Finding Watercolor Inspiration

(c) jlowatercolor.2016



Finding Inspiration!

So you have the supplies you need, you have tried out a few different techniques… now what do YOU want to paint? It seems like an easy question; that is until you sit with your paint and realize that it is not as spontaneous as the online tutorials make it seem. Inspiration may suddenly fall upon us like magic (occasionally), but typically, we have to search for it. Let’s explore a few places you can look for painting inspiration.

The world Around Us

Outside Our Window
Nature is one of the first and most obvious places we look for art inspiration, and with good reason. The sky, trees, plants, and sunsets provide us with dazzling and unlimited material. You can find a multitude of amazing photos online, but I suggest starting with your own environment. You may be surprised at the hidden gems in your own backyard.

(c) J.Lomena.2016

On our Shelves
Another subject matter is still-life. Similar to nature, you may suddenly come across interesting lines or groupings of objects that resonate with you. One thing that is nice about still-life painting is that you can arrange items into a composition that speaks to you.

photo credit: pixabay.com


Friends and Family
Our loved ones, they inspire us (and may occasionally infuriate us, ha). I have not yet ventured into portrait painting, but love looking at the amazing work from fellow watercolor artists. Maybe portrait work is your thing? Maybe you will try painting your niece’s beautiful smile and feel something click!

photo credit: pixabay.com


Inspiration from other Artists
An important subject for us to talk about is giving credit where credit is due. Many artists share their work online for a variety of reason; to sell, to inspire, or teach. It is ok if you decide to try a .painting by following an artist’s online tutorial. However, if you then want to share that painting with the world, you need to appropriately reference the original material. This shows respect to the artist community, and helps you to avoid any potential legal issues. An option for giving credit to a source could be to write- “Inspired By” and provide a link directly to the artist or their website. Remember though; when in doubt, ask for permission from the artist.

I hope you find these suggestions on painting inspiration helpful friends! Please leave any questions or suggestion on painting inspiration below. Till next week!

Next week’s blog: Working ThroughPainting Ruts


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Watercolor Styles: Loose vs. Tight

Image
(c) jlowaterolor.2018 Watercolor Style: Loose vs. Tight   First off, is one “better” than the other? The answer is unequivocally- h#ll no! I can’t stress enough how important it is to try and let go of what you think something “should” look like, and just give-in to what happens on the paper. I say this to you as a reminder to myself, because I still struggle with expectations. Painting loose or painting tight (detailed) is simply the style you bring to the watercolor. You may enjoy one more than the other, or incorporate both into your work! Below we will look at some examples of loose and tight watercolor paintings, along with tips and advice for trying them out. Loose Watercolor Examples... (c) Victoria Prischedko (c) Steve Micthell Loose Painting Tips- Here is a great article  from the Artist's Network that gives helpful advice on painting loose. https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-mediums/watercolor-painting-loose/ Tigh
Read more

Digging out of a Watercolor Rut

Image
photo credit: pintrest.com Stuck in the Mud There have been times that I want to paint and no matter how hard I try, everything I do looks like a muddy mess on the paper. Did I forget everything I knew? Gah! It is frustrating to say the least. Rest assured, it happens to everyone, even professionals. Let’s take a look at how we can move out of these ruts, and back to enjoying the painting process. Suggestion #1- Take it Easy on Yourself If there is one important thing I have learned over the last few years, it is that just because you may struggle with getting paintings or drawings “right”, it doesn’t mean you are not an artist. The struggle is simply part of the process… maybe that is something that everyone already knew (except for me, ha!). A misconception I had was in thinking that true artists were just born with this innate ability to make everting look amazing. Getting over that mental hurdle has been incredibly helpful in moving forward and growing! photo c
Read more