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