Have you ever traveled to a new place and wished you had a few solid recommendations of inspiring places to visit from actual locals who know about art? Planning a trip to Ireland and wish to make the most of it so you can return to your studio inspired and full of new ideas? Traveling can be such an amazing source of inspiration for artists and art-appreciators! When I have the opportunity to visit a new city/country, I strive to make the most of it both in terms of enjoyment/relaxation, as well as taking in inspiration that I will later be using for work. As I mentioned in my blog post 3 Proven Hacks to Progress Artistically While Traveling, I love reaching out to actual locals who share my interests and get suggestions from them about places I should visit. Today's post was written by Neville from www.irelandart.com and he's sharing a list of recommended galleries/museums we simply must spend time in when visiting Ireland. There are few things as inspiring than spending time surrounded by all kinds of amazing artwork! Enjoy! Whether it is their Guinness, food, music or rugby, the people of Ireland seem to turn everything into art. For artists, art lovers and novices in need of inspiration, Ireland should be at the top of your bucket list as whatever your art fancy may be; you will find it in abundance in the Emerald Isle. Let’s look at some of the most popular art venues the country has to offer.
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Photo taken at Art Gallery of Ontario Museum. Portrait of Marie-Melanie Quesnel by Canadian School c. 1810.
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Drawing pen sketch created during one of my visits to the Art Gallery of Ontario Museum.
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Photo taken during lunch at Cafe Crepe in Toronto.
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Realistic watercolor painting created using previously taken reference photo.
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Visit THIS blog post to find more pictures of the painting process for this watercolor sandwich!
3 Hacks to Apply Before and During Your Next Trip
1. Give some thought to what supplies and promotional items you'll be taking with you
The supplies that you choose to take with you will vary depending on your artistic medium(s) of choice, as well as how comfortable you are drawing or painting in public (or rushed) situations. I love watercolors and immediately reached for my smallest/most portable set to pack up. However, I knew that I would probably have limited time and space to create, so I also made sure to take a few pencils and drawing pens with me.
I recommend sticking to the basics and taking only what's truly necessary when selecting your art supplies (unless you're deliberately traveling to a drawing/painting event). Take your most portable sets and supplies that allow for easy cleaning, making sure they aren't the most expensive or even your favorite. Things get lost and damaged during trips, and you want to avoid sad situations. Also, consider what bag you'll use to carry your stuff in while walking around.
I knew since before my husband and I started preparing for our trip, that I didn't want to pressure myself or take away from fully enjoying the experiences Toronto had to offer. I wanted to focus more on taking note of moments, feelings and thoughts that popped up. The few sketches I created were quick, but I made sure to take lots of reference pictures that I could work with when I got home.
If you're up for the challenge, however, traveling is a great opportunity to practice plein air painting, drawing settings, objects and people! You can also set timers for yourself to practice creating faster drawings and/or paintings, which will help you become more expressive and efficient!
Art supplies I took on my trip.
Supplies I took on my trip (Amazon links included):
1. Red "Imagine" notebook from Target
2. Canson 90lb. drawing sketchbook 5.5x8.5 in.
3. Winsor & Newton Cotman Pocket Sketch 12 Color Set
4. Sakura portable/re-fillable watercolor brush
5. Milan rubber eraser
6. Turquoise drawing pencils in HB and 2B
7. LePen drawing pens in 0.3 and 0.5 points
8. Metallic sharpener
9. Small pencil pouch
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Are you a professional artist? I REALLY recommend taking time to create unique promotional items that you can give to awesome people you meet while you're traveling! Instead of giving out a regular business card, think of items that people will actually want to have around and/or use. Be practical about it, of course, as you'll have to make space for them in your suitcase and there's always a risk of things getting damaged throughout the journey.
I had some notebooks made with my artwork on the cover and contact information on the back and people loved them!
White paper spiral notebooks I had made with my artwork on the cover.
White paper spiral notebooks I had made with my artwork on the cover.
2. Use social media to reach out to locals working in areas related to your niche
A couple of weeks before my trip I got the idea of using social media channels to send out a message to artists actually living in Toronto. It's one thing to get recommendations from friends or family who've visited the city/town before, and quite another to get insights from actual local artists!
