tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44016134728324077352024-02-07T03:47:27.477-08:00Steve Sidare Artist BlogWatercolor artist focusing mostly on nature and landscape scenes working from both the studio and outdoors.Steve Sidare Artist Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13671510525912282288noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401613472832407735.post-21139195493526319922019-04-04T12:14:00.001-07:002019-04-05T16:32:02.098-07:00When Is an Artwork Finished?<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>How to know when a painting is done</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Artists are known for asking</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> this. I've read it as </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a question people write to magazines and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">heard it in other circumstances. It's not surprising, really.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We grow up being told lots of <i>"supposed to's"</i> and <i>"not supposed to's"</i>. Everything is already</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">created and ready to buy. We're given instructions on how to assemble things or operate</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">things. The decision was always made for us. Some of us (like me) had to come to realize that, when </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">creating things, <i><b>how we </b></i></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>do or make it is how it's supposed to be done!</b></i> It can actually be daunting when the path hasn't been cut for us already - no "supposed to's" to guide us!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCLv8nhJLJh5GnAMsVAiTSj7zVhkgoSEi2YEEt92jnBKF8hn78cx7RPMm3qsxn1SpOEePjxxOgvDuQi-yNK1hyXjkPawjCAjIkzvyGAEguWWUXysp5Ijv42MpnxegxfJU-m_V_EY5GWY/s1600/Potential+Paintings+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCLv8nhJLJh5GnAMsVAiTSj7zVhkgoSEi2YEEt92jnBKF8hn78cx7RPMm3qsxn1SpOEePjxxOgvDuQi-yNK1hyXjkPawjCAjIkzvyGAEguWWUXysp5Ijv42MpnxegxfJU-m_V_EY5GWY/s200/Potential+Paintings+030.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Seabreeze Sunset", w/c<br />I was originally disappointed in it,<br />but now I like it.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And then, at some point we find ourselves the creator or author of some creation - a book, a </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">recipe, a painting, ... Hell, furnishing and decorating a room even counts! </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We've all done one or both of those. Yet we didn't have any quandary over whether the room was finished. Of </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">course, we make adjustments as we continue to use them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But do artists make adjustments on a work of art? You bet they do! But then there's our old question: When to stop and call it <b>"Done"</b>? You can continue to adjust it forever when </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">you work in opaque mediums like Oils.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So this seems to involve 3 factors...<b>1)</b> your tastes and style; <b>2)</b> your technical knowledge </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and skill; </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">3)</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> your message. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why do I say that?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We look at </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"taste and style".</b></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Keeping in mind that we are letting go of "supposed to's", we now have the freedom to do what pleases us art-wise. WHEN YOU STOP IS WHEN YOU LIKE THE RESULTS. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But even that is prone to doubts of how satisfied you are and whether you can make it better! So the temptation to work it and overwork it remains.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Number 2 says, <i><b>"technical knowledge and skill"</b></i>. Now you've got new criteria. Does it have nice shapes and value pattern? Does it have good balance, unity, harmony? Is it too random or too predictable? Is it entertaining? (For reference on how I judge the technical merit of my paintings, see "<a href="https://ssidareartist.blogspot.com/2019/02/design-principles-i-use-and-recommend.html">Design Principles I Use and Recommend</a>")</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3xW_SVCMYizENk_aXaFDvAap6MPu8f7tzGRKSSXlQrpGM1gqv4W2Yx33SOJzncRCoQgeh49No9ZEQc-Xvg661DJqNSsYkyaFYpnTNxfw-scIg6EV6PeT8uI9ZDW6ellSvsJqT_d32yA/s1600/Potential+Paintings+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3xW_SVCMYizENk_aXaFDvAap6MPu8f7tzGRKSSXlQrpGM1gqv4W2Yx33SOJzncRCoQgeh49No9ZEQc-Xvg661DJqNSsYkyaFYpnTNxfw-scIg6EV6PeT8uI9ZDW6ellSvsJqT_d32yA/s200/Potential+Paintings+066.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Reflection, Study", w/c and pastel,<br />lending a thoughtful mood. The<br />bird-shaped water was unintentional.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now we come to 3,<b style="font-style: italic;">"message"</b>. Though I mentioned this </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">one last, it is probably the most important.</span><br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In your last creation you intended to say something, right? You grabbed that pencil, crayon, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">paintbrush or pastel stick to say "sunny day", or "family", or "flowers", etc. Even that simple doodle you made while on the phone had something to say, and even if it was only </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to yourself for amusement. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is no secret that </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>art is communication</b></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don't think any artwork can ever be made without having something to say first - abstract or not!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And, like any message, how well <i>"technically"</i> and how well it fits your <i>"tastes and style"</i> will determine if you're hitting the mark to your standards and satisfaction. The better we get technically, the more our <i>"satisfaction"</i> will be on point.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Who knows, maybe "Artist's Block" is only being at a loss as to what to say, even if being modified by other factors. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Alright, so, given these 3 factors, there is only one more thing to do... </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Decide!!