Image: Blue Pendant by Anima

Copyblogger's Brian Clark compiled quotes shooting down what history has proven to be great ideas. Here are a couple samples.

“Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?” ~H. M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927

“We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.” ~Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962

Do you ever get those kind of responses to your artwork? As a visual artist, negativity and rejection flood in from all fronts: galleries, juried exhibitions, schools, instructors, critics, the media, collectors. We should expect criticism, listen contemplatively, and ignore, reject, and do the opposite of it most of the time.

By all means, improve your technical excellence and develop your style, but never, ever, ever, give in to the creativity killers.

One I've gotten a lot of: "Who wants a picture of some strange girl on their wall?" If you've seen any of my art, you'll notice I'm completely ignoring that one.

When have you rebelled against creativity killers?

Labels: creativity and inspiration

If you're an artist, I recommend you go to Home Depot and grab one of every single color card from the CIL paint collection. I did this on Saturday. Then I grabbed the Ralph Lauren color sample book for good measure. I'm not sure how long it actually took but it felt like an eternity - there were hundreds, and hundreds of cards. Plus, I braved a record-breaking snow storm and icy roads. Ah, the joys of spring in northern Alberta!

So why bother? For three reasons:

1) Commissions

Getting the colors right on a commission is critical, especially when your collector has plans for where the painting is going to hang. But the words your collector uses for colors might be vague, inaccurate, or just plain different from what you're used to. For instance: peach, coral, and pink, or turquoise, aqua, and sea green, or mauve, lilac, and lavender. Which one is which, and would your collector, husband, sister, and best friend all make the same call?

It's so much easier to have them just point to the color on the card! This even works when there's no chance to meet with your collector locally. Just have them email you with the names and brand of the colors they like.

Then all you have to do is match their selections within reason.

2) Choosing the Right Color

Whether it's for a commission or your own self-directed painting, take the color samples to the art supply store when you're picking out your oil pastels, or your colored pencils, or whatever you're medium of choice is. If your memory is anything like mine it's best to have a tangible reference to work from and not a vague recollection.

3) Inspiration

This was an unexpected side effect of looking at all those colors. I felt instantly inspired. It was kind of like the feeling I get at the art supply store when I'm looking at all those gorgeous oil pastel sticks. Honestly, I'm getting tingly just thinking about it.

The different hues, shades, values, and tints can really get you going if you ever get painter's block. Just imagine all the color combinations you've yet to explore!

How About You

Check out how Jerry Lebo uses color references or share what you use for reference colors and why.

Labels: creativity and inspiration, tips techniques tutorials

I think last night proved once again that I'm not the smartest person around these parts … but I couldn't resist. I started painting a really soft, dreamy background of yellows, peaches and pinks. And from there the painting progressed really quickly - so quickly in fact that the hours just raced by.

A seven-hour late-night painting binge later, I completed Breath of Light and I absolutely love it. It's proved to be very popular too, with the original selling before it was officially released.

I may have suffered a painting hangover the next morning, but it was well worth it. So that means I didn't learn my lesson and I'll probably be doing this again very soon.

Labels: creativity and inspiration, more about anima, paintings in progress

My husband Terry and I just spent 5 days in Panorama, British Columbia skiing, hanging out and in general having a blast. The village sits on the side of the mountain heaped in snow and twinkling with pretty yellow lights. It was definitely a sight to see from the mountain when we were night skiing.

We took a ton of photos. My husband had to take the photos of the views from Taynton Bowl because I’m way too chicken to go up to the summit. Maybe one day? – Who am I kidding, it’ll never happen! But with all the pictures we got, I’m planning a series of new original paintings. I can’t wait to get started on them! Thanks to our great friends Corey and Tiffany Young at Alberta Real Estate Opportunities for their hospitality.

Labels: creativity and inspiration, more about anima