I created a nice-looking JPG using Canva calling out for Toronto-based artists and posted it on Instagram and Twitter (a few appropriate hashtags included). I honestly didn't know if I would get any responses, and should have posted it at least a couple of more times. Fortunately, two very helpful locals got back to me with their recommendations! I even got to meet one of them during my trip, which was awesome. :)
Using your own research, as well as suggestions from local artists, create a list of places that you want to make sure to visit during your trip, always taking into account their distance from the hotel you'll be staying in. Think of experiences that YOU find particularly enjoyable, instead of spending your whole trip running around from place to place visiting the usual tourist-y locations just because that's what everyone tells you you should do (unless you actually WANT to).
Quick design I made calling out to local Toronto artists.
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My Instagram feed! Click to follow me there. :)
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3. Stay open to inspiration coming from EVERYWHERE (not only the visual arts)
Think about things and experiences that usually trigger YOUR inspiration/motivation. If you're an artist, of course you're going to find museums and galleries enjoyable. However, what other things do you find inspiring? Is it history? Architecture? Fashion? Food? Nature? Music? Clubs? What is it for you and how can your personal interests translate into activities that you can experience in that particular city?
I understand how for people it may be important to check off ALL of the tourist attractions in specific cities, especially because you never know when you'll be able to go back to that particular place. However, try to also incorporate your personal interests into your trip. I often find quaint, lesser known establishments/areas just as enjoyable as the bigger attractions, and I also LOVE getting to know what life is like for locals. Having the opportunity to chat with locals is very inspiring because you get to know perspectives of people living in cities different from your own.
In my blog post titled How I Find Inspiration as an Artist and Some Ideas to Keep You Going, I talk about the mentality I've adopted as an artist that allows me to be constantly inspired to create. I also give some useful tips that you can apply to keep your creativity flowing steadily.
Art supplies and inspirational items I bought at Toronto.
Supplies and inspirational items I bought during my trip:
1. Black back-pack and pins: Sonic Boom Records
2. The Starving Artist Cookbook, written and illustrated by Sara Zin: Sonic Boom Records
3. Leuchtturm1917 sketchbook: Art Gallery of Ontario Museum (Gift shop)
4. Emily Carr and Lawren Harris Art Magnets: Art Gallery of Ontario Museum (Gift shop)
5. AGO Museum Tote Bag: Art Gallery of Ontario Museum (Gift shop)
6. Emily Carr- An Introduction to Her Life and Art: Acadia Art and Rare Books
*Book can be acquired through Amazon HERE.
7. Wanderlust and Wildflowers Colored Pencils: Kid Icarus Gift and Screen Print Shop
8. Green Ink Pad: Kid Icarus Gift and Screen Print Shop
9. Schoolbook Lowercase Alphabet Stamps: Kid Icarus Gift and Screen Print Shop
Abstract artwork by Bianka Guna. Click on the image to visit her website!
Abstract artwork by Bianka Guna. Click on the image to visit her website!
Abstract artwork by Bianka Guna. Click on the image to visit her website!
Click on the image to visit Mehoi's Etsy shop!
Artusiasm is an amazing art gallery that was recommended to me by an artist/designer kind enough to respond to my calling through Instagram! I'm so thankful for this recommendation because the gallery and its owners are truly amazing people! Thanks Ben!! :)
*Click on the images below to visit Artusiasm's site.
Artusiasm art gallery
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Artusiasm art gallery
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To end this blog post, I want to remind you to try to find a balance between enjoying life, taking care of yourself, and staying productive. If you're lucky enough to travel, enjoy the experience as much as possible, remain open, and most likely, inspiration will happen naturally. Don't pressure yourself and focus more on recording your thoughts, feelings and ideas!
I wish you the best of luck in your art journey and lots of opportunities for traveling!
Cheers!
Do you frequently struggle with a lack of motivation to create? Does daily life make it difficult for you to produce artwork consistently? Do you frequently compare yourself with other artists and feel like you'll never reach their skill level? Do you feel it's too late for you to start your artistic journey or that you are progressing too slowly?
