THE BLOG
After the Critique
Robert Henri, in the book “The Art Spirit” said, “The technique learned without a purpose is a formula which when used, knocks the life out of any ideas to which it is applied.”
So there is a lot of self direction in art. What you learn from a critique should lead you in a direction of self improvement. A lot of the changes in my art have come about from a serendipitous popping of ideas into my head. All those things that I learn are bubbling around in my head just waiting for me to pull them out and use them. So when I recognize a problem with my art, it’s like when I recognize a problem in my life, I try to see what I need to do to become a better, kinder person. I say to myself, what if I tried this? Would this make me a better artist? What if I didn’t have negative thoughts about the neighbors’s pet pig who is eating my butternut squash out of my garden, would that make me a better person? Life and art is a journey of discovery.
There is great joy to be found in the journey. Another quote from Robert Henri, “Order is perceived by the man with a creative spirit. It is achieved by the man who sincerely attempts to express himself and thus naturally follows organic law.”
What are you doing to creatively attempt to express yourself?
#RobertHenri #TheArtSpirit #critiques #art #watercolor #improvingyourart
Catching up with Some Old Friends
I was able to pick up a few paintings that had been on display at the West Bountiful City Offices while I was gone on my mission. They have been under quarantine for the past few months so nobody was able to get out and see them. I had not seen them for a year and a half. It was like meeting old friends after a long absence.
We get into the heat of painting and look at our pictures with such a critical eye. It’s nice to see them afresh and just enjoy them and take joy in the fact that you painted them and they are better than you remember. If you would like to take a look at five of these paintings, you can check out the video on my you tube channel. I found the lady above in Durango, Colorado. Here is the link: “Looking at 5 Watercolors”
#watercolor #durangocolorado #newyork #ordervilleutah #zionsnationalpark #scottsdalearizona
Best of Show and How to Handle a Critique
So “Ohana Hands” won Best of Show at the Utah Watercolor Societies Small Works Show. It is hanging with the show at the Ogden Depot. I hope you get a chance to go up and check out the show. It hangs until February 26th. I’m throwing up a bit of confetti.
Also below is the list of things that I talked about at the Utah Watercolor Society’s Monthly Meeting. I had a great time critiquing paintings with Kristi Grussendorf. Here are some things to think about when you are getting a critique, whether it’s for your illustrating, writing or paintings.
How to handle a Critique Without losing your Cool
Whether you are a writer, illustrator or artist critiques can be beneficial for your progress and improvement. They can help you see things that you wouldn’t see otherwise. Here are a few hints.
- Spend more time listening than commenting. Don’t spend so much time making excuses that you lose the benefits of the critiquers comments.
- Take notes so you can go over the comments later when the emotions are not so high.
- Be prepared that the comments might bring up something that you were not aware of.
- Be prepared that the comments might bring up something that you were aware of but didn’t want to address.
- Be prepared for more work and ideas to use on future paintings.
- Do not let the critique discourage you from future painting and creating. Use it as a trampoline to bounce you positively into the next project.
- Be prepared that you might not agree with the critique but they might be seeing something that is wrong with your painting that if you take the time to look carefully, will lead you to see something that needs to be fixed that might effect what they are seeing and saying.
- Go over you notes later. Don’t just leave them in your sketchbook but bring them out and go over them. Learn from them.
9, Take joy in creating and don’t listen to your inner critic that can tell you the negative things about the creative process and your ability. Improvement comes from diving in and continuing to paint and create.
10. Number 10 because you don’t want to end up on number 9.
Capturing the Passing Landscapes
I love being the passenger as our car is driving across the country. There is a never ending variety of views that whip past the car window. When I’m passing through an interesting area I’ll pull out my camera and take random shots. I never know what I have until I get a chance to download the photos and check them out on my laptop. Sometimes the area is just right. The lighting is just right. I can capture a snippet of life that lies just off the road. There is the home or farm outbuildings, the evidence of the people who live there. I love doing these 6” by 18” watercolors of life just off the road.
Here are three of those watercolors.
A Pencil and a Piece of Paper
Some of the most asked questions in workshops and demonstrations I teach are “What brush are you using?” “What paints are you using?” “What paper are you using?” One of the nice things about art is that with a pencil or pen and a piece of paper or sketch book you can take your art anywhere. You can pull them out and discreetly practice capturing the scene before you. You can focus on value, motion, humor. You can sketch ideas that are floating around in your head. You can work on design principles. You can work on story ideas.
Elder Gong and his wife Susan gave a devotional for young adults in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. Sister Gong quoted President Nelson: “Education is the difference between wishing you could help other people and being able to.” That’s what practicing art does for me. The more I practice and immerse myself in art, the more likely I am to put the ideas in my head down on paper in some sort of a pleasing manner. Elder Gong said, “Art inspires new ways to see God’s goodness.” Those ideas and the ability to see the beauty around us has become a life-long pursuit for me.
‘Here is the link for the devotional if you want to watch it. Devotional
The Hope of Christmas
What emotions the shepherds must have felt that night. It was a night no different than any other. They are out doing what they’ve always done, watching their flocks. The quiet sounds of night surround them. Then the heavens light up and they are filled with fear. They were seeing things that they’d never seen before. They were told to fear not. Did the fear go away at once or did it slowly dissipate as the message from the angel filled them with wonder.
I’ve been in the middle of the Tabernacle Choir when they sang a Christmas Song, the music surrounded my whole being. did the music that night from the Heavenly Choir wrap their shepherd souls and fill them with hope.
I love Brene’ Brown’s quote on hope: “hope isn’t an emotion, it’s a way of thinking.” She talks about Hope happens when we set realistic goals, we can figure out how to achieve those goals, and we believe in ourselves enough to join the struggle.
The shepherds had hope. It motivated them to go see. What an opportunity that night to go see. It changed their lives. They left praising God.
What will your hope motivate you to do this year? Let’s bring some joy and kindness into our little corner of the world.