Going back to the start...

Everyone has a teacher that touched their lives.  For me it was my first Art teacher, Mr. Downy.   I'm not entirely certain I would be on my current path, were it not for the start he gave me.

I hear him still in my head: "A great artwork has shadows that go to black and highlights that got all the way to pure white and all values in between.  THAT is what makes it interesting."

I'm currently in a post show funk and in spite of that, I'm still working (albeit a bit slower than usual).  That being said, this photo fascinated me for the black BLACKS and the WHITE highlights.  I'm not discussing the obvious jacket and hair, note the models lips, the WHITE highlight and the deep pure black of the crease where the lips meet.  So I'm off to start a detailed pencil drawing of this portrait.

What are you roots?

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“Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.”

John W. Gardner

Bustin' your creative slump...

What are your tips for overcoming creative slumps?

I don't have specific things I do... what DOES help though is looking at other artwork and visiting the museum.

And during a slump, I once doodled this image in a few minutes with only office supplies (sharpie, yellow highlighter and ball point pen).

The one thing I know and try to keep in mind.  A slump is usually more of a "chrysalis", rather than a "slump".  While I'm not creating, something is gestating inside and when I do resume my work, it is always stronger for the break.

I really would love to hear from you all about your tools, or opinions and feelings about your slumps.

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“Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow.”

Mary Anne Radmacher

Musings on black.....

This is Buck, my latest "muse". He modeled for his studies last Tuesday and he has been waking me at night composing ideas and inspirations in my head for his portrait. I may end up doing two and letting his "Mom" decide which she would prefer. His personality is slightly larger than life and the artistic challenges of his coat color and texture are very exciting.

Because black absorbs all color, I love to put lots of color in the highlights, like I did in "Redemption Value".... and her little black spots which I put, in her case, lots of true blue and a very wee bit of yellow to make it "pop".

I am also feeling that due to his slightly larger than life energy, I may do this portrait a bit larger than I have been... it's gestating in my head and it feels so great to have all these creative yearnings and energy and the time to work.

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A sincere artist is not one who makes a faithful attempt to put on to canvas what is in front of him, but one who tries to create something which is, in itself, a living thing.
::: William Dobell :::