Being an artist can be tough mentally, whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or even a professional. It can be extremely lonely and stressful because, in most cases, you are solely responsible for progressing your skills, producing great work, marketing yourself, dealing with sales, and staying on top of all the practical aspects of maintaining a business. You have to 100% believe in what you have to offer and be your own cheerleader in a vast sea of amazingly talented artists.
All of this makes it ABSOLUTELY imperative for us artists (of all kinds) to take care of ourselves both physically and mentally. This will help us not only achieve success much faster, but to stay happy and productive throughout the years. Think about it for a sec. If you're happy, you'll be more likely to produce work consistently. The more work you produce, the faster you'll improve. And the faster you improve your skills, the more self-confidence you'll have to put yourself out there and start making your work known.
Lacking inspiration? Read my blog post about How I Find Inspiration as an Artist and Some Ideas to Keep you Going.
As artists, we face challenging situations daily. From the moment we stand in front of a blank canvas that we have to turn into a beautiful painting, to the moment we start receiving criticism for that one piece we posted online. We also have to produce work consistently, and if we get easily frustrated with ourselves for our mistakes, we may fail to produce the amount of work required to improve our skills. Furthermore, if we approach a new project thinking we are going to fail, we will most likely fail.
I learned about Positive Daily Affirmations a while back and, though I'm too skeptical to believe in the Law of Attraction per se, I DO believe our minds are extremely powerful and that our thinking affects our daily actions. All of us have self-imposed beliefs that we have formed throughout our lives.
The experiences we've been through and what we've been taught have created thinking patterns that are embedded in our minds whether we are aware of them or not. And, unfortunately, many of them are holding us back from becoming everything we could become.
Our self-image is basically what we believe to be true about ourselves and what we think we're capable of achieving in life. Each person creates his/her own version of reality and, if we REALLY want to, we have the ability to change these realities to get rid of self-imposed limitations.
In a nut-shell, Daily Affirmations are short, positive statements that declare specific goals as if they are already happening or have already been completed. If repeated consistently, they have a profound effect on the conscious and subconscious mind. They help you live a life of positivity, gratitude and mindfulness.
In the beginning, saying these affirmations may feel ridiculous or even uncomfortable, but the more you repeat them, the more naturally these words will come to you. Over time, you'll be saying them with greater confidence and your mind will start perceiving them as your new truth.
Truly successful people, in my opinion, live fulfilling lives by making something of their passions and create a positive impact on the world in whichever ways they're able to. Who comes to your mind when you think of a character like this? You can bet these people are positive, grateful and mindful!
10 Daily Affirmations for Artists
1. I fully accept myself and know I am worthy of achieving great things in life.
2. The artist is already present within me.
3. I trust I am exactly where I need to be in my artistic journey.
4. I do not seek perfection, but progress, and view my mistakes as a sign
of exploration and growth.
5. The only person I compare myself to, is who I was yesterday.
6. I have unlimited creativity and the ability to create something meaningful.
7. I am proud of my work and its wonderfully unique characteristics.
8. Through hard work and determination, I am progressing my artistic skills
every single day.
9. I am becoming a brilliant artist and will be persistent as I pursue my passion.
10. With my art, I am inspiring others and impacting lives.
Remember, YOU and YOU ALONE are responsible for creating your truth and living the life you want to live. YOU define what you are capable of doing and how far your artistic path will take you! So stay positive, my friend!
Download your free printable at the end of this post, print it and pin it somewhere you'll see it frequently throughout the day. Repeat these affirmations each morning or several times during the day for at least a month to start seeing results!
Want to learn more about Positive Affirmations? Check out this article written by Remez Sasson, founder of Success Consciousness.
Download your free Daily Affirmations for Artist printable by clicking on the image below!
| daily_affirmations_for_artists.pdf |
Which of these 10 affirmations resonates with you most? Do you have any strategies set in place that help you stay motivated? Leave a comment in the comments section below and let's discuss!
In what ways do you think your society's traditions and beliefs have impacted your work as an artist? How different do you think your artwork would be if you had grown up in a different place in the world? Is there any celebration or tradition that you find particularly inspiring?
As human beings, we will always carry with us a certain degree of influence from the countries we have lived in and the people we have lived with, especially during our formative years. I consider myself extremely lucky to have lived most of my life in a country that, not only has produced amazing artists of all kinds, but has a rich and unique culture full of color, symbolism and joy.
