I really love to paint! So how did it start, how and why, did I start painting in this style? In this, “style” I mean painting from the subconscious, which evolved into adult finger painting for lack of a better word. I always really liked art but it wasn’t until college when I took a painting class that I discovered I love art, particularly painting. I loved it so much that I switched from wanting to be a Kindergarten teacher to wanting to be an artist and art teacher. I literally had that moment of “this is what I’m meant to do.” Switching my career plan wasn’t easy it meant more classes and more time in college but it also meant I got to paint and take more art classes! The class that really helped me find my personal style was a class I was least excited about taking. It was titled, Painting from your Imagination. The title alone was intimidating because I wasn’t that kind of artist, you know the kind of artist where someone could say “Paint a dragon” and the artist creates this amazing realistic dragon from their imagination without referencing anything. That type of artist was not me, when I painted I needed to observe something, I needed something to measure, or reference, or see. But I thought what the heck and enrolled.
I was pleasantly surprised with the class. We were not told what to paint, in fact it was the exact opposite we were just told to paint. Paint without thinking about it. This was painting from your imagination, not my preconceived idea which would have been more like painting from your memory. Now telling students to just paint, I can see how this could be intimidating for some artists, I’m sure some were stumped. But my paint started flowing onto the canvas, I was in the zone. It’s kind of hard to explain how it works, but you just let go and let your brush or hands take the lead, don’t try too hard, don’t push for anything specific to happen, let it happen. Then you take a step back and look at your creation. This part taps into the conscious because now you are looking at your lines, and drips, and shapes, and the coolest thing happens, you see something, something you did not plan to paint but somehow you painted it, it’s there, appearing out of nowhere. That’s always my favorite part! I guess you can think about it as looking up at the clouds and then seeing something very specific staring at you. I’m sure we’ve all done that, but these are your clouds you created them. At this point you can keep painting or bring out your image if you feel enticed to do so.
That was it for me I was hooked on painting in this style. The drive to paint something realistic drifted away from me as a distant thought. I never painted for anyone else but myself. I never painted so I could sale my art, or be a famous artist, I just painted to paint. I guess my amazing friends are to blame for making me step out of my comfort zone and share my art with the world. I was content with hoarding it all to myself and for years that is exactly what I did. So it is 2018 and I am honoring my New Year’s resolution. I actually created a website and let go of a few paintings and here we are. I’m excited to share my art with you!!!
So here is my latest painting, I snapped photos along the way to try to capture the process or at least parts of it.
Blank canvas on a Friday Night!
I’m using acrylic paint here, but I also love oil. Acrylic dries fast so it is probably easiest for this, but oil can make some fantastic drips!
I used my hands to apply the paint, you could use brushes or a palette knife or whatever inspires you.
Now we're having fun!
There she is all finished! What should her name be…Title suggestions anyone?