December 10th - MeMe

[alexisjane]

10th Dec: brightly_lit - How did you get into painting, and how did you develop your skills?

It was actually completely by chance.

I was working on an idea for an installation piece using stairs and light, and was having one of those days where I had a canvas and some paint and decided on a whim that I could have some 2D work with it and wondered if I could do that. So I painted some stairs...and then I painted two more sets of stairs...and then some friends saw them and were kinda shocked as I'd never done anything like that before...so I showed them to some more people and they thought they were quite good.

Then I was talking with some friends and they were trying to decided whether or not to apply for an art fair and I said that I'd apply with them for moral support. I got in on the strength of those three paintings...except they were my only three paintings so I spent that summer painting like a crazy person so I would have enough work for the fair.

And that was it really. As for developing, it's just been a case of practice. Painting everyday or at least thinking about it until it gets too dark : ) I don't feel comfortable taking instruction with art stuff because it's so subjective and I find people end up very often making work from their tutors perspective, not their own, so I'm kinda wary of that. I really feel like I don't know what I'm doing so I just do what feels right and that seems to work...so far : ) I also watch a lot of online painting videos...but that's for another day : )

Speaking of...fill me up, Buttercup! I have empty days ahead : ) Calendar is here ♥

Comments

[brightly-lit.livejournal.com]

What a great story--you were destined for it!

I don't feel comfortable taking instruction with art stuff because it's so subjective and I find people end up very often making work from their tutors perspective, not their own, so I'm kinda wary of that.

This is exactly how I feel--the few art classes I took, my instructors would be impressed at first; then they would start getting displeased if I didn't do it the way THEY did it, and I was afraid it would psyche me out from being able to paint at all, so I generally avoid formal instruction.

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

You were so meant to be an artist hun, and I for one am extremely glad the universe figured that out! Xx