When I’ve presented projects for all the grades in a school, the second graders seem to be the most creative. They are not worried about rules for the project and how do you start out. They just dive in. If we can remember the second grader inside of us and go back to that age where you find joy in creating, we can turn off our left brain and create like we did when we stood by the easel and took great joy in slapping the paint on paper.
These are some of the things I thought about in the watercolor demo for my class today.
1. Pick a subject that you connect with in someway, something that sparks excitement inside.
2. Don’t listen to the thoughts that are negative.
3. Get you supplies together. Look at your scrap, photo, or sketch until you know what you are going to put down on the paper. Creation starts in your brain. Think design, value and color.
4. Get started. Don’t be frozen by fear.
5. Keep working on the painting until it’s done. Don’t give up in the middle. There are many things that are learned by finishing projects.
6. Get away from your painting and look at it later to figure out if your done or if there are a few more touches to put on.
7. Enjoy the process. Take a look at your finished painting. What do you like? What will you try to change on the next painting.
Excellent advice, Sherry. And nice work!
Hey Susan, good to hear from you. What are you up to? Do you have any more books out?