Ideas for this month that I worked on was creating artworks in Sketchbook. The small drawings that I had drawn but left out putting colours in them. To try to explore with colours that suit the subject and some bold washes to give it a rich colour. Worked mainly on Watercolour Paintings. Tried different topics from clicked pictures and Still Life arrangements.
Tried and tested my limitations and fears by using different colour combinations and different perspectives. Everyday working on new topics gave me the quickness to complete the work. Became more consistent in recording my progress through clicked Pictures of Work in Progress and Videos of Art making Process. These helped me with posting in Social Media platforms like Instagram and YouTube, challenging my inhibitions to posting and letting people see my artworks that I am creating.
The ongoing process of creating and putting it out there though challenging, it’s giving me a getaway to look forward to everyday work, work that I can improve on and learn more techniques. Life has become interesting as I am looking forward to doing more interesting works. My mind is thinking of new works to look up and plan for improvements in Color Mixing, look up interesting works and topics like from still life objects around me, interesting color combinations for background and foreground, doing my research on abstract forms through observations.
The one mindset change that transformed my art journey.
Being a creative is part of who I am, and I can’t ignore that. Ignoring my internal need to create is like ignoring my stomachs need for food. It’s taken time and mistakes and repeated learning, but I’m finally coming to a place that I recognize this need in me and the inherent value it brings to my paintings.
My paintings are not an attempt to seek validation from people. My art is not my effort to feel valuable because other people like it. I will create art because that’s who I am, an artist, I offer it for sale because I want to bless people with it. I’m convinced that there’s people out there that need to see my paintings, who will be blessed and encouraged by the art I create. After I paint and paint and learn and improve, maybe then my art will help people see the world in a different way. And if I can help people that way, then I will feel accomplished.
One lesson I have learned during this time is that CONFIDENCE TAKES PRACTICE just like any art form. And n order to practice it, you have to consistently push yourself.
Post that work in progress. Talk about your work on social media daily. Show that just- finished painting even if you’re not sure how you feel about it yet. And create consistently. The more you push yourself out of your comfort zone, the easier it is to feel confident in your work. It takes time, and even after years in the biz, I still have to remind myself that I AM an Artist.
Artist friends, you got this.
