We need to talk, guys and gals. I don’t feel I’ve adequately explained myself and why I am changing things in my work and researching. It’s been on my mind constantly since I started blogging my work fairly regularly. So, those of you that are interested, you can take the time to read this and delve a little deeper into my thought process.
I don’t think I’ve really been trying to create or evolve my “style”, but rather change how I finish things to make me happy aesthetically. In previous posts or blogs I haven’t explained myself well. Knowing from experience when others would tell me they were doing the same, I always thought it was silly. Your style should become a part of you; a symbol of you as a person. I do think everyone and everything you absorb as an artist will influence you in some form or another so there is no escaping that. For example: Caravaggio has always been a large influence on me. I can’t help it, his paintings are amazing and I love his use of light. Everyone is influenced by someone or something, or several of both.
If we want to get down to basics, I’d like a balance of clean pencil lines, not the harsh crisp ones I’ve got so far or the really rough ones I’ve adopted in the past. I feel as an artist I want both the digital I’ve grown used to, but not the lack of emotion it comes with. I know, I know, I should do both digital and analog work. That is one way to fix it, and I do plan on doing more analog for the simple reason that I need practice and I’ve had people asking me to sell. While that’s all well and good, I’m completely for it in fact. I’d like to marry both in order to truly be happy; because lets face it. I’m a nerd. I enjoy my digital work far too much to discontinue doing it as my main form of expression. Whether it’s because I love the idea of the tech side of it, or that it gives me a sense of freedom. Either way the blank page stigma vanishes for me when I’m working on a digital canvas. I’m sure if any of you are creatives you’ll know what I am talking about. Working analog is beautiful though, and the tactile nature of it is incredibly satisfying. Admittedly I love working on murals. If that could be a full time job I’d take it in a heart beat. There is something about the feeling of a physical brush moving across a canvas, piece of wood or wall that just does something for me. You can feel the grain of whatever you are painting with each stroke, becoming a form of rhythm in a piece of music. Perhaps that sounds a little too “artsy” of me, but creating is almost a form of magic when you watch it happening. Look up a time lapse of anything and you’ll know what I mean.
Color is also a thing I’ve always been strong with, or so I’ve heard. I’m happy with my color choices but not so happy with how I express it on the page. I used to paint very rough with a lot of movement. Finding a balance that makes me happy with the brush strokes I use, but not so much as it looks like a full scale painting would be important. I’m guessing it’s going to come down to adding in textures into my digital pieces.
I just need to find “me” in my work. I don’t think one should “look” for a style so to speak, it generally comes naturally. Though I do think in my time during college I’ve become too “stagnant” or comfortable in how I do things. I definitely need to mix it up a bit and find a way to make my work more interesting, and unique. Pushing yourself as an artist is important, and not doing so makes things quickly get old. So not striving to do that myself would be foolish on my own part. I’d lack any growth and what I create won’t establish who I am as an individual. I want to show you all how I see the world.