Mexican Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead has always been one of my favorite yearly celebrations and, this year, I decided to use it as inspiration for a few watercolor illustrations.
In this post, I will explain a bit about this wonderful celebration and the story behind the well-known Catrina character. Also, I will show you step by step how I go about drawing a human skull and why it is so important to have, at least, a general understanding of the underlying bone structure when drawing a face. I've included a free downloadable PDF at the end for you to print if you wish to practice with it! : )
In what ways do you think your society's traditions and beliefs have impacted your work as an artist? How different do you think your artwork would be if you had grown up in a different place in the world? Is there any celebration or tradition that you find particularly inspiring?
As human beings, we will always carry with us a certain degree of influence from the countries we have lived in and the people we have lived with, especially during our formative years. I consider myself extremely lucky to have lived most of my life in a country that, not only has produced amazing artists of all kinds, but has a rich and unique culture full of color, symbolism and joy.
Mexican Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead has always been one of my favorite yearly celebrations and, this year, I decided to use it as inspiration for a few watercolor illustrations.
In this post, I will explain a bit about this wonderful celebration and the story behind the well-known Catrina character. Also, I will show you step by step how I go about drawing a human skull and why it is so important to have, at least, a general understanding of the underlying bone structure when drawing a face. I've included a free downloadable PDF at the end for you to print if you wish to practice with it! : )
A Day to Honor the Dead and Celebrate Life
The Day of the Dead is celebrated each year on the second of November, coinciding with Christianity's All Soul's Day. This important celebration is a mixture of both indigenous rituals and Christian beliefs. Way before the Spanish conquistadores arrived in Mexico, the native indigenous people living in the area already had ceremonies that revolved around death and the natural cycle of living things.
Since prehistoric times, the Aztecs and other indigenous groups used human skulls in rituals to symbolize death and rebirth. When the Spanish arrived during the XV century, they were horrified by the pagan rituals they witnessed and later on sought to spread Catholicism amongst these people. Eventually, customs of the Spanish started mixing together with those of the different indigenous groups.
On and around the second of November each year, Mexicans remember their deceased family members in a variety of ways. Graves are visited and decorated with flowers. Elaborate altares (shrines) are created in homes to invite the souls of the dead back into the world of the living. Also, beautiful parades are organized in which entire communities are invited to celebrate together.
On this day, death, which is usually something that is feared and associated with negative emotions, turns into something joyful. Mexicans pay homage to death with both respect and humor, celebrating both the past and the present simultaneously. Even though the whole idea of inviting the dead to visit us, and celebrating death in general may seem like a pretty morbid idea, the point of this day is to understand that death is an eventual part of life and to use this as a reason to enjoy ourselves while we are still here.
El Día de Muertos reminds us to not only be more appreciative of life moments but to take advantage of the time we have.
The Day of the Dead and Halloween are often compared, but there is a fundamental difference between the two celebrations. Halloween or All Hallows’ Eve was a festival created to mark the end of harvest season and the beginning of the “dark half" of the year. It was thought that, on this day, the walls between our world and the spirit world became thin enough to allow ghosts to pass through and damage crops. Halloween focuses more on our fear of mortality and the spookiness of the unknown.
On the other hand, the Day of the Dead is more about remembering loved ones who have passed away, celebrating their memories instead of mourning their loss. Instead of treating death as something dark and frightening, it is about seeing the positive aspects of the living cycle and laughing in the face of death.
To go to original Pixabay source click on the picture.
Watercolor Altar de Muertos illustration. Sakura Koi watercolors on Canson watercolor paper. Erika Lancaster.
Shrine for the Dead and Symbolism of Objects
When a family sets up an Altar de Muerto for a deceased loved one, there are certain things that have to be taken into account. Each object included symbolizes a particular element and the location of the objects within the shrine also has a meaning. Usually, an altar is made up of objects that call to the senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing).
Because the objective of an altar de muerto is to lure the deceased back home, it usually includes objects specific to that person, so that he/she feels the desire to make the long and hard travel back from the underworld.
