Monday, 29 July 2019

Inspiration at Sunrise

I always seem to harp on about getting inspired by going out into nature and absorbing the natural world into our being.  This morning once again I was surprised and delighted at how true it actually is, that when one walks into a sunrise one is immediately inspired. One's whole being comes alive with the possibilities of the oncoming day.

We cannot help noticing how the colours change from a deep red, to orange, to yellow, as with the sun itself, which affect the colours in the sky, the sea, the sand and the land.

Our senses are heightened at this time. We are "tuned in" to what is happening around us and all the while, absorbing these colours that are so magnificent, into our being, through our eyes.

This miracle is "given" to us as a gift, daily.  It is our duty to make sure that we do not miss this moment in time, this gift of being present to receive what is being presented to us by our Creator.

The fact that we receive this opportunity, at no charge, daily is the biggest Blessing we will ever receive. As artists' we need to feed ourselves daily on inspiration such as this, to keep our Spirit and our creativity alive and fresh.

We then, in turn, are able to share this gift with others, by painting from our Soul.

If we merely copy what other artists have done, we are replicating, and although it may look like a pretty picture, there will be no substance and soul to the artwork. So please go out there and take yourself into nature at sunrise and receive the gifts that await you. You won't be sorry...


"The principal of true art is not to portray, but to evoke"
Jerzey Kozinsky

Sunday, 7 July 2019

How to get started with a painting

 I seldom start a painting in the same way each time. I  have no recipe or formula. What I sometimes do,  is use up paint left over on my palette to start a new painting at the end of a day.  This painting can often turn out to be amazing,  because all you want to do is use up the paint quickly to clean the palette, so you are in a very spontaneous and loose frame of mind.

This is one way to start a painting.

 If I have an idea of what I want to paint, I use my references to block it in.    If I dont have something specific in mind I will simply take one colour of my choice and coat the canvas with a colour mixed down with genuine turpentine or medium (which could consist of alkyd and/or one third linseed oil and two thirds genuine turpentine. This leaves the canvas open to any idea I may have and does away with the stark white canvas.

Yesterday, I had finished a session of painting on my large commission,  and had a substantial amount of paint left on my palette.  I had planned to paint a series of small seascape impressions, so I laid my canvasses out.  I then took my references and did some underpaintings with the left over paint from my day's painting. I had fun, drawing out some of them in ultramarine blue or burnt sienna, (for this you can use any colour of your choice.) Others I blocked in with large brush strokes.

This is the perfect time for experimentation because you have nothing specific tying you down.

I leave these overnight or even for a day or two, so the underpainting is completely dry before I carry on. Each process of painting should be fun, spontaneous and joyful and this process makes for a really good start.


 "Spontaneous Seascape"
     
"Spontaneity is being present in the present moment" 
Wei Wu Wei