"The dilemma every artist confronts, again and again, is when to stick with familiar tools and materials and when to reach out and embrace those that offer new possibilities......." Art and Fear
I want to try everything - according to Art and Fear I am in the young artist phase and its as I become more sure of myself that I will settle to fewer mediums. In the meanwhile I go on buying more and different mediums in the hope one will speak to me loud enough to tell me this is the one!
I love graphite, but I also find it rather easy so feel that I wont reach with it because it is not such a struggle. Whereas oils are a daily challenge, from mixing the paint to applying it. Its a battle of wills and I often wonder who will win it - me or the paint. Maybe watercolour will be a happy medium for me!
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5 comments:
Try pastels. I love drawing with pencil and struggled with watercolour for ages. And then I went on a holiday with somebody who used pastel - and that was it.
I think some people lean strongly towards dry media and some people love brushwork and use brushes. I strongly suspect you're the former.
The test? Which do you get the most buzz from - the feel of your dry media on paper or from the brush on canvas?
Anita I think you are an artist that excells at every medium you try and as Gavin told me yesterday, an artist should try every medium.
I had a similar experience trying out watercolor, pastels, graphite, and oils, taking classes for each and trying to decide which medium speaks to me the most. It's costly and takes time to figure it out, but what suits my temperment became the prominent choice. I did not survive watercolor, since control was the issue for me. Oils is surely a test in itself, but what draws me to it is my appreciation of oil paintings done by others, particularly alla prima where I can "see" where the artist directed his brush. What medium and style do you appreciate visually and apply that to your choice. The more of something you like to look at, the more you will find motivation to stick to and pursue that for yourself despite the difficulties.
If you try watercolor, you may be pleasantly surprised, but as far as graphite, perhaps challenge yourself with a new style of drawing! Be realistic as possible by being as loose in your style as possible or find a radically different subject.
Anita, have you tried pen and ink? I know you have great control over graphite and perhaps that may be something that appeals as well.
It does take a lot of experimenting to finally decide on what is 'your' medium and be known to be proficient in it.
Katherine - I have some pastel pencils I bought recently - packet is still unopened - but do intend to try them soon.
Mary - thank you!!!
Stoy - great advice. New subjects are something that I have been thinking of recently. Maybe that is the way to go.
Jeanette - pen and ink are an enigma to me. Apart from having several pens clog up on me, I just don't have the patience.
Anita
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