Back to Actual Art
I have said right from the get go that this imaginary ‘arts guild’ is to be a place for people who are curious, creative, and have a tendency to think a lot. One reason I called it an arts guild (plural) instead of an art guild (singular) is because the singular tends to be associated more with the fine visual arts such as painting, drawing, sculpture, etc. The plural can refer to many creative pursuits, too many to name, in fact. A person can even be an artful cook, after all. But this week, I am returning to what most people think of when they think ‘art,’ drawing and painting.
Some of the most naturally talented artists I have known could take a #2 pencil and a sheet of lined notebook paper and create something beautiful with it. In fact, lately there has been a Texas artist who has been drawing on corrugated cardboard with what appears to be a magic marker, and leaving these drawings in various public places for people to find and claim. I have been tempted to suggest that he leave one at the Spring Creek Tabernacle. What I am trying to say is that expensive art supplies nor formal training are requirements to create beautiful works of art. Have you ever looked at the paintings on the walls of the Chauvet Cave? Those were created around 34,000 years ago using mostly charcoal and colored stones.
But here I am, not a naturally talented artist but an average person determined to learn how to create visual art. I try to give myself a leg-up by experimenting with actual art supplies at times. About a month ago I signed on to do a watercolor floral alphabet tutorial series and quickly found that I was nowhere close to having the paint colors that were being used. One of my arty friends said, “you can mix all the colors you need from a few basics,”—Ha ha! She missed the part about me having zero training and very little experience with painting. I started a ‘swatch book’ a few months ago so I have examples of what all the various art supplies look like in use. I referred to that and found some of the colors I needed already on hand, built a list of those still needed, then ordered those colors. Now they are here, tiny tubes lined up on my desk, and I am trying to work up to actually using them. See, I have a problem with perfectionism procrastination where I put off doing something until I think I can do it perfectly. Yes, it is ridiculous and I am talking to myself about how I need to get over it and just put some paint on paper. I plan to paint the flowers on blank paper first, then when I feel more comfortable with the materials, I will paint them on the pre-printed alphabet page I ordered.
Now I think I will sign off here and squirt little dabs of paint onto the palettes I have laid out on my desk. That is a good ice-breaker step, right? If you would like to see what I am attempting to do, or, even better, would like to join in, look up de Winton Paper Co. on YouTube. Let me know if you decide to give it a try!