Art as a constant
By Andreia Medlin, Herald Reporter
I am in no way an expert on anything, but there are things I love doing and have spent a lot of time and effort learning and practicing.
I believe art is essential to human existence. It is an expression of our values and our view of life. It is also an expression of who we are, what we are thinking and how we feel about the world we live in.
And by that I mean our perception of what’s around us. I refer to it as my bubble.
When I was little I wanted to be everything. An Olympic swimmer, a concert pianist, an award-winning novelist or a famous artist with a gallery of my own.
None of that has come to pass, but painting has always been a constant in my life to this day. I don’t claim to be the best that ever was nor do I compare myself to any other artist.
However, I do have a couple of plaques on my wall acknowledging some achievement in my endeavors and there have been a few kind individuals who liked what I did enough to buy a few of my pieces so there’s that.
So, in an effort to give a little sage advice and hopefully help someone overcome their trepidation of putting brush to canvas, here’s a little of what I know.
Intoxicated people will buy anything (just kidding, a little self deprecation never hurt anyone). I have sold the majority of my work in a local public house and I am eternally grateful both to the establishment and its generous patrons. Seriously, thank you.
All kidding aside, first of all canvases are cheap especially if you buy them at a thrift shop or second hand store. If they are already painted on they can be painted over or added to. Banksy is famous for adding to old paintings he picked up at a thrift store and they sell for millions. Unfortunately, I haven’t had any luck with that, but I’ve used old canvases many times and I also buy frames at thrift stores. Another great way to save money and frame your drawings or watercolors.
Paint, especially oils, and brushes are not cheap, so unless you know someone who doesn’t paint anymore or will share, you will have to invest a little money. There are a wide variety of brushes, but if you’re just starting, there are beginners sets that will do fine. There are beginner sets of oil paint also, but they never worked for me because I like big canvases. If you plan to start small those are okay, but I would upgrade to a name brand if you decide to stick with it. The beginner kits will have the colors you need, but if you decide to buy them separately here is a list to start with: titanium white, cadmium yellow light, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, Alizarin crimson, transparent red oxide, burnt umber, raw umber, phthalo green, ultramarine blue.
Some lists will include a black, but I was taught to make my own using the colors I had so that’s what I do.
There is a legion of information on painting available and I am not going to try to teach anything here. My art education began with a book called “How to draw animals” my grandmother checked out for me at the library.
From then on I practiced a lot, took lessons from a local artist later in life; took classes in high school and then in college. I read books and magazines and watched Bob Ross on TV.
Throughout my life I had heard that oil painting was the hardest medium to learn so I avoided it because of that and because of the expense.
I had also heard that about watercolor, but I found that they are different, but not impossible (the first go-round) I learned to paint with to learn. In college acrylics which were the love of my life for a long time... until I discovered oils.
I never looked back. Well that’s not true because what I found was that acrylics can be used very similarly to oils and for awhile I painted with both alternately.
And truthfully sometimes I would forget which was an acrylic painting and which was an oil unless I wrote it on the back of the canvas. The oil paint we have today is differ
ent than what Van Gogh or Claude Monet were using as they were made with pigment the artists ground themselves and often contained lead or other toxic materials. The results especially in the case of cobalt blue were astoundingly beautiful and the paintings took weeks or longer to dry.
Every artist has a process and the best way that I learned to create something to be proud of is to do several drawings or sketches beforehand either from life or reference photos. I prefer reference photos and try to make at least 3 to 5 sketches using different drawing tools such as graphite or charcoal. Doing this helps me plan how I want the composition to appear on the canvas. It also helps me learn about shadows and color variations.
I was taught to prep my paint (mixing it with linseed oil until its the consistency of butter), but I know some artists use it straight from the tube.
Before the pandemic I was doing pretty well selling my paintings at a local public house, but when it closed and I was deemed an essential worker that all came to a stop.
Only recently have I tried to pick up pencil and brush again. My husband used to tell my son, “Your
Reproduction of The Magpie by Claude Monet.
mom never gives up.” And I haven’t yet. I have wanted to and have said it many times, but it seems to be a profound part of my life and honestly helps keep me sane so here I am giving it yet another go at the back door of 60.
I have begun a new painting of some figurines I inherited from my grandmother as shown in its beginning stages page 6. I have also included a few pieces I’ve sold over the years.
What I’ve learned from art is to never give up what you love doing in your life whether you’re successful at it or not or whether other people like it or not.
Like the saying goes, “Dance like no one is looking.” I won’t be doing any dancing, I’m afraid I might break a hip and no one needs to see that, but the same sentiment applies for painting or any creative endeavor.
Do it for yourself.