsistency, but who exactly would be all that bothered by it? In my opinion, let's just say it... art snobs. Let's just call a spade a spade, am I right? If you want an artist to be one dimensional, I'm sorry, but you must not know an artist personally.
This blog entry is one part free form rant and one part call to arms for independent artists to go their own way and break the mold. But to sum things up - to the budding artists, my dear friends, if you happen to be reading this, my advice is this... attempt working in a series, give it a try even if you don't think you are "there" as an artist yet to do so. Just do it to get comfortable with the concept, give it a go. Who cares what the results are. Also, don't ever stop listening to the inner muse. Follow her voice, she's going to lead you in the right direction. If that direction deviates for a moment, go there without any regard to expectations or concerns about how you will be perceived. Paint it, make it, do it anyway.
I think working in a series is a revelation for an artist. You have to do it, even if it's just one time (but once you do, you'll be hooked!). At the same time, during the time you are working on that series you may feel a little twinge to do something else, and all I'm saying is to follow that and see it through.
Take the time away from a series or project that you are committed to when inspiration calls from a different corner of the room. Allow yourself to invest the resources it takes to create this new thing that may not be anything ultimately but you've just GOT to explore it. In my experience, there is always an audience. If you are an online art seller such as myself, forget the business side of the equation, just go there, let yourself do it. Given my facebook page's responses to paintings, it is always very interesting to see who likes what. I am a firm believer that being a one trick pony artist isn't necessarily the right goal for every artist. You can put a lot of your various takes on subjects and styles out there for people to see and yes, sure, maybe it will turn some people away because of inconsistency, but who exactly would be all that bothered by it? In my opinion, let's just say it... art snobs. Let's just call a spade a spade, am I right? If you want an artist to be one dimensional, I'm sorry, but you must not know an artist personally.
This blog entry is one part free form rant and one part call to arms for independent artists to go their own way and break the mold. But to sum things up - to the budding artists, my dear friends, if you happen to be reading this, my advice is this... attempt working in a series, give it a try even if you don't think you are "there" as an artist yet to do so. Just do it to get comfortable with the concept, give it a go. Who cares what the results are. Also, don't ever stop listening to the inner muse. Follow her voice, she's going to lead you in the right direction. If that direction deviates for a moment, go there without any regard to expectations or concerns about how you will be perceived. Paint it, make it, do it anyway.
She's On Fire - Acrylic and oil pastel on 16" x 20" canvas, 2014