</b></i></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hate to say this (not really, I love saying this), but, </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u style="font-style: italic;">the painting is done when you say it is!!</u> ...</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But it is probably better technically said as,</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <b><i>"<u>I</u></i><u><i>t's done when the</i> <i>statement has been made</i></u><i>". </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Obviously it needs to contain and be monitored by the 3 factors above to <i>any</i> degree if we are to be satisfied with it by your standards - and that's a <b>good</b> thing!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, I'm guilty of overworking my paintings, being a hopeless perfectionist. I certainly don't wish that upon you by any means. But I <b>do</b> wish to you better results from less confusion</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> on the above question. 👍 </span>Steve Sidare Artist Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13671510525912282288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401613472832407735.post-27140385733101814782019-03-03T17:52:00.001-08:002019-03-13T06:37:57.595-07:00Escapades of a Lazy Artist<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> First of all, who in their right mind would call themselves a lazy artist?? Aren't we all supposed to be </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">awesome </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">superheroes who save the day with our quirky charm and save the day with our unique mysterious talents? </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Being difficult enough to get admirers to part with their hard-earned (or not) money, I should be positioning myself as a successful artist, not a lazy artist or a (God forbid) Starving Artist!</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Hear me out. When I have a brush in my hand I'm anything but lazy. I have the actual </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">disadvantage of taking my paintings too seriously. Each new undertaking has to be at least awesome - if not the next masterpiece. And each new painting is chosen because a) I'm attracted to the scene, and b) I think I can pull it off. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I'm not a "formula painter" or "one subject factory". I don't make different versions of one </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">scene or subject as a permanent exercise. Each one of my subjects or scenes take on a different approach. And I often grow intimidated by it as the painting progresses, knowing full well that my next painting session will make or break the painting.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Knowing how I want it to turn out as a certain "look" or "effect" causes me to resist </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> alteration of my vision and letting the painting "take its own course", which might often allow for a decent painting despite it variance from my original intention!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> No. I tend to force things and expect certain effects to take place, fixing paint applications </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">so they conform to my vision. No I am not lazy while I'm working. I'm mentally the opposite! </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If anything,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I'm a bit obsessive!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pL_G8XNNuPjgg9eVmxrZrnpCNRwHfHpkVRegYHa5loIYk6pVF5MSVBY4V4dphyindwHV0rL8N7vLX9R1O1pM293oGMVb4xJmlG5wf5fukztgSfzW_bTO_BlRKgxMv_uqYdcLRJp9ETQ/s1600/tcopy_of_sidare_pictures_026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="382" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pL_G8XNNuPjgg9eVmxrZrnpCNRwHfHpkVRegYHa5loIYk6pVF5MSVBY4V4dphyindwHV0rL8N7vLX9R1O1pM293oGMVb4xJmlG5wf5fukztgSfzW_bTO_BlRKgxMv_uqYdcLRJp9ETQ/s320/tcopy_of_sidare_pictures_026.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> My laziness comes in on merely getting my arse into the studio! Oh, the errands distractions </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">that keep me from getting there only 30 feet away from my chair in front of the computer. The pics I don't feel like loading into my desktop. The time it takes to heat up the studio. The food I need to cook for now and later. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> It's amazing how my fear of being disappointed in the success of my undertaking, having now consumed 5, 10, 20 hours, keeps me from getting back to it. Am I lazy or just a scaredy </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">cat - afraid of my own uncertainties and mistakes?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Well, I'll admit on my newly 2 yrs retirement attitude of being sick of have to, have to, have to. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can't seem to shake off or wear out the feeling of, "Good. I'm finally retired. Now I ain't gotta do sh*t!" I'm glad to be able to be lazy! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Sure. I'll make art, but at my own damn discretion! Yeah, it's lazy and not a formula for</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">prosperity, 'far as I can see.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Escapades? I don't know... Internet, social media, research, youtube, cooking, errands, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">surfing through past photos for future projects..., certainly not productive activities here. I would prefer being in the company of my peers. There's a nice vibe when being with your own kind. Things flow better. I'd get more done. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I'd also be a lot more motivated to create more if my inventory was moving more. I know you know what I'm talking about. When people "consume" what we do for them we feel more motivated to do more!</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Well, I guess this blog is more of an explanation than a description. Maybe I'll have to do a follow up. Any thoughts on this?</span></div>
Steve Sidare Artist Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13671510525912282288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401613472832407735.post-19100657013392534262019-02-04T18:22:00.000-08:002019-02-04T18:33:57.827-08:00Design Principles I Use and Recommend<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Elements and Principles of Design </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">At
a point in my travels pouring through books on making watercolors I
encountered what I felt to be a gold mine of simplified,
"down-to-brass-tacks", concepts on how to construct a good
painting. It had the best tabulation of design theory I'd seen yet!
