This week’s creativity trigger is an activity…
#10 Try a new approach or technique
This week I didn’t get out for an artist date. I failed to plan one in advance, so it didn’t happen. Lesson learned, planning and putting it on the calendar, in advance!, is critical for it to happen.
So instead of beating myself up for what I didn’t do… I decided to experiment with my paints and tried some new approaches.
A while back I bought a large box of Strathmore watercolor cards with envelopes, and they make a great warm up for me to sketch and paint a card – a small and non-intimidating format, so I approach them with more freedom and experimentation. And I was definitely reaching for that combination!
I am very inconsistent when it comes to actually using them but this past week I was inspired to paint Black-eyed Susan’s for a birthday card. Nothing says summer like black-eyed Susan’s! I wanted to try this one a bit looser and only render one flower in detail. (I am usually compelled to draw everything in detail)
First they were all lightly drawn in pencil, then I loosely painted the low focus flowers first – moving gradually toward the more and more focused ones. And finished by inking the detailed center flower. I really like the effect it achieved.
The next experiment, I painted a water scene but with John Singer Sargent in mind. I wanted to capture the looseness and movement in his watercolors. I especially adore how he painted water. The reference photo is from Long Beach Island last summer, in Harvey Cedars. I love the reflection of the posts and was very focused on creating a proper reflection.
Didn’t quite capture the looseness of Sargent but am loving how this came out. And I enjoyed approaching my paints in a different way.
Did you go on an artist date this past week? Did you do advance planning and put it in your calendar? Would love to know! If not will you try something new like I did?
If so, please let me know if it helps you or what you experience!
See you next Wednesday.
Stay creative my friends.
Erin
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This blog series is an exploration into staying creatively connected. How to find it, nurture it, and keep it flowing. And, possibly to find it again if it’s been disconnected for years, or decades. Cultivating creativity is an ongoing process.