When we work with passion there is a quality that draws people. We may or may not equate with the subject of the passion, but people tend to appreciate someone who is enthusiastically working with their heart and soul. It is evident, it shows. May years ago I submitted a painting (there is a detail ofContinue reading “5 “P”s – The Fourth “P” is for Passion”
Category Archives: Creativity
Happy Creating!
There is a sense of exhilaration as a painting, in this case a wedding portrait, nears it’s completion. The many hours spent before the easel has something tangible to show for the effort. There are jars full of various brushes and daily pallets which if seen all together would have hundreds, if not thousands, hand mixed dabs of paint. The mixed paint onContinue reading “Happy Creating!”
From Pig’s Bladders to Facebook
The French Impressionists, in finding freedom from the use of pig bladders, discovered a modern advance that enhanced time-honored practices in the making of paintings. Contemporary artists, even those who paint in a very traditional manner, continue to find ways to use things like social networking and other technologies to bring to life new images as well as replicasContinue reading “From Pig’s Bladders to Facebook”
Details and Love
I love to paint. I love to discover over and over again the exquisite detail in a multiplicity of forms. Observing the delicacy of a flower, the delight of a child’s smile and the twinkle in an older person’s eye reminds me of how much The Great Creator obviously loves detail! God created a beautiful world filled withContinue reading “Details and Love”
Mixed Flowers on Blue
Finished at last! I started this painting as a demonstration with a painting class that combined art instruction and a Bible study about creativity. I finished it today in my studio. You may think that art and Bible study is an interesting combination, but I cannot paint without constantly being reminded of our Great CreatorContinue reading “Mixed Flowers on Blue”
To Be An Original
Ideas – where do they come from? How does one consistently come up with good creative ideas for one’s artistic endeavors? Norman Rockwell had an interesting pattern of coming up with good ideas. “Getting good ideas is always a problem. It takes a lot of digging…When I get discouraged I stop – go for aContinue reading “To Be An Original”
Simply Flowers
A work in progress sits on the main easel in my studio beckoning me to invest more time and energy to make the floral still life look more convincing. It’s amazing how many hours can be poured into a work of art! Yet, I feel compelled to put aside other worthy projects to bring theContinue reading “Simply Flowers”
Drawn to God
As I prepare to teach a local drawing class I am reminded of the foundational aspects of drawing. Like scales to a musician, drawing is a basic skill for all art forms. When we begin to draw we start observing the world around us with different eyes. We start to contemplate those forms around us thatContinue reading “Drawn to God”
Finding Your Artistic Voice
One never outgrows one’s teachers. Teachers should be respected for the knowledge and life they have poured into us and for their willingness to share what they have learned. Norman Rockwell, in later years, lamented that he did not consider himself a good teacher because he insisted that his students paint just like him. HeContinue reading “Finding Your Artistic Voice”
A Limited Color Palette Part I
Why use a limited palette when there is conceivably every color of paint under the sun made by a plethora of art companies at our disposal? While artists will no doubt debate over the brand of products, I adopted my painting teacher’s limited palette and have been thrilled with the success. What I found were limitless possibilitiesContinue reading “A Limited Color Palette Part I”
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