It listed 7 elements and 8 principles to consider in designing a
painting. The ambiguity was gone!</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">It
was a book written by Ron Ranson called, <i><b>"Learn Watercolor the
Edgar Whitney Way"</b></i>.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">In
it he covers some personal accounts of Whitney's students while
studying with him at</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">his
paint-out workshops. He had quite a style of teaching and could
instill his lessons with great flair! </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
also have, <i><b>"Complete Guide to Watercolor Painting"</b></i>, by
Edgar A. Whitney himself.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ed
Whitney had what he called,<i> "Elements and Principles of Design"</i>,
and though these </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">are
directed at watercolors, I believe they can be applied to other forms
of art - dancing, cooking, living, etc!</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">The<b>
Elements</b> are listed: C</span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>olor, Value, Texture,
Line, Shape, Size, Direction</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">. In fact, you </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">can
even chant them rhythmically in this order like you would in a
protest. This allows me to remember them. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">The<b>
Principles</b> are listed: <i>Conflict, Harmony, Unity, Dominance, Balance,
Repetition,</i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Alternation,
Gradation.</i> ("CHUDBRAG") Again, this order helps me remember
them.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
Principles are what you apply to the Elements to orchestrate a good
design. </span></span></span>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-trYNbNqtrUFWhP3I3nWkiWnbIZMGQWJJTQAnCn5r2P1l-_pCaz8CW6RcP_n2KOU-3VikcBnsCVb87mDFjQ7ZlOEwPamcXofQLwuebMbVNWNuSzgWTwdRVNEQAZ-FmDnSku7ekw3wcuQ/s1600/Suns+and+Moons+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-trYNbNqtrUFWhP3I3nWkiWnbIZMGQWJJTQAnCn5r2P1l-_pCaz8CW6RcP_n2KOU-3VikcBnsCVb87mDFjQ7ZlOEwPamcXofQLwuebMbVNWNuSzgWTwdRVNEQAZ-FmDnSku7ekw3wcuQ/s200/Suns+and+Moons+002.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A flagrant example of Repetition where<br /> the circles are repeated in different Sizes.<br />Color is also repeated to give Unity,<br /> Harmony and Balance. </span><br />
("Suns and Moons" w/c)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">For
example, with Shapes, you'd want to Repeat them to help give the
painting Unity. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Repeating
them with variety provides better entertainment. If they are similar
in character you get Harmony.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">You
may have various colors in your painting but maybe one should
Dominate, for Unity. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Conflict
in any of the Elements can create interest, as in complimentary
colors.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Some
might say, "Well, what about edges?" I'd put those under
Shape. Temperature can</span> </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">go
as a function of Color. And what about "Variety"? Can it be
a Principle in its own right? Sure, if you want. But I think it
mainly applies to Repetition. Let's keep it simple!</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrS7hJeojoy6gQDuGDY8MUUcBn08AdeIUr5wuNvVdkpqC4eQJK3jN9Dz-fNnD_28f_40hFOVTI-3-uJNRqsiFtzHjBYjuifqdLTt9agl6554y2BgPMfM3UUQTm2_-qQ-r1DpZ78dAc2k/s1600/Light+Bulbs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrS7hJeojoy6gQDuGDY8MUUcBn08AdeIUr5wuNvVdkpqC4eQJK3jN9Dz-fNnD_28f_40hFOVTI-3-uJNRqsiFtzHjBYjuifqdLTt9agl6554y2BgPMfM3UUQTm2_-qQ-r1DpZ78dAc2k/s200/Light+Bulbs.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I used Conflict in Value to bring<br />
out the brightness of the flowers. The<br />
Line of the leaves change Direction,<br />
Repeat and provide Harmony<br />
and interest.<br />
("Light Bulbs" w/c)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
think these are distilled in the best form you'll find. I've seen
other versions of them by </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">his
students in their own books, but I think Whitney had it the best and
the students didn't </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">quite
understand how to use some of them.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So
there you have it. I recommend getting these books on Amazon.
