With so many distractions like work and home obligations, it can be difficult to come up with ideas for always having a painting on site. often the hardest part of creating new and original art. I have learned many techniques from my writing endeavors that can certainly be applied to the artist looking to create that new original painting. Here are four blogging techniques that can fit into an artist’s world.
1. Keep an art calendar.
I have kept a list in my mind about the paintings that I always wanted to do. For whatever reason, some make it to the newspaper, some don’t. Now that list has grown a lot. As with my blogs, I have created an art ideas spreadsheet, so during the days I want to paint, but I don’t know where to start. Just a few words can trigger the same emotion that sparked the idea in the first place. To really motivate myself, I’ll schedule them from time to time to make sure I’m in the studio.
2. Keep your idea journal handy at all times.
As I learned while writing my first mystery, you never know when ideas arise. The muse is that difficult. Some days he has nothing to say. Other days he’s babbling. To make sure I never miss an idea, I always have my Moleskine handy to jot down what the Muse says. Don’t be fooled into saying you will remember. It doesn’t always work that way.
3. Keep a reference file of photos.
I often browse the reference photo section on WetCanvas.com and other photo reference sites like MorgueFile. Many times that is all I need to take my brush. Other times, I save an image to save it for later, for example when I feel like taking a still life.
Reference images serve another purpose as well. I like to have reference images for things that I can add to a painting like vegetables for a still life or a cow for a farm scene. When ideas start to flow, I work best when I can lower the visual quickly.
4. Run a series in progress.
Every time I travel, I take a lot of pictures. I take notes. From this information, I will build a series of paintings or at least ideas. Often times the area I travel to will provide the ideas. Door County, Wisconsin, is one of those places. The plethora of small cabins and vacation homes offers many ideas. I have done several door paintings that I will return to from time to time. This is a good cure for the days you long to travel to a favorite place.
Sometimes left brain involvement helps. While planning seems to go against the spontaneity of art, controlling your thoughts and ideas can help you always have a painting in progress.