Some days, it's good to step away from the familiar, comfortable mediums that we feel competent in, and enter the world of exploration, perhaps even floundering. Yesterday I finally got to play with a product called "Yupo", more plastic than paper, paint "floats" and moves as you apply it, creating really interesting textures. I am not a watercolorist by trade, but I do paint on silks and find the watercolor on Yupo having similar qualities as far as movement and vibrancy. Here's an example of one of the paintings I did. What mediums do you go to when you want to explore?
A year ago, my family and I took an incredible multi-country journey along the Mediterranean Sea. One of my favorites stops was Turkey. I had been to this intriguing country once before, but this time we spent two days in Istanbul and one in the ancient city of Ephesus. I hope to capture several of our experiences in paintings, but I've decided to start with one that actually reminded me a bit of my home in Alaska. Obviously Alaska and Turkey are extremely different; the city of Istanbul has about 18 times as many people as live in my entire state, we don't speak the same language, or eat the same foods, but one thing we do have in common; Combat Fishing.
Every summer, here in Alaska, when the salmon are running you can find fishermen (and women) literally elbow to elbow along the riverbanks casting lines hoping to get a bite.
I noticed as we were driving out of the city center in Istanbul, a bridge with men, elbow to elbow and fishing lines in the water. We asked our guide what they were fishing for and she said "sardines and anchovies". Knowing our prize king salmon can weigh over 40 or 50 pounds, we couldn't help but be amused at the idea of fighting for such a tiny fish, but I was pleased to find we aren't so different after all.  bridge in Istanbul, Turkey. This is the inspiration for a painting I'm currently working on. Check back soon to see the final results!
I love living in Alaska, but every winter, usually around February when the holidays are over and the snow keeps coming and the realization that spring is NOT around the corner sets in, my mind drifts to warmer settings. I am not satiated by travel, in fact, it has the opposite affect. I can't wait to plan the next adventure.
Art and travel are two of my passions and so I gladly share them both with you. So far my paintings have reflected life in Alaska, but I'm getting ready to start a series of paintings from other experiences. Painting, for me, is a way of reliving moments, recapturing the sights, smells, and sense of a place. Check back often to see where my memories take me.
Here's some tips for those days when inspiration and creativity seem elusive:
*Experiment with unusual materials (make up-eye liner, eye shadow), food coloring, grind spices to make natural dyes, tea or coffee, charred wood)
*Experiment with textire (q-tips, feathers, comb, sea sponge, cheesecloth, plastic wrap, fork, bubble wrap, etc. can all make interesting tools...)
*Experiment with perspective (draw an object as realistic as you can in pencil, then try it again using only ink and brush. Try painting it in simple geometric forms, or in an unexpected color or texture. Try drawing part of an object from a close up perspective, or from an unusual angle).
*Experiment with Line - Try a 1 or 2 minute contour drawing (simple, quick line drawing), or set a timer for 1 minute, place your pencil in one hand on the drawing paper, and hold an object in the other. Turn your body away from your paper and look only at the object while you draw (don't cheat and peek at the paper). This "blind contour" exercise is great for training yourself to observe. Or, try a gesture drawing... a quick sketch of an object in motion.
Let go of a desire to achieve perfection and just have fun. It's amazing how a few exercises like these will get those creative juices flowing again!
If you live in or near Washington D.C., check out the "Alaska tree" this month. As part of the National Tree Lighting Ceremony and the "Pathway to Peace" each state has an artist and a group of kids provide ornaments to decorate their state's tree. I'm thrilled to say that my home school art students (ages 10 and up) were selected to decorate this year's tree! My students used a paper art form called "quilling" to design their ornaments. You can also view one of my ornaments at the White House Visitor Center. I'm very proud of my students and I'm excited about others in the Country getting to view their work as well.
I've been teaching art classes off and on for over 20 years now, and I love it. I love seeing how creative kids can be when given the right tools, and the lights go on in their eyes when they learn something new and apply it. This time of year is always fun for me as I plan out what to teach in the fall. This fall I'll be taking "my" kids back to the basics. My hope is that they will be less concerned with what others will think of their work, and simply enjoy the process. I want them to learn courage as they think outside the box, wonder as they study the world around them and observe all the details, confidence as they learn the principles of design that enable them to record what they see and feel....and I hope they end the year with a deeper appreciation for art and a desire to continue learning.
Tips for encouraging your child (or yourself!) in art beyond the class room:
*Let your child look at art. Study pictures of great paintings in a variety of styles and genres. Encourage them to observe and ask questions .
*Encourage your child to experiment with art supplies and praise progress and creativity more so than finished product. Being an artist is a lifelong journey, one that will hopefully see us learning something new every time we pick up a pencil or paintbrush.
*Encourage your child to focus on learning one skill at a time. For example, if they have just learned about colors, have them do a painting in any style they wish, using all primary colors, or all one color (just adding white to lighten and black or it's complement to darken). If they are learning about composition, have them take a few very simple, plain objects and practice arranging them in a variety of ways, then drawing or painting them (not focusing so much on color and proportions as much as overlapping and filling up the paper).
*It's ok for kids to struggle. I give my students permission at any time during a project, to take a break, set down their materials and rest for a moment or two. Sometimes kids will have a hard time getting a "line just right", especially when trying to do a realistic art work, or they will accidentally put a line where they did not want to put one. I reassure them that every artist gets frustrated from time to time, and that by thinking it through, and trying different ideas, they often come up with a solution better than the first.
* Display their work. Rotate different pieces as they complete them, or photograph their work and put in an album or DVD so they have a record of them. Consider saving (and dating) 1 or 2 pieces each year. It's good for kids to be able to see how they've progressed over the years.
I'm just finishing up another acrylic painting for a show next Friday. I LOVE working on it. It's one of my favorite spots in Anchorage, at one of my favorite times of year (pictures to be posted by next week). When I look back over the paintings I've done in the past few years, I definitely have my favorites. They are the ones that I have some emotional attachment to....a memory, an experience, time with a friend. When I teach my students to paint, I often give them a reference photo or still life to paint, in order to teach them the basic techniques and principles of design, but to become a great painter, I think it is essential to paint what you love. Keep the principles of design fresh in the back of your mind, but in the forefront should be the experience of art. Carry a pencil and small sketchbook with you or a camera and capture those moments that have significance to you. Observe the world around you. Notice how light plays on color, how great detail is found in even the simplest of subjects, and how every person's face tells a story, even without words.
Then......create.
It's what we call "Break up" season in Alaska. The snow is finally melting, the temperatures are warming (slightly), and things are about to go from brown and sloshy, to colorful and striking. Camera in hand, I am always on the look out for the next great painting inspiration, so if you're from Alaska (or have a favorite memory from a visit here), feel free to pass on your ideas. I don't typically do commissions, but I do appreciate input :)
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