Whitney's book is more in depth and he liked writing in a very
scholarly fashion.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I like the simplicity of Ranson's book, the included Whitney-isms, the
stories of his students and the samples of their work. Some of them</span> </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">were
my early mentors by means of their books.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />Steve Sidare Artist Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13671510525912282288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401613472832407735.post-60406877914700075592019-01-10T12:12:00.000-08:002019-02-07T14:58:03.453-08:00Are You an Artist?<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Are you an artist?</span></i></b></span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i> </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>A common misconception arises when people think about art. People are quick to put</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">themselves down as not being an artist. "I'm no artist." "I could never do that." And, "That's not </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">art!", is a criticism I hear about abstract works. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGpUFMuhj4NFGNtexTTwU9lFN8Pgfejt4T7YyF0PdPhDP-D8uBuzgZYPZRS51JYeicgOtUBg8dhMqilPEf6C0IOYAFz_oF_1eec8I3vh_Bro2Tv2JRZbZAmd86tH8HUS19lKI9_xjTqPE/s1600/IMG_0933+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="1600" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGpUFMuhj4NFGNtexTTwU9lFN8Pgfejt4T7YyF0PdPhDP-D8uBuzgZYPZRS51JYeicgOtUBg8dhMqilPEf6C0IOYAFz_oF_1eec8I3vh_Bro2Tv2JRZbZAmd86tH8HUS19lKI9_xjTqPE/s200/IMG_0933+%25282%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Innocence and Joy, w/c, Steve Sidare</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> The problem is that these mind sets act like viruses. And they have spread across society. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> I'm sure you've had some idea that got kicked in the head one way or another. Your idea for a solution gets invalidated or ignored. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Or you create something you're proud of - a song, painting, recipe, gadget or whatever - but people talk through the song, just stare at the painting, don't even try the recipe you made for the Christmas party and just eat the<i> "same ol' same ol'" </i>like hypnotized zombies at a brain-fest. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Or someone acts like you're nuts for your clever </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">invention that keeps squirrels out of the bird feeder. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> There's no shortage of invalidation on your attempts to create. And I believe it starts with </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">your childhood imaginations! Perhaps you've forgotten because there was a bit of emotional pain connected with it. So now you're "practical", "sensible", and less creative.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Well... let's look at the word and see what it means...</i></b></span><br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>ART</i></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>:</i> My 1960 New</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">World Dictionary calls it,</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Creativeness, Skill</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, ...even, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cunning</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">! </span></div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>My</b> American Heritage Dictionary, 2nd Edition, has these: </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrBU3wQUCgqLlr6Xce6mTZyX7TZilhuJkvItcyx3PUuRCfgGhzBIbDugR0EURCH8quF7JJbMkZiPvKq72X45csVSeFqZ3cVvOvUZcoQHnZa6IDrUNhan-rLrLz75pHZFVnbc5kjIMnY0/s1600/sidare+pictures+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrBU3wQUCgqLlr6Xce6mTZyX7TZilhuJkvItcyx3PUuRCfgGhzBIbDugR0EURCH8quF7JJbMkZiPvKq72X45csVSeFqZ3cVvOvUZcoQHnZa6IDrUNhan-rLrLz75pHZFVnbc5kjIMnY0/s320/sidare+pictures+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Winter Pier, watercolor, Steve Sidare</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> <b>1</b>) Human effort to imitate, supplement, alter or counteract the work of nature. <i>(Hmmm...)</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b> 2a</b>) The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty; especially the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium. <i>(Wow!)</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> In </span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">3</b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, it says: High quality of conception or execution, as found in works of beauty; aesthetic value. It also has</span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> 6a</b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">) A system of principles and methods employed in the performance of activities, as in "</span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the art of building</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"</span></i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. <i>(Sweet!)</i></span></div>
<div>
<br />
<div>
