Inspiration and practical advice for aspiring realist artists
I’m often struck by how limited oil paint is.
For a start, it simply can’t replicate the rage of values from light to dark that we see in nature.
Because we paint on flat surfaces, we can’t accurately replicate the light side of a light object and the shadow side of a dark object at the same time.
And that’s not even getting started on colour.
What matters most to me in a painting is feeling.
What do I mean when I use the word “feeling”?
Perhaps we don’t have the vocabulary in the English language to talk clearly about feelings.
They are elusive, mysterious, insubstantial.
It’s always a challenge painting flowers.
And I’ll let you into a little secret that has been kept just between me and my morning journal for the last few weeks:
I’ve determined to become the best flower painter I can be. Which means I’m going to be painting quite a lot of flowers from here onwards.
Why did I make this decision? Well, I’m not sure myself that I understand all of it.
Failure is an inevitable part of life.
It’s certainly an inevitable part of an artist’s life.
If your’e doing anything that you really care about, that gives your life much of its meaning, then feeling that you’ve come up short can be devastating.
It might be unpleasant to live through when it happens, but it’s also a sign, very often, that growth is happening.
Are you afraid to draw? I know, it makes no sense. We love to draw. Our love of art defines who we are. Why should we be afraid of it? Ah, but that’s just the problem. It’s because we love it so much, because it defines us, that the stakes are so ridiculously high. The cost
Debbie is walking past her living room. She is struck suddenly by the shadow of a plant, cast on a glass door. She stands enraptured for a moment, then rushes to find pencil and a sketch pad, so she can catch this fleeting moment that has impressed its beauty on her consciousness. What is it
Have you ever felt slightly out of step with the world around you? Are you often happier with your own company? Do large groups of people and social events drain you and leave you needing to recharge? Would you often rather stay at home and work on something creative than go out socialising? And do
I don’t believe in talent. I don’t believe that anyone is born with a natural sense of colour, or with a natural sense of design. I don’t believe that anyone is born with a natural ability to draw. Or make music, or play football, or anything else for that matter. I don’t believe in talent.
A while ago someone said to me that they thought that a lot of my work was about balance. I thought it was an interesting comment, and an insightful one too. I do think that balanceis very important in painting and drawing in a number of ways. The balance of the values is perhaps oneof