Here is a general list of the things that are usually included in an Altar de Muerto:
1. Levels (steps): Altars usually are made up of two to seven levels. The lowest levels represent the underworld and the Earth, while the higher levels represent celestial dimensions.
2. Arch: An arch symbolizes the entry to the underworld and is adorned with flowers and fruits.
3. Symbols for natural elements: Papel picado, which consists of cutting intricate designs out of delicate and colorful paper, represents wind. A glass of water is placed to represent this element and also to calm the spirit's thirst after the long travel back home. Candles are placed throughout to represent fire and to help light the way back home. Finally, seeds and fruit are included to represent earth.
4. Variety of aromas: Prehispanic cultures used to burn a type of incense created from the resin of Copal trees in their rituals. The smoke and aroma produced from burning Copal was thought to purify environments and keep away evil spirits. People now-a-days use either Copal or other kinds of incense in their shrines. Other aromas are produced by herbal infusions and flowers like the Cempasúchil (Marigold). The Cempasúchil is a bright yellow flower commonly used to help guide the spirits back home through both sight and smell.
5. Food: It is common practice for the family of the deceased to prepare his/her favorite dishes to place on the altar. Typically, it is a Mexican dish like mole or tamales. Candies are also placed throughout the altar, which can vary from sugar skulls, chocolate and/or amaranth. Pan de Muerto , which is a special seasonal bread, is also included. This bread is made differently depending on what area of Mexico you are in, but the shapes created within it usually represent skulls and bones.
6. Salt: Salt is thought to purify the body and to strengthen the spirit when traveling to and from the underworld.
7. Personal belongings: Photographs and personal belongings of the deceased are usually placed somewhere within the central levels of the altar. Usually, family members choose to include specific favorite objects that will lure the deceased back home.
8. Religious symbols: Crosses and/or other religious symbols are usually placed on the higher levels of the shrine. It is common practice to include saint figures, virgins, and angels.
Watercolor Pan de Muerto illustration. Sakura Koi watercolors on Canson watercolor paper. Erika Lancaster.
Watercolor Mole (Mexican food) illustration. Sakura Koi watercolors on Canson watercolor paper. Erika Lancaster.
Watercolor Cempasúchil/Marigold flower illustration. Sakura Koi watercolors on Canson watercolor paper. Erika Lancaster.
Watercolor Clavel/Carnation flower illustration. Sakura Koi watercolors on Canson watercolor paper. Erika Lancaster.
Who is Catrina?
José Guadalupe Posada. La Calavera Catrina. Zinc etching. 1910-1913.
The original Catrina character was created by José Guadalupe Posada, a Mexican illustrator, printmaker and engraver, and was called “La Calavera Catrina" or “Elegant Skull". However, it was made popular later on by artist Diego Rivera in his mural Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en la Alameda Central (Dream of a Sunday Afternoon Along Central Alameda), completed in the historic center of Mexico City in 1947.
Diego Rivera. Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en la Alameda Central (Dream of a Sunday afternoon along Central Alameda). 1946-1947.
Even though Posada and Rivera created these artworks at different moments in history, they both used this character as a symbol to transmit social and political messages to the public during times of transition in the country. In Posada's time, it was common to see skeleton characters in newspaper illustrations humorously criticising both the actions of politicians as well as the hypocrisy found within Mexican people as the blood and social ranks of the Europeans and indigenous mixed.
Posada stated once: “La muerte es democrática, ya que a fin de cuentas, güera, morena, rica o pobre, toda la gente acaba siendo calavera.” / "Death shows a sense of democracy because, at the end, blonde, dark-skinned, rich or poor, everyone ends up being a skull.”
Over time, Catrina stopped being as political and became an important Mexican symbol representing death. Today, she is known all over the world and is widely used during Day of the Dead celebrations at parades. All sorts of artworks are created by Mexican artisans that specialize in this subject year-long.
Many tie Catrina to the the Aztec's Goddess of Death Mictecacihuatl, who was considered the keeper of the bones in the underworld. This goddess was a vital part of the Aztec's month-long festivals honoring the dead. However, Catrina differs greatly from the serious Mictecacihuatl and the bloody rituals of the prehistoric peoples. This character is always smiling, dressed in colorful clothes and is unmistakably humorous.