<b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Number </span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">7 </b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">says: A specific skill in adept performance, conceived as requiring exercise of faculties that cannot be learned solely by study, as in, "</span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the art of writing letters"</span></i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> The definitions include: <i>tricks, artfulness, contrivance, cunning, etc,</i> as well<i>.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It originally</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> comes from</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> [<OFr <L </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ars, astis</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>skill</i></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">]</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> ...Now we have </span><b><u><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">IST</span></i></u></b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. ...Of the 5 choices, we have: </span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1b</b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">)</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> One that produces, operates, makes, plays, or is connected with a specific thing, ie,</span><i> "<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Novelist"</span></i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. [Greek,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <i>-istes</i>, </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>agent</i></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.]</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Notice that "skill" and "beauty" come up more than once. Also notice how it's not limited </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">to creating art forms, per se. Anyone who becomes adept at an activity is an artist in their </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">field! [Now anyone can be "<i>out standing"</i> in their field! (Enter eye-roll here)]</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Definitions 3 and 7 above make me think of the Japanese traditional concept of making </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">many activities a skill and art - all the way from archery to tea. Their culture put beauty and flair in their daily activities!</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>So why do I bring all this up?</i> </span></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HqTjeY28XfTNbUb34toFjCV-E4fchzWFkagTUMIe2Vvl_4xQfLN_thjiT0Nc3j3XOtTVJTE3odOGwaL-XbCNF8TklzxQAqAw7Kl1xvO-VXm0PzUuxPg_yg0Cd1rqc7_teLjlmg3rOwY/s1600/sidare+pictures+014+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1321" data-original-width="848" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HqTjeY28XfTNbUb34toFjCV-E4fchzWFkagTUMIe2Vvl_4xQfLN_thjiT0Nc3j3XOtTVJTE3odOGwaL-XbCNF8TklzxQAqAw7Kl1xvO-VXm0PzUuxPg_yg0Cd1rqc7_teLjlmg3rOwY/s320/sidare+pictures+014+%25282%2529.jpg" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Distant Boat, watercolor, Steve Sidare</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> <b>First</b>, I see art forms that might not be readily labelled "Beauty". They just might not. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Are they creative? Yes - to a greater or lesser degree. It came from an idea and was created. But isn't emphasizing beauty more helpful to all? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> <b>Second</b>, to point out that you too are an artist in what you do if you are employing creative skill. Do you entertain guests? Do you do sales and make customers happy in the end? Are you a matchmaker? Are you an inventor - even if not official?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Third</b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, to also point out that we are always creating, every second of the day. We are creating thoughts, physical motions (walking, working, building), sounds, problems, joy, </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">you name it! We are natural born artists. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> So<b> </b>YES. You <b>ARE</b>, in fact, an artist! How are you going to use your creative impulses? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For Good? Bad? Ugliness? Beauty? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> <i> <span style="color: #741b47;">Instead of just talking AT you, let me know what you think in the Comments section below!</span></i></span></div>
Steve Sidare Artist Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13671510525912282288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401613472832407735.post-22827757131074254482019-01-06T10:21:00.000-08:002019-01-06T19:05:56.451-08:00Confidence, Persistence and Rejection<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVaU7186E9bkTNU35Nb1dFXScYx1uvNJLVrGk5WkszCZCZaqeslHVPM1odHKgQKfk2GWsb7NKHyi6X2yh6FsZ5mBhtJjzK9kOxHTySWMx9MJ7eTw1fBSFkZWjOiJFLnS3tmL04ake3ac/s1600/Winter+Walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1234" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVaU7186E9bkTNU35Nb1dFXScYx1uvNJLVrGk5WkszCZCZaqeslHVPM1odHKgQKfk2GWsb7NKHyi6X2yh6FsZ5mBhtJjzK9kOxHTySWMx9MJ7eTw1fBSFkZWjOiJFLnS3tmL04ake3ac/s200/Winter+Walk.jpg" width="153" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Winter Walk"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Being a self taught watercolorist, I've had my nose buried in plenty of books and magazines, my eyes surfing pictures of pictures and videos of watercolor creations, the likes of which I thought were untouchable, made by the earlier generation of artists - my mentors, you might say. A little bit along the way I started reading articles on legal issues, getting into galleries, making portfolios and the rest of the gamut. Occasionally I see articles or blogs on the subject of "rejection". Most of us have had at least a little of that in life - job seeking, relationships, high school cliques, etc. The writers of these </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">articles always seem to approach it with a bit of tone of Sympathy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> While I won't venture to write a book about it here (although I could), I'm no stranger to it and have found in life that if I wanted to pursue a goal or a even simple activity, I had had to do it myself without </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">company or so much as a blessing in many cases. I refused let someone's lack of agreement and camaraderie control or dampen my goals, activities and pleasures.