When it comes to certain creative sensibilities--awareness of
color, editing a concept--I trust my judgment. I think I have pretty good
instincts--maybe not in the execution of said sensibilities in an oil painting I
paint myself, but I know good color combos and narratives when I see them in the
oil paintings that comes across my desk.
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I envision works of art like this (Friends of a Feather by Sadie Valeri, 12 x 16,
oil on panel, 2010) starting as interesting or beloved objects--arranged on a shelf or
stowed away in a drawer--that catch the artist's eye when they are away from the studio. |
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For me, this ability comes from observing the world around
me and seeing what works. Looking at the way objects are arranged on a
bookshelf or noticing favored mementos that I like to keep in my "junk" drawer
is an oil painting lesson that happens outside the studio. I may not be
painting, but I am working my brain, testing compositions, and consciously
combining colors that suit me. I look at these objects--little statues,
glassworks, postcards, images from magazines--and I ask myself why they're so
appealing and try to figure out how they work together.
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Artist Paulina Olowska transformed the everyday
objects and images that inspire her into an art piece.
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"Painting" away from your studio this way can really help you
figure out how to oil paint successfully, but creating in a different way while
in the studio does the trick too. I've gleaned many good oil painting tips from
working with mixed media. Using found-object assemblage, collage, scraps of
fabrics, and even exploring digital art, I've found my own creative sensibility
that translates to whatever medium I'm working in and not the other way around.
If you see painting--and art as a whole--in your world and
want to see what else is out there for your creativity, a subscription to Cloth Paper Scissors might be right up
your alley. I always find good tips and ideas that I can apply to painting and
drawing, and I am discovering how mind-expanding it is to work in other media
as well. Cloth Paper Scissors helps
get you there! Enjoy your subscription!