Watercolor Catrina illustration. Sakura Koi watercolors on Canson watercolor paper. Erika Lancaster.
How to Draw a Human Skull
Practicing drawing the human skull is very useful for beginner artists that are starting to draw faces. By understanding the underlying bone structure of a face, we are able to better understand proportions and locations for facial elements within the head, as well as forms and planes that will give a drawing a sense of three-dimensionality.
I really recommend finding a good picture of a skull and studying its form. This will help you discern where shadow and light naturally falls within the face and your drawings will be much more effective and realistic.
Use the steps below to create an outline drawing of a skull. Once you have this down, step up the challenge by searching for a good picture of a real skull online and try placing shadows, lights and midtones in the areas you see fit. Remember I have the downloadable PDF at the bottom for you to print out and use!
Practicing drawing the human skull is very useful for beginner artists that are starting to draw faces. By understanding the underlying bone structure of a face, we are able to better understand proportions and locations for facial elements within the head, as well as forms and planes that will give a drawing a sense of three-dimensionality.
I really recommend finding a good picture of a skull and studying its form. This will help you discern where shadow and light naturally falls within the face and your drawings will be much more effective and realistic.
Use the steps below to create an outline drawing of a skull. Once you have this down, step up the challenge by searching for a good picture of a real skull online and try placing shadows, lights and midtones in the areas you see fit. Remember I have the downloadable PDF at the bottom for you to print out and use!
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| how_to_draw_skull_worksheet.pdf |
Check out the awesome products I created around my Catrina painting at my Society6 shop! Art prints, stickers, posters, wall hangings, t-shirts and much more! :)
Are there any particular celebrations or traditions in your culture that you feel you draw a lot of inspiration from for your art? How do you feel your culture impacts your artwork and what you want to transmit with it to others? Let's have a discussion in the comments section below!
Are you constantly trying to find inspiration by admiring other artists' work and find yourself copying more than you'd like? Do you feel like you are making no progress towards finding your own artistic style? Are you simply unable to produce as much original artwork as you'd like?
“Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing."
-Salvador Dali
“Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing."
-Salvador Dali
In this post I will explain one of the methods I use to make sure I produce original artwork while getting inspired by other artists. This strategy is an amazing way to work towards finding and developing one's own artistic style. Plus, it's very fun!
The act of copying is a very delicate subject in the artistic field and just the word seems to put many of us on edge. I say, let's try to relax and admit that each one of us has been constantly inspired throughout his/her life by people, experiences, artwork (and by “artwork" I mean movies, music, theater, books, etc.), the environments we have lived in, advertising, and pretty much everything around us. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, has a conscious or unconscious effect on us and, therefore, on the work we produce as artists.
We have all been influenced by a combination of different things and have different likes and dislikes. This is not to say that two different artists are never going to produce similar work. There are bound to be similarities amongst us in terms of technique and/or subject matter because there are only a certain amount of techniques and subjects to work with.
However, if we put in the effort to discover ourselves as artists (what techniques/supplies we enjoy working with most, what our own distinctive abilities as well as areas of improvement are, what ideas we want to put out into the world, etc.), we will eventually get to a point at which our work will be a direct representation of ourselves.
This is, in my opinion, what matters most and what I am personally working towards. At this point in my artistic journey I allow myself to admire and analyze other peoples' work, but make sure that the bulk of my time goes towards looking inwards and doing my best to apply what I have learned in my own way.
Having said all this, let's begin!
The Artist Mishmash Exercise
The purpose of this exercise is to start pinpointing specific characteristics of other artists' work that you are drawn to, whether it's related to subject type, technique used, general mood of the piece, etc. Afterwards, you will explore how to use characteristics found in different artists' work in one same piece!
Step #1:
To begin you will need a phone, computer, or any other device on which to search for existing artwork, a few pieces of blank paper and a pencil. Make a list of three artists that create work you greatly admire. If you have already created a Pinterest inspiration board like I have, go ahead an use it! If not, now is the time to investigate.
I really recommend keeping it at only three and trying to select artists that produce very different types of artwork. Once you have finalized your list, and perhaps read a bit about each artist if you don't know about them already, analyze several of pieces of each, and write down four to five specific characteristics that you have found in each artist's work.