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> There's a word I believe has fallen out of use today: <i>"Effective"</i>. We have a world glutted with pretty and fancy, but rather "user-UNfriendly" products. With lots of bells and whistles, fewer people are thinking in terms of simple effectiveness. And nowadays, pleasantness presides while being effective and "getting it done" is heavily measured by how few people were "offended" in the process. Getting the product takes persistence and guts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Well, this applies to art, too. It takes guts to show your paintings around, especially when you're fairly new at it. Dealing with criticism and the world's indifference requires undying, burning </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">embers in your heart. This is where that "thick skin" becomes needed and handy if you are going to pursue art as more than a hobby. I personally recommend throwing in a dash of <i>defiance</i>! If you've been sharpening your skills - learning, practicing, observing, over and over - you're probably already your own most severe critic! (<i>But don't forget to be your own best audience as well!)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> People go around saying, "Be confident!". Oh, yeah? Confidence, to me, is a byproduct or result </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">of wins and successes. Until you get enough of these under your belt, no matter how they come, you'll need your stubborn persistence to lead the way. Talent alone is not enough.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Rejection? Pffft! Even the best artists get it. I get local awards with relative ease, yet I got turned down when applying for signature status directly in a couple groups. I achieved it anyway in one club due to being accepted into 3 shows - 2 with awards from an outside judge! (Clique mentality? Maybe) I even have a place where I collect rejection notices! It's a game, a numbers game. The more I get, the closer I am - given that my quality is improving!</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicD5SB9yFYAWSib4wipudzfpb7wgSjHN267q8eBSbOGw4E0D7mC5AyhXzwuQKzbpNAE3Gme8YrqPlfKOth5fX-6mLAx_AzkeMZnDBsL96ISbzodD0rQkLN3oGBbv_DhPpQRkTBX8NIUOQ/s1600/IMG_0360+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicD5SB9yFYAWSib4wipudzfpb7wgSjHN267q8eBSbOGw4E0D7mC5AyhXzwuQKzbpNAE3Gme8YrqPlfKOth5fX-6mLAx_AzkeMZnDBsL96ISbzodD0rQkLN3oGBbv_DhPpQRkTBX8NIUOQ/s200/IMG_0360+%25284%2529.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Whispering Wood"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> So, with persistence in hand, you now need to increase your skill. These will increase your successes. And who can deny that more skill equals more success? Be good - so good your work can't help but be accepted. It may not be 100% of the time for reasons out of your control, but you'll come to realize as you progress that it wasn't because of your skill. You know now that your work is usually pretty damned good, outside of "low periods". You've become <i>"undeniably good"</i>. And that's my solution to the question of rejection: </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>"Be undeniably good".</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />Steve Sidare Artist Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13671510525912282288noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401613472832407735.post-56444644411764536392018-08-04T18:25:00.000-07:002019-01-12T08:08:07.834-08:00Rules in Art<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqfcq3T_0UiKtuLHfFjsWjo0d7osgPNn5N3V5hDEkk-1rLU1ZuDGGe9VFhhRQ0GBwrJM4-qKrVtb-v4O6bl_eoqXb43MNaaZlV5ncYjfBscx_IdyexeMpczqTDPUVYzluMfnompfyFpY/s1600/gvpap+at+yacht+club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqfcq3T_0UiKtuLHfFjsWjo0d7osgPNn5N3V5hDEkk-1rLU1ZuDGGe9VFhhRQ0GBwrJM4-qKrVtb-v4O6bl_eoqXb43MNaaZlV5ncYjfBscx_IdyexeMpczqTDPUVYzluMfnompfyFpY/s200/gvpap+at+yacht+club.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boat Waiting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">There
seems to be something about the field of art that lends ambiguity in
its methods of creation </span><span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">and design. I believe the response to this lack of codification is
an over-codification. If you've </span><span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">ever
been critiqued or criticized on your artworks, you might know what
I'm referring to. In short, </span><span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">rules,
rules, rules!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">There
are several definitions for "rule". Some are more stringent than
others. This word can instill some uneasiness in an artist. The
<i>wrong</i> solution is to buy into the myriad and ultra-importance</span> <span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">of
all the rules without question and inflict it on self and others,
often to the demise of would-be artists, including oneself! No doubt
there are core skills worth learning: color theory, tonal values,
perspective, size relationships, et al. But beyond the basics,
arbitraries enter in and diminish ones one's creative abilities and
output, not to mention the <i>joy </i></span><span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">of just creating!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">What,
really, are these rules except guides toward better design and
composition, and thus create the right mood and message. A student
needs to be comfortable with a subject and its so-called rules so as
to have the needed deft and dexterity when applying them. Great skill
requires great practice, yes, but skill isn't all manual or physical. One must, as well, eventually acquire great understanding to achieve
ultimate mastery. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">I
have a proposal. Let's look at these rules not as "supposed
to's", but as guides with levels of workability. Some things
applied in the creative process will work better than others in that
situation. In practice we have to use judgement and ask, "Did
that make it better or worse?"..."or just different?"
