After starting on the new art book, The Artist’s Journey (by Nancy Hillis, M.D.), I did one of her exercises. There are some exercises in the book worth trying, in my opinion, and others...not so much.
A goal every year is to delve into my art practice again and try to find new gems - and sometimes books written by others about the art journey or process helps lead me.
Anyway, one thing she wrote about is defining what “ugly” means to us and why. I came up with greens. What I think are ugly greens. This is just my opinion. Someone else may love all greens.
I pulled out a bunch of green pigments and began putting down color, trying to vary the shapes and values as I moved along. This is about a fourth sheet watercolor paper. I didn’t have much faith that it would turn out to be anything but using greens.
What do you think? Want to try to paint an ugly painting and see where it takes you?
The book has some useful information, but if you’ve read a lot of art books, there is nothing really new in here - just a reminder to put the miles on your brush and other tried-and-true “rules” of working. I did like the instruction to paint a lot of starts = so they are less precious and you can return to them later to work more and make more of them, if you choose. Painting starts (unfinished, not even half-way-there paintings) gives you a bit more freedom to play and not get too caught up in what to do next. But her suggestion that you paint 5-20 starts each day seems a bit much even if they are just small thumbnail sketches.
At 123 pages and $20 for the book, I’d say it might be worth it. I’m about half-way through right now and going slowly. When you purchase the book, you get access to 4 free, short videos (I’ve watched them twice now just to get the most out of them). They are about process and composition in her own painting (acrylic on canvas or large paper), and they are in short bites.
Did you get any art books for the holidays?
3 comments:
I like the idea of starts too. It may help me with what I think is ugly: lack of freshness.
I think your all-green painting is pleasing! It's got good design (the reflected/repeated shapes, the way the space is divided) and good values! I guess if you have that, you got it all!
Rhonda I don't think your green painting is ugly. In fact I really like it. Think the best advice I could take away from your book is putting the miles on the brush. I like that plan...paint more and do not procrastinate. :) Hugs
Yes, let’s just do A LOT of starts and not worry about them, Laura = it keeps us working and playing and keeps the brushes wet!
Thanks, Debbie! Yes, we all need to put those miles on the brushes and paints and paper and keep going - who knows where it will end?
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