Learning Curve

Besides the fact that it has been a long time since I painted, I am also much more comfortable with oil paints. (maybe it's the smell) Anyway, While I have been painting with acrylics I have noticed that the paint is way too thin for my liking.

So, I went to the local art store and discovered a matte gel medium, that adds body to thin paint. (just like the thin acrylic paints I have) So, I am going to have to try this and see if it gets me the texture I like.

If you haven't guessed, I like to pile the paint onto a canvas. Mainly, for a layering effect as well as the brush stroke effects, plus I like to scrap away top layers to reveal an interesting effect, you could call it a constructive destruction of my work.

Painting Again

I have started working on a 16x20 canvas panel. Right now, I am using acrylic. I prefer using oil, unfortunately, I am a little on the messy side when I paint and I am working in an apartment. (obviously, I don't want to cause any costly damage.)

Plus, I am painting from a photo I took a long time ago. It is nothing special and a particularly boring photo. Hopefully, painting this makes it a little more interesting. At this point I am just painting and making stuff.

A New Start

Creativity is a difficult thing to grasp. Most of the time, I am constantly racking my brain on how to come up with something new. Or, I am trying to to take an idea and make into something that is great. Anyone who has tried this knows it's not as easy as it sounds. Especially, when it is your own idea.

I know for myself, if I do not try to draw, paint, write, or something else "creative," it is very easy to loose that edge. For me, creativity is more like solving a problem and answering that problem is coming up with a solution that is different and not the fist idea you come up with. However, I need to switch my creative process. I need to take some advice that I got from a book I picked up many years ago, "Go to Your Studio and Make Stuff" by Fred Babb. I need to start making stuff, refining my skills and not worry about coming up with the next big thing.

The hardest part is actually starting...