My Creative Process
My Creative Process
So, how do I step into the right side of my brain (the artistic one) and leave the left side alone, which, BTW, I use more of! I’m not one of those artists who can think of something in my head and quickly put that image on a canvas to create a work of art; that’s not me.
I use my own process to overcome my inability to create an image. I take the picture and project it onto the canvas using an autograph. Then, using a Sharpie, I outline the primary image. Next, I create the underpainting (basic first colors) into the image with my unique choice of colors. It’s kind of like painting by the numbers, without the numbers. Being severely dyslexic is a plus when choosing colors, such as fluorescent paints, which are always vivid and bright. This is what gave my painting “Star Stuff” the 3-D effect.
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Once the basics are done, I start fine-tuning by focusing on the next area that needs attention. It seems there’s always something new to work on. This is where the magic starts to happen, and I begin to feel I’m on the right path. Sometimes, I’m not, and I have to paint over and start again on an area that doesn’t work for me or the art. This process, as shown in steps 4 and 5, can lead to the final image in step 6. Unfortunately, this can happen more than once.
Now, let’s chat about skies. They’re my happy place, a canvas within a canvas. My skies have always been a fun place for me, from what to do in the underpainting background and, in this case, fluorescent magenta, their shapes, what color combinations to use, and the type of brush/technique to use. Before I start in on the sky, I plan this by doing a Color/design study on a separate canvas and using the combinations you see here. Some of my favorites are fluorescent blue and ultramarine. These colors can create stunning, vibrant skies, allowing me to depict specific times of day or moods in my paintings.
Color/design study
I love receiving feedback from both friends and strangers. I often ask them if they could look at my artwork repeatedly. The expressions on their faces are what I pay attention to, as they reveal their true feelings, whether positive or negative. This feedback is invaluable to me and helps shape the artwork.
In 2003, I had the life-changing opportunity to attend an Arne Westerman watercolor workshop in Roxbury, NJ. This experience was a defining moment for me, steering my art in a new and exciting direction. It profoundly impacted my approach to painting, teaching me that the eye should be drawn into the artwork and guided by the shape of a triangle, which adds intrigue and movement. I also learned the importance of providing a place for the eye to rest. This workshop helped me develop a deeper appreciation for what works and what doesn’t in terms of style, color, balance, shapes, and design. It was a truly transformative experience.
When creating my next original, I always ask myself: Is this my next best painting? Sometimes, it is, and sometimes, it’s not! When I painted “Tequila Sunrise,” the answer was yes, although of course, I didn’t know that at the time.
Artistic License
The “Artistic License” you see here is what I received from Arne Westerman, a prolific artist and mentor, on April 26, 2003; it was what motivated me to write this story. I love the phrase “SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED. ” I appreciate his humor, and it mirrors mine!