The more mastery you have with these guidelines, the better and
quicker you'll know. It will be instinctive.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">So,
be enough relaxed about the "rules" that your creativity
can flow. Don't let them become your</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">shackles
of despair". But don't be so dismissive or rebellious that you
don't make good art. The Impressionists bucked the rules, but then
formulated new ones to better suit their art form. And, even
abstracts are guided by thought and planning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"> Make good art, but
enjoy the journey, too!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />Steve Sidare Artist Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13671510525912282288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401613472832407735.post-86167119060576011602017-12-21T13:05:00.001-08:002018-08-07T18:57:20.151-07:00What Scenes Inspire Me<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"> Through
the course of time spent with painting in watercolor, I've taken on
various subjects,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">usually excluding
people and animals, that give varying results. In the end I've found
the outdoors and nature to be the most moving for me. Let's face it,
most people like the unbound feeling of being outside. Travel
brochures rightfully concentrate on the outdoor scenes in warm,
intoxicating sunlight! The indoors are often associated with being
cramped, secluded, confined. Those who live it the temperate zone are
often pining away over the seemingly endless Winter and long for</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">its overdue end. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXgQVeXSmK3VOhjLa1sMSMa68CqOakm9Cl0Z9U4MzjNBO_94FbNqlsko49dsO1yPsdvDtw2w632b-nMKsVcLJsXiDZZXaJ4l_gkpciUAaoI3aAWZ8RI4p8wSTPF0YQIN3DERUPim4oM4/s1600/SW+Art+Mag+Pic+Copies+001+%2528640x440%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="640" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXgQVeXSmK3VOhjLa1sMSMa68CqOakm9Cl0Z9U4MzjNBO_94FbNqlsko49dsO1yPsdvDtw2w632b-nMKsVcLJsXiDZZXaJ4l_gkpciUAaoI3aAWZ8RI4p8wSTPF0YQIN3DERUPim4oM4/s200/SW+Art+Mag+Pic+Copies+001+%2528640x440%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"> Landscapes
would have to be my main inspiration and choice of subject. And this
can be any season, with Summer being the favorite. Though, I do love
the bare tree look amongst the snow,</span><span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">gracing
the sky with lacy branches and twigs. The elements I gravitate to the
most are trees. They can be bold, tall, short, wispy, mangly,
spindly, etc, all of which beg me to capture their many
personalities. Their shapes, foliages, colors and color changes;
their trunk and branch structures and linear peculiarities -all of
these get my attention and respect. I have even been called a "tree
whisperer"! Trees and other plants ask very little and give so
much. They also require less exactness than most </span><span style="font-family: "source sans pro", sans-serif;">structures. And
there's just something about the feeling of space - the feeling of
being surrounded by nature. Ask any hiker!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"> That
said, I do enjoy geometry, especially the menagerie of angles and
interlocking shapes. The</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">contrast
of nature and hard, straight-lined manmade structures has its own
merit and delight. But </span><span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">to
go and detail intricate architecture, no, that's for a steadier more
accurate hand than mine.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">I
am rather humbled by nature and this would have to be my main
passion. I always think of color,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">shape
and texture in my representational work. Nature provides that for me.
