Evolution of an Artist #6...Inspired CreativityOne day I started thinking different thoughts. 
And that changed everything for me.

My realism watercolor paintings were consistently juried into shows, winning awards, and selling.   Three years ago I sat alone, relaxed, and let my mind wander.  
A basic element of art surfaced...values...and I sat with that, without reason.  Then color arrived, the three primaries, in particular.  An idea then started percolating... of blending the primary colors according to values.  And then it was gone, like ideas do.  But I kept pulling the thoughts back to me, devising  practical ways of doing that.  I woke early and went into the studio and created this first painting:

​Three primary colors:  red, yellow, and blue.  Four dark to light values (including white), and shapes.  This is my husband, Bill.  When I showed him, his first comment was, "Why didn't you fix the bags under my eyes?"  Sheesh...I'm only an artist!

Evolution of an Artist... #4...Experimentation...Art makers play, work hard, and experiment.  It's our recipe for success.

I'm in the studio alot, alone, and love this time to think and try out all the ideas I have while lying in bed, awake at 4am.  I don't mind failure and frustration as it's a common entree on my artistic menu.   But, I expect and accept the challenges.  Some of them are laughable like...seriously...they say I have talent?  And some are colossal inspirations!

Artists gravitate to novel experiences and testing what others have beautifully accomplished.  One's intrinsic style combined with another's technique creates inspiring outcomes. Perhaps workshops are popular for this very reason, the birthing of new art and ideas.

I experienced a  fun period where I would mix several different  ounces of pure pigment. I would cover areas of paper I wanted to leave white with a masking fluid then pour small amounts of pigments and let it flow and dry...then  repeated the process several times.  Check out my results below!

I worked light to dark.
It's a nice soft color mingling, don't you think?
Of course the spotlight stealer are those dark railing shadows!  My close friend has a saying painted on her studio walls: " Color gets all the credit but Value does all the work."  I think that's true here.

Evolution of an Artist #3...So now I'm technically coming together through practice and persistence.  My creative passion is still the gas that runs this engine!  I have to tell you, making art is sometimes delightfully messy and surprising.  I think of that as playtime.  
Where I am  taking myself is where the Masters have been:   working with the basic elements of art, before their genius  expands and creates masterpieces! 
Now, I am nowhere near the genius expansion part of this story,  but I am enriching my understanding and working knowledge of values, color, shapes and  line work.  I navigate creatively towards my painting's focal point and compose compelling designs using texture and form.
Whew.  
When many of these elements are utilizes by the artist,  the viewer is led into the painting and expertly guided their way to the focal point relaying the story, emotion, or meaning to the viewer.  Art that moves people.  Art that makes a difference.  This, by the way, is the secret sauce all artists desire.
Talking about the Masters makes me a little nervous showing my paintings but images make good teachers.

​The color temperature is predominantly cool with a warm  focus in the chairs.  The dark values make interesting shadows and curious background. Look at all those circles and swirls.  The green is enough interesting color to indicate old iron and strength.
Shapes, value, and form.

​Who doesn't think old fashion Christmas?
This composition has heaviness on top following the dark line down the right to the last vertical bell...and look, those two twines take your eye right back into the painting.  Blue and orange are complimentary colors which are strong and soothing.
Color, shape, and movement.

The dark and light values in the pinecone and diagonal branch give a strong presence on front of the pale blue sky.  Look at the shadows lines on the pinecone, interesting, yes?  Lots of line work in this painting yet the sky gives plenty of space for the eyes to rest.  Line, texture, and value.

Evolution of an Artist #2How do I create a painting?  Do I go into the studio, gather my supplies, and begin?  No.
My projects start with:   a need...whether to learn, to experience, to explore. I spent two and a half years painting feather, fur, and wood subjects, mainly because I wanted a realistic look on birds and animals and wasn't sure how to paint these.  It was a fun time.

I plan my paintings with a value sketch and pay attention to where I "would like" my light values to be...I say this this because watercolor painting has a mind of it's own and no matter how skillfully I plan...well, it's doesn't always happen.  I DO know that without a plan I would get inconsistent and uncontrolled outcomes.  Okay:  I'm a control freak. I've said it!  
Take a look at some of my planning sketches for a better idea of what I'm talking about.

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Here's an example of taking a photo (I still don't know what that interesting piece of Hawaiian wood is called), adding a  bird focal point, and adjusting values to make it view better.  I plan all this up front so when I start to paint, I can paint deliberately.  You like?

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I wanted to paint four different seasons of birds and designed the backgrounds all to be somewhat consistent, thinking this would tie them all together.  The bird is the focal point and I planned the values accordingly.