My example:
a) Henri Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901)
French artist Toulouse-Lautrec was both a painter and an illustrator. He is known for his provocative paintings and drawings depicting the decadent Parisian nightlife, that he was a part of himself. He created many posters and advertisements for nightclubs including the Moulin Rouge, and elevated advertising to a fine art status. He was a skilled Post-Impressionist painter that experimented with a variety of techniques and supplies. In his posters, he made use of bold, flat shapes of color.
Characteristics of his work I really like:
-Roughness/raw quality of his work in both subject and technique
-Bold use of color, perhaps unnatural at times
-Variety of mediums and substrates used in his sketches and paintings (charcoal, pastels, oils, lithographs, graphite, crayons, canvas, paper, cardboard, etc. )
-Hand-lettering in posters
Step #1:
To begin you will need a phone, computer, or any other device on which to search for existing artwork, a few pieces of blank paper and a pencil. Make a list of three artists that create work you greatly admire. If you have already created a Pinterest inspiration board like I have, go ahead an use it! If not, now is the time to investigate.
I really recommend keeping it at only three and trying to select artists that produce very different types of artwork. Once you have finalized your list, and perhaps read a bit about each artist if you don't know about them already, analyze several of pieces of each, and write down four to five specific characteristics that you have found in each artist's work.
My example:
a) Henri Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901)
French artist Toulouse-Lautrec was both a painter and an illustrator. He is known for his provocative paintings and drawings depicting the decadent Parisian nightlife, that he was a part of himself. He created many posters and advertisements for nightclubs including the Moulin Rouge, and elevated advertising to a fine art status. He was a skilled Post-Impressionist painter that experimented with a variety of techniques and supplies. In his posters, he made use of bold, flat shapes of color.
Characteristics of his work I really like:
-Roughness/raw quality of his work in both subject and technique
-Bold use of color, perhaps unnatural at times
-Variety of mediums and substrates used in his sketches and paintings (charcoal, pastels, oils, lithographs, graphite, crayons, canvas, paper, cardboard, etc. )
-Hand-lettering in posters
Portrait of Madame la Comtesse Adèle (1882). Charcoal on laid paper.
Monsieur Louis Pascal (1891). Oil on board.
May Milton (1895). Oil on cardboard.
Ambassadeurs: Aristide Bruant Poster (1892). Colour lithograph.
b) Hannah Höch (1889-1978)
Höch was a German visual artist that is considered the pioneer of the photomontage technique. Her work transmitted deeply rooted social and political messages regarding issues that were occurring at the time (sexism, war, etc.). Though she also worked with oil paints, she is primarily known for her bold collages created with images taken from fashion magazines as well as illustrated journals. Her work conveyed strong, important messages, but were humorous at the same time.
Characteristics of her work I really like:
-Collage/photomontage technique (I think it's quite interesting how we can take bits and bobs of already existing images and create a whole new meaning for them by combining and rearranging them)
-Nonsensical feeling
-Charged with deep meaning about political/social issues but humorous at the same time
-Incorporation of popular elements into artwork
The Bride (1927). Oil on canvas.
Roma (1925). Oil on canvas.
Love (1931). Photomontage.
Cut with the Kitchen Knife through the Beer-Belly of the Weimar Republic (1919). Photomontage.
c) Edward Hopper (1882-1967)
Hopper was an American artist that started his artistic career as an illustrator and turned into a fine artist later on. He is considered to be one of the most important realist painters of the twentieth century. His enigmatic artwork depicts the loneliness of modern urban life in America. The arrangement of elements within his compositions, as well as his amazing use of light/shadow and detail, create very visually striking pieces that very effectively create tension and emotion in the viewer.
Characteristics of his work I really like:
-Realist style but not literal copy (certain degree of interpretive rendering that makes artwork more expressive)
-Artwork tells a story or makes the audience think
-Use of color and contrast creates very striking imagery
-Feeling of mystery and solitude
Automat (1927). Oil on canvas.
Summer Evening (1947). Oil on canvas.
Cape Cod Morning (1950). Oil on canvas.
