Some of my best exploration comes from my teaching demos, not during the demos themselves but with the paintings afterward.
If I am teaching a technique, I keep the demo pretty straightforward. This serves the purpose of demonstrating or teaching the process, but then I have a painting I can play around with afterward that I have no strong attachment to.
I demonstrated a technique on how to use a reductive process in layers. I discussed this process in a previous post that you can view here: A Reductive Process in Layers.
I love using my technique demos as a springboard for experimentation. It has been one of the ways I have learned to let go and have some fun with the process. I was taught to experiment in art school and develop a plan through studies. Sometimes, these are quick sketches; other times, I use Photoshop to explore variations. If you are considering a change to your painting, it can be helpful to test out how it would look. If you want to completely change the direction of your piece, print out several pictures and try whatever you feel like before committing to the changes on your artwork.
Art Challenge
When you feel like you already know the outcome and have done it before, change direction and try a whole new path.
- Choose a drawing or painting that you are willing to let go and transform.
- Print out small photos of your artwork onto plain paper and use paint or pastels to make bold changes to your copies before committing to change the original.
- Introducing a completely unrelated subject (like the ivy) can be a great way to shake yourself out of your routine process.
- Respond to each change and see where it goes. You choose the path forward as you go.
- Have fun!
Did you accept the Art Challenge? Share your progress on our private forum with friends of the Art Verve Academy.
Follow Lisa Larrabee on her instructional blog at lisalarrabeeart.blogspot.com or visit her website at Larrabeeart.com. |