Ten Things I Plan to Do to Grow As An Artist in 2016

NO New Year's Resolutions for me.......I can't stand the pressure. HOWEVER, there are some things that I plan to do this year.  I want to grow as an artist and I don't think that just happens. Maybe it does for some people, but I think I'll have to put some effort forth to get to where I want to be. (don't you just hate that?)

Number One - Take some classes.

Just about everything that I have learned has come from an online class or from watching (addictively) the videos of other artists.  I learned a lot from Donna Downey, Jane Davenport, Shawn Petite, Suzi Blu, Pam Carriker, Nika Rouss, Denise Alloca and many more.  There are so many talented people that share their how-to's online.  FYI - Craftsy is a great place to find online classes!


Here are couple classes that I'm going to take:

Watercolor terrifies me, so I'm taking
Simple & Stunning Watercolor Techniques

Another issue is color.  This looks like a good one.
Painting With Color: A Contemporary Approach, with Joseph Dolderer

Number Two - Create my own videos

Hey, I've already started doing this......good for me!  I put a few videos on Youtube at the end of the year and started my new, weekly, Creative Heart Monday videos.  I love doing it and it really comes in handy.  I have made many pieces in the past, only to forget how I did it.  If I film everything I do, I can go back and look......brilliant.  (I would like a new camera, though)

Number Three - Learn more about color

This is my weakest area.  I tend to stress over colors.  I need a class.  As I mentioned, above, I'm going to take this one.
Painting With Color: A Contemporary Approach, with Joseph Dolderer

Number Four - Paint something HUGE

Most of my art is 16" X 20" or smaller.  I want to get one of those big 6 foot canvases and fill it with flowers. (I need the "color" class first)

Number Five - Be in an Art Show

We have several large art festivals in my area....I'm not ready for that.  I want to try a small art show. I need to build my inventory.

Number Six - Commune with other Artists

Online and in person.  I know that I could learn a great deal from other artists in my area.  We do have an artists guild and I plan to join ASAP.

Number Seven - Guest Blog

I would like to invite some other artists to share their work and thoughts on my blog....and I wouldn't mind doing the same on theirs, LOL.

Number Eight - Social Media

Take charge and expand my social media plan.  No one is going to see my art if I don't show it to them.

Number Nine - Try New Things

As an art supply junkie, I have lots of stuff that I've never used.  I HAVE to try them!

Number Ten - Get My Mind Right

Last but, probably, the most important, I'm going to keep going no matter what.  I spent the majority of my career in real estate.  When you deal with numbers, they are usually either right or wrong and I had confidence that mine were right (even when they were wrong).  Art is subjective.  Some people are going to like your art and some people aren't, and neither one of those people are wrong.  Everyone has their own tastes and we all perceive things differently.  I need to get that "everyone is more talented than me" monkey off my back.  I know that it's a common for us humans to knock ourselves down and get in our own way at every turn......but I'm really going to try to limit this as much as I can.

So, that's it.  Ten things, not necessarily in order of importance.  If you have some goals for 2016, I'd love to hear them.  Now I'm going to go pick up the paintbrush.

Peace!

Cyndi

P.S. This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small percentage if you make a purchase using this link.

Mixed Media - Grace

I just completed my third video!!

These are the supplies that I used for this piece:

10" x 10" canvas
Liquitex Gesso
Golden Matte Medium
Liquitex Paint  Deep Violet, Cadmium Yellow Hue, Cadmium Orange
Golden Paint - Teal, Carbon Black
Americana Raw Umber
Charcoal Pencil
Pan Pastel - Black
White Gelly Roll Pen
Donna Downey Scribble Stencil
Flower Stencil
Octagon Stencl
Book Pages
Music Sheets
Butterflies cut from Shelf Paper

Peace!

Cyndi

My First Art Tutorial Video

I, finally, did it!  I've been wanting to make an art video for years........and I did it.

I am not the most computer savvy person when it come to videos, editing, etc.  My dear husband modified a tripod for me so that I could shoot straight down.  None of my digital cameras worked so I used my Iphone 6.  Most of the video is upside down because I can't figure out which way the camera is supposed to go.  But, I managed to shoot it anyway.

Our, good friend, Roberto Vally, made an album last year (I think), called "Boom. Boom, Boom". He was gracious enough to let me use one of his songs, "Latin Lounge".  I think it went perfectly with the time lapse portion.  I plan to use more of his music in future videos.

To be honest, I'm not that thrilled with the piece of art in the video.  I was obsessing over the filming so much that I kind of dropped the ball on the art.  I'll do better next time....I promise.

So, here it is....(drum beat):





Thank you for watching.

Peace!

Cyndi

Inspired by Denise Alloca

Every Teusday, I get an email from Donna Downey with a new video by one of a group of artists that she has put together. It's called Artist Gang Teusday.  Yesterday's video was by Denise Alloca.  She creates a grouping of three paintings.  They always incorporate a Donna Downey Studios product (stencil, stamp, etc.).  I checked out Denise Alloca's site and found another video that she did with cute flowers.  I decided to do one. As you can see......I, basically, copied her.  Obviously, I would never use this design on anything that I planned to sell since it's not my own.  But, it's wonderful that there are artists out there that show us different techniques so that we can practice and learn new things.  I didn't have, exactly, the same supplies that she used ie:  different stencils, Derwent instead of Stabilo pencils, shorthand paper instead of music paper.  I also had to write the word "Truth" because I didn't have the stamp.....but I do plan to get these stamps because my handwriting isn't that great.

Here's mine.

Here's Denise's.

So, this is what I did this morning.  Thank you Denise.  Thank you Donna Downey.  And.....

Peace!

Cyndi