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Following on from my last post where I mentioned the "thing" that "dramatically improved my painting style"...here is thing #6:
Paint 50 small paintings in 90 days (or less).
And, oh yes, don't forget to push your boundaries as you progress. That's the challenge that was laid down to me by a local (and hugely successful) professional artist.
I actually did 50 8"x10"s in 95 days, but I still think I did pretty well. The idea is that you don't invest too much time in each piece, but you still have to make all the big decisions you would make for a regular sized painting: composition, values, palette, etc. Over time you get less precious about certain aspects of the process and you start to focus in on what really counts. You also get to notch up a reasonable number of screw-ups that help teach you what doesn't work without wasting too much time, effort and energy. You start to get creative with what you paint, because every day or two you have to come up with a new idea. As you go you take some time to self-critique the pieces. This highlights your strengths and weaknesses, enabling you to move on to the next piece better equipped.
By the end of the journey you have a great record of your challenge and an eclectic body of work to be proud of. Here's a selection of my 50 studies: maccski.deviantart.com/gallery…
It's also a lot of fun.
So much fun, in fact, that I took it a step further: 50 5"x7"s, each taking 45 minutes or less, all with the same limited palette of 4 colours and white. This time I did it in 77 days. Here are some examples: maccski.deviantart.com/gallery…
This "thing" is what started me on the road to getting serious about my art. It turned a hobby into an obsession. It made me a bolder, better painter. If you feel you need to "make a leap", do this "thing". I'll be doing it again very soon.
Thing #1: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Thing #2: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Thing #3: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Thing #4: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Thing #5: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Why am I posting this stuff? maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Take a look at my Facebook page...if you like it, please "Like" it! www.facebook.com/MontrealArtis…
This leads nicely to thing #7...
Paint 50 small paintings in 90 days (or less).
And, oh yes, don't forget to push your boundaries as you progress. That's the challenge that was laid down to me by a local (and hugely successful) professional artist.
I actually did 50 8"x10"s in 95 days, but I still think I did pretty well. The idea is that you don't invest too much time in each piece, but you still have to make all the big decisions you would make for a regular sized painting: composition, values, palette, etc. Over time you get less precious about certain aspects of the process and you start to focus in on what really counts. You also get to notch up a reasonable number of screw-ups that help teach you what doesn't work without wasting too much time, effort and energy. You start to get creative with what you paint, because every day or two you have to come up with a new idea. As you go you take some time to self-critique the pieces. This highlights your strengths and weaknesses, enabling you to move on to the next piece better equipped.
By the end of the journey you have a great record of your challenge and an eclectic body of work to be proud of. Here's a selection of my 50 studies: maccski.deviantart.com/gallery…
It's also a lot of fun.
So much fun, in fact, that I took it a step further: 50 5"x7"s, each taking 45 minutes or less, all with the same limited palette of 4 colours and white. This time I did it in 77 days. Here are some examples: maccski.deviantart.com/gallery…
This "thing" is what started me on the road to getting serious about my art. It turned a hobby into an obsession. It made me a bolder, better painter. If you feel you need to "make a leap", do this "thing". I'll be doing it again very soon.
Thing #1: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Thing #2: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Thing #3: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Thing #4: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Thing #5: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Why am I posting this stuff? maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Take a look at my Facebook page...if you like it, please "Like" it! www.facebook.com/MontrealArtis…
This leads nicely to thing #7...
Things I Learned as an Oil Painter: Thing #22
After a long hiatus the TILAAOP series is back (at least for one post). Thing #22 is:
The more you do it the better you get at it.
Yes, it’s obvious, but it goes a little deeper. The reason I’ve chosen this “thing” is because I have been and continue to be working very hard to produce art for a solo show coming up next month. For almost a year I’ve kept an aggressive schedule of putting paint to canvas. I’ve been keeping count of my paintings while keeping my eye on the calendar.
There have been some dogs in there, but in general I feel the quality of my work has improved. My confidence has been booste
Web Site and Social Media News
I just completely updated the look of my web site to a cleaner, simpler, more "now-ish" design. Please go take a look: http://www.montrealartist.com/
I also started to look more seriously at using social media as a way of getting my work "out there". I created accounts specifically for my artwork on Twitter and Pinterest:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DavidKelavey
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/montrealartist/
I'd be interested in hearing any comments/advice from anyone that has used these sites for their art.
I'm still plugging my work on Facebook - if you haven't already, please head over and take a look: http://www.facebook.com/Mon
If You Go To Etobicoke...
If you're around Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada in the next few weeks I have a painting on show as part of the Society of Canadian Artists Members' Show. It's at the Civic Center, 399 The West Mall from today until August 27. The reception's on Sunday July 27th from 2pm - 4pm (but I won't be there because I'll be on a beach in Maine!).
I have re-resurfaced again...
I'm one of those sporadic deviants that lives & breathes dA for a few weeks before dropping off the face of the Earth...only to reappear and redisappear (rinse & repeat). But hey, I'm back and that's what counts, right?
My time away from dA has not been idle - here's a run-down of what I've been up to:
I started the process of organizing my first solo exhibition at a gallery (Viva Vida Art Gallery in Pointe-Claire, Quebec) in October. More info to come.
I gave my first ever demoI gave my first ever talkI got accepted into Oil Painters of America
I got myself a purpose-built art studio. Previously I was working in my basement, next
© 2013 - 2024 maccski
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I'm surprised that some of my favorite pieces are in that selection! What kind of canvases were these on, anyways? I imagine if you were intending on doing 50 of them in a short period of time, you got cheapies, yes?
Seriously considering this challenge. I'm starting work on my BFA in Painting in the fall, and I think I need to seriously work on my skills before I get there!
Seriously considering this challenge. I'm starting work on my BFA in Painting in the fall, and I think I need to seriously work on my skills before I get there!