House by The Railroad (1925). Oil on canvas.
Step #2:
Alright! Once you have your three artists, and you have listed a few characteristics of each person's work, start brainstorming ideas in which you could incorporate most of these into one same piece. Create several different sketches! You don't have to use ALL of the points you've written down, but make sure to at least use one characteristic of each artist.
Having trouble? Consider these tips.
-Start with the artist that uses subjects or styles that you have a bit of practice in already and then see how you can incorporate characteristics of the other two.
-Instead of wasting too much time thinking of the overall idea you want your drawing/painting to transmit, start drawing ONE object/person/animal/shape and add to it as you go. You'll start making connections between the elements you start adding.
-After you have learned a bit about your favorite artists, think of an idea that is personal to YOU and YOUR LIFE, and then think about how one particular artist might go about representing that particular idea.
Step #3:
Once you have selected an idea to work with, go ahead and start with your final piece! Remember, this is an exercise and is not meant to produce a finalized artwork. As with all types of explorations, try to have fun with it and not pressure yourself to create something perfect. If a great idea for a final piece, awesome! If not, at least you learned something new!
My final exploration piece:
Mixed-media collage. Keep Them Coming.
After having sketched out a few different ideas, I selected one and created a composition in Photoshop using five different pictures. I used this (digital) collage as reference as I drew and painted. In this piece, I used a variety of supplies and techniques including watercolor pencils, Prismacolor Soft-Core pencils, Gamsol, watercolor paints, black gouache and even a bit of charcoal. Some areas in the painting are purposely made to look more realistic and polished than others. Finally, I did my best to create an image that propelled the viewer to think about and interpret what he/she is seeing.
Which are YOUR three favorite artists and what is it about their artwork you love so much? Do you think any of these characteristics can be found in your own work? I'd ABSOLUTELY LOVE it if you took a minute to comment below! Let me know if you use the Artist Mishmash technique! I'd love to see what you come up with!
Do you enjoy listening to inspiring and/or educational podcasts while you work? Do you find it encouraging to listen to stories or advice from other creatives who have found success doing what they love?
Lately I've been trying my best to absorb as much as possible about what it takes to succeed as an artist. I am SO incredibly grateful for all the artists and experts out there willing to put out information for us to learn from and apply in our careers. As artists, most of us are responsible not only for continuously producing good art, but of promoting it as best as we can and dealing with everything else that comes from selling a product (numbers, money, taxes, etc.). There's just SO much!
Is it worth it in order to do what we love and living life on our terms? Totally! Nonetheless, there's a lot of learning involved and if it wasn't for all of these incredible, helpful people putting all that information out there, the learning curve for us new artists would be a lot steeper. I love listening to these talks as I work (yay for multitasking!).
The following five podcasts are by far my favorite. They all offer large libraries of episodes to choose from and their topics range from motivational to practical. I hope they will help you as much as they have helped me.
1. Accidental Creative
Accidental Creative is a group dedicated to helping creatives thrive by providing workshops and many other useful resources.
Click here to listen to the episode released yesterday titled ¨Avoiding the Comparison Trap¨.
2. Creative Pep Talk
I find Andy J. Miller extremely inspirational and I quite enjoy his more intimate approach to podcasts. He combines interviews and personal stories in his episodes.
Click here to listen to the last episode titled ¨You Are More¨.
3. The Jealous Curator
105 episodes of inspirational interviews with artists and creatives.
Click here to listen to this wonderful episode titled ¨If It Scares You, Do It¨.
4. Art Marketing Action Podcasts from Alyson B. Stanfield (ArtBizCoach.com)
As artists and freelancers, we have to be our own promoters. Alyson Stanfield is an expert at Art Marketing and puts out a lot of useful information for us.
Click here to listen to choose from 189 different episodes on iTunes.
5. Artists Helping Artists
This is also a very helpful podcast in which artists talk about the business side of being an artist as well as other practical tips.
Click here to listen to the interesting episode titled ¨20 Lists Artists Should Keep¨.
Do you know of any other awesome art/creativity/creative business related podcasts? If you do, please share them in the comments section below so we can all get some inspiration!
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is a participant in the Shareasale.com Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Shareasale.com partner companies.
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