Finding the Path
Becoming a proficient artist is no easy task – especially if one wants to develop a realistic style and practice figurative painting and drawing. This, however, is the path I wish to take. In fact, I’ve been wanting to do it for a long time – I just haven’t had a clear roadmap to guide me to some realistic goals. If you’ve read “The Reason for This Blog” tab above then you know that I have had formal training at an American college of art and design. Regarding the traditional arts of drawing and painting, however, I have found that there are serious gaps in my technical knowledge that I must fill in order to practice the type of art that I desire to create. To practice realism requires dedication, study, and above all practice, practice, practice…
First Steps
For the past two years I’ve been reading books and slowly gaining new bits of wisdom that have allowed me to understand some practical steps that I can take in order to improve my skills. First of all, I have been out of practice at drawing from life. Whether we’re talking about a full-on life-drawing class, or just taking a sketchbook to the local café, it’s important to stay engaged in this discipline, and I mean to work on improving this as I progress with these posts. Secondly, I’ve discovered some methods that can help develop the artist’s “eye” in order to see and understand his subject better. I will touch more on these specific methods as I proceed.
The Road Widens
I’m walking now… One foot in front of the other… In order for this journey to be worth stepping out the front door, I’ve got to maintain a pace that will lead me ever onward. I’m going to need to be disciplined, to be willing to keep walking even when I feel tired, to be able to make a decision when I reach a crossroads and keep moving forward. Did I mention that I already work a full-time job? Yes, there will be times that I’ll be tempted to sit down by the roadside and consider whether it is worth the toil and aggravation to keep going. In these moments, a healthy dose of reality is always a good rememdy. The reality is – creating artwork is very fulfilling and I’ve been blessed with the skill and ability to do so. To waste this talent would be shameful. For those of you who are fellow artisans and art-lovers, I do hope you will join me in this journey. The open road can be a lonely place, and, as a wiser man than I once said, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”