Final Thoughts about Art Class

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

First, I want to commend all of you for having the courage to break out of your comfort zones to try your hand at learning a new skill.  This is not easy to do at any age and especially for adults.  For my part, I must say it's not easy to teach art in 12 hours so I thank you as well for your patience.  Having said that, please understand that this is the beginning of your art education.  I am hopeful that I lit a spark inside you and that you will begin to see the World a little differently now.  Like any skill however there is only one way toward mastery and that is practice.

Here are some final tips as you move forward on your own:

Always have your sketchbook, pencil, or pen with you.  Figure out a way to carry it every day.  This is the number one habit to develop if you are to be an artist.  A sketch can be done in 30 seconds or 30 minutes.  What do you sketch?  Anything that attracts your artist's eye - shapes, contrasts, color combinations, textures, sunlit buildings, repetitive forms, e.g. trees, clouds.  If stuck indoors, set up a still life (three items) near a window.  As you sketch remember contour drawing, tonal pattern, linkage, three values to create form.  Draw as if you were painting this scene in front of you.  Ask yourself, if I were doing this in watercolor, how would I approach it?  What is the order I would paint this in? 

Remember to exaggerate what you are trying to communicate.  Art is a language but one that needs to be shouted to be heard.  Don't try to say too much in one drawing or painting.  "bowl of high chroma round positive shapes against flat midtoned textured negative shape.  This is the graphic language we speak.  Try to reduce the subject of your painting/drawing to this one graphic sentence before you begin.  This will help establish your focal point, i.e. what you will exagerrate and the counterpoint(s) to support it. 

There are lots of books, videos, classes out there.  Certainly examine those but remember what Marshall Joyce taught me many years ago.  There is only one way to learn how to paint and that is with a brush in your hand.  Sometimes I feel I am guilty of this myself.  I have a collection of over two hundred art books, videos and have attended numerous workshops.  But it is only when I am in my studio or in the field making mistakes that I am actually learning this craft.  I was reading an artist's blog recently and he said something profound that I will share with you.  He said everytime he does a painting early on in the process a little voice comes into his mind and says "This is awful; you can't do this, why are you wasting your time?"  This happens to all of us who hope to create but his response to this voice is what makes this man an artist.  He says "Welcome my negative friend.  I have been waiting for you to show up.  Now just sit there and shut up while I complete this painting and prove you wrong."  This is the courage you must have to become a real artist.  Overcome the enemy within and use your God-given talent to create something new and beautiful.  Go with peace and love and positive thoughts always.

Bob

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Bowl of bright curvilinear shapes against neutral background.jpg

BobbyFarrell

Jun 30, 2009

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