​​​​Art Adventures - by Patricia Banks©
Published August 2020 in Nanaimo Magazine and Voyager Mag

​While planning today’s Art Adventure, a thought just came to me: ‘Look for the light in all you do.’ Certainly, I aim for positivity, and try to lead by a good example in life, but this thought about light also applies to painting. No matter the weather – rain or shine, or the subject matter – still life, landscape, or portrait, we are fascinated by how artists capture light in their paintings. I am always on a quest to improve my own painting skills, specifically improving the way I ‘see’ and paint light! 

Light is illusive and fleeting; ask any artist who paints outdoors. And yet, representational or realistic paintings are always about light. Colour, value – the lightness or darkness of a colour, shape, and form are merely tools the artist uses to capture and create the illusion of light in their work. A thorough understanding of the effects of light, for example – direct light, reflected light, core shadow and cast shadow is necessary. Also important is keen observation of how natural, and artificial light illuminate a subject. In landscapes, the weather, seasons, time of day, and even one’s location in the world, can have dramatic effects on the quality and character of light. 

Direct observation, as I have said, is key to understanding the qualities of light. Walking by a hedge the other day, I couldn’t help but notice the dramatic difference in colour between the sun-lit tops and the shadow side. They were all the same shrubs, with the same coloured leaves throughout, but oh, the exciting difference between the bright, energetic, yellow-greens in the sunshine, and the soft, dark, blue-green tones in the shadows. 

Seeing with an artist’s eye, is indeed a valuable skill to practice, anyone can do it, and our lives are richer for it. There is so much to learn, interpret and apply! It keeps us fresh, engaged, and excited about what we do! Stay safe, and good health to all! Patricia

​Art Adventures - by Patricia Banks©
Published July 2020 in Nanaimo Magazine and Voyager Magazine

​Summoning the art muse after a substantial pause, requires a little effort now and then. I like Laura Jaworski’s words: “Inhale possibility, exhale creativity.” Re-igniting the inspiration to paint is about changing my physiology to the mental, emotional and physical state that facilitates creativity in me. Everyone has their own unique way of doing this. I find that sitting quietly, taking a moment to relax and to calm my mind, then imagining and daydreaming a little, fills me with all kinds of possibilities. The next step is to allow these creative ideas to flow and to be translated through my pencils and paintbrushes. 

Sometimes the flood of ideas and subjects is so rich and diverse, that I write them down for future art works. This exercise declutters my mind and helps me focus on just one subject at a time. Once the art muse is summoned I am in the ‘zone’ and ready to choose my subject and the story I want to tell my audience. I then pick the appropriate canvas size and shape. Next, I decide on the painting medium – for example, which medium would portray the subject best – oil, acrylic or another painting medium. 

When I paint landscapes, I also envision the time of year, the weather, and the mood and feelings I hope to conjure for the viewer. Colour and value choices are important. The sketching process begins with a few, small, varied pencil sketches rendered using light, medium and dark values. This provides the information required to determine if the composition is working. The muse is with me and the painting process is in full swing. Possibilities and creativity abound. Cheers! Patricia