And the one thing I'm </span><span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">always
after, whether in the studio or painting en plein air, is the lack of
geometry in nature. This I </span><span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">call
"Perfect Randomity". When something doesn't look right I
change it. It's something I have to do. </span><span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">The
challenge before me is how to retain the different quirks of nature
and maintain good design. </span><span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">Having
obtained that, I'm more confident I've properly delivered my message. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">And the message is what it's all about.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Steve Sidare Artist Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13671510525912282288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401613472832407735.post-30691993989452635452017-11-21T09:13:00.001-08:002018-08-05T17:39:42.974-07:00Why Watercolor?<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"> Why
would I choose to do watercolor, the medium touted as the most
difficult to work with?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">The
short answer is that it's inherently beautiful! Unfortunately I have
no long answer, but I'll try.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"> I
believe my first ever painting was actually made on a gessoed board
intended for oils found</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">abandoned
in a closet. It was of a cornucopia and apples found in a cookbook
and was painted in "dry watercolor" style - very little
water. I knew nothing! I bought a handful of student tubes and</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">went
at it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"> Not
too far down the line, I happened into an artists gallery in downtown
Boston and became</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">enchanted
by these vivid watercolors with playful outlines in ink. Their
simplicity was powerful! </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">Mostly,
the scenes were local, if memory serves. Wow! That was my moment. So
I bought some pan watercolors, a brush, and a pad of hot press paper.
Still, I knew nothing! I painted what I </span><span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">inside the apartment kitchen with childish accuracy. As stiff
and pallid as my results were, I couldn't </span><span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"> lose! I had those greys,
yellows and burnt siennas glowing back at me!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"> As
I set out to learn more I treated all information as all-important,
all-to-be-heeded gospel. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">And
every tiny example shown was right and something I should learn. I
was a babe in the woods. But, eventually I grew my skills and
graduated from Beginner status. I had disheartening moments</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">of
failed results or efforts, but I never thought of giving up
watercolor. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"> When
people say, "Watercolors are hard", I know they're just
saying they are less controllable or predictable. The medium contains
more variables. The learning curve is steeper. You have water to
paint ratios and edges that can bleed, sometimes where you don't
want. You can't paint over and hide what you don't like. You can't go
lighter, only darker. You often have to think in reverse and </span><span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">go
light to dark. And you have to save your precious vulnerable white paper. Oh
boy, you talk about sacred!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"> Timing
becomes a factor, and you can't just walk away anytime you want due
to the drying factor of watercolor. Your edges might dry on you and
leave hard lines where you didn't want. You get a califlower effect
when you put wet paint into a damp area. And then there's the variety
of papers, possibly adding a whole new bucket of frustrations!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">But,
ahh! With a different mindset these frustrations become challenges,
and less so with practice! </span><span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">You
can put a brush to wet paper and watch magic as it bleeds like a
happy child running in a field, </span><span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">making
trees for you! Then you can dip in another color and watch them dance
and meld. When dry you can glaze over them still and alter the
colors. Throw salt or splatter water into the damp wash and whatch
texture appear effortlessly!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoahyyV1v0Dfm1PunOvZ7EbF3WKNUJxntU5lIjpjjxdqPKDDgwF8KcXKIF8sGDjbeLkEoeAWXaB_Tcdfs5qQJVPmy5P3gULScLILy6AXZPtiONEynpDtzUeMFXSlPbt756z_K8RBv2zn8/s1600/sidare+pictures+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="1600" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoahyyV1v0Dfm1PunOvZ7EbF3WKNUJxntU5lIjpjjxdqPKDDgwF8KcXKIF8sGDjbeLkEoeAWXaB_Tcdfs5qQJVPmy5P3gULScLILy6AXZPtiONEynpDtzUeMFXSlPbt756z_K8RBv2zn8/s200/sidare+pictures+001.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Bottle 'n' Grapes", w/c, 6"x 8"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;"> Watercolor
glows, dazzles and entertains. Its luminous, stained glass effect can
enchant any eyes that dare to ponder its mystery. It both pleases and
frustrates, allures and disappoints. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">I have thrown things, kicked
things, screamed at the painting for "ruining my life".
I've stabbed it with the back of my brush, and ripped it up in
passionate revenge. But, despite these moments, </span><span style="font-family: "source sans pro" , sans-serif;">I wouldn't have it
any other way. It's watercolor, it's beautiful, and it's mine!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Steve Sidare Artist Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13671510525912282288noreply@blogger.com0