Don’t know what to paint?!
Posted by Franziska on Nov 3, 2011 in Blog | 5 commentsSometimes there are those days… That’s when I’d go through old sketchbooks, trying to find something appealing, a dropped idea or something unfinished that could use a happy ending. I’d surf the internet, google stuff, look at pictures but nothing would excite me.
Sounds familiar? Well, then I hope I can help!
Here are some ideas to get back into gear:
1. consult your sketchbooks (always have notebooks nearby to write down ideas for later use)
2. go through a stack of old interior design magazines, look at patterns, color combinations and textures and make a collage
3. doodle: try different shapes like circles, triangles, squares with 3 colors from the same color family
4. paint something that you have painted before (I guarantee that it will NOT look like the original and the process will be entirely different)
5. practice something that you haven’t mastered yet, haven’t sketched in a long time?
6. mix a cool new color and play with it (I’ve just recently discovered bright neon pink and I am thrilled I discovered it)
7. copy your favorite master and practice your color mixing skills, add your own touch/change it
8. turn your power music on, close your eyes and let go of whatever is holding you back (some crazy dancing helps me loosen up)
Most importantly: don’t plan to create another masterpiece, all you want is get back into creativity and generate ideas! So don’t set your expectations too high. As soon as your ideas are flowing, you’re back in the game anyways.
Just recently (to be precise: at Powell’s bookstore in Portland, my new favorite bookstore) I came across books from Rolina van Vliet, she’s an artist from the Netherlands and teaches how to be creative with detailed ideas for abstract projects. There are some general guidelines and examples from her students to show what could be but she encourages you to come up with your own project.
Funny, so far, I haven’t finished any of her tasks because every time I read one chapter and make a plan, my imagination takes me away and generates new ideas. I realized that I am using many of her techniques already. It’s a great source of inspiration and idea generator: Painting Abstracts: Ideas, Projects and Techniques
Her books are the only ones I have found on the market that suggest project ideas. Have you come across project books that I haven’t heard of? Let me know, I am always grateful for inspiration and new ideas!
I really like this post Franziska. I’m not a visual artist, but I think all the points you made can also apply to word-artists
I keep notebooks with ideas or just a great phrase/sentence that comes into my head & then go back to them for inspiration. I also love to pull out books about writing or read some of my favorite authors for more inspiration. Some days it’s easy… others, not so much!
I love that you mentioned Powell’s, one our country’s greatest bookstores I think! Did you also get to Elliot Bay Books when you were in Seattle? Another gem you will love!
Heidi & Atticus
http://www.atticusuncensored.com
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Hello Heidi,
Powell’s was great! I was really impressed, the only bookstore that was bigger than this and more impressive was in Bordeaux, France (and they had only new books).
No, we didn’t go to the other store in Seattle, there was not much time left after we did the underground tour and met with Judy. But there are many visits coming up in the future!
Hugs,
Franziska
Franziska San Pedro recently posted..I don’t know what to paint!
..ok, I was wrong Powell’s is bigger than Mollat in Bordeaux (just googled their sizes, lol)! But they were both freakin’ impressive
Franziska San Pedro recently posted..I don’t know what to paint!
A routine or a checklist may sound “anti-creative” but I find them helpful too! Many of these are on my list as well.
Although it’s not on my list, sometimes I find just calling up a friend can be helpful. I occasionally get an idea just in the general chitchat and I will write it down during the conversation! Any kind of social interaction will work. We can’t always look within, we must look outside ourselves.
I have my list written down in a notebook but you have inspired to me put it in the front cover so I can access it more readily!
There, I just wrote mine down and thought of one that I’ve used but have never written before: Take risks by making a new mistake.
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Hi Bccmee,
very cool! Glad I inspired you
You’re so right about talking to a friend. I think that’s missing on the list -the interaction with others, the social part… Sometimes, I feel that while talking to someone, new ideas come up easily and very often the conversation takes an unexpected turn! Such a great idea to have a piece of paper handy to jot down ideas. Thanks for that!
Franziska
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