My Studio Setup: Sketch. Pen and graphite. 8 x 8 in. Copyright 2008, Tania Nault.
Today, over on Making a Mark, Katherine Tyrrell asked the question, “What increases your artistic activity?” and challenged her readers to “show off and/or fess up.”
So… here’s my list:
1.) My artistic productivity increased dramatically when I set aside a dedicated space to do art. Carving out a space to do my work was symbolic to me (and others) that my work was a priority. It’s also very practical because even if I only have fifteen minutes to do art, I don’t have to waste time setting everything up or taking down. I know that everyone can’t set aside an entire room for their work, but I think even claiming a desk in the corner of the bedroom, or clearing out an armoire (oh, come on, how many sweaters do you need, really?) means that your work is worthy of its own space.
2.) Another thing that I recommend is: keep a sketchbook. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “A sketchbook! I hardly have time to do the real art I want to do, why should I waste time with a sketchbook?!” Artists, particularly those of us who also have a day job, children or other external draws on our time, can’t afford to wait for inspiration to strike when we finally do get a moment or two to sit down and make art. We have to be ready to go, now. And a sketchbook is a great way of a) keeping ideas from getting lost in the laundry, and b) letting the idea “simmer” until you can come back to it again. The instant you open the page and look at it again you’ll know what you need to do next.
3.) And my last tip: go outside. There’s just something about being outside that stimulates creativity. Maybe it’s the fresh air, maybe it’s the association with building tree forts or sand castles when we were kids, or maybe it’s because you’re surrounded by Mother Nature (yes, even in the city). But “get the hell outside” is probably the best advice any parent ever gave a kid and I think it holds true here.
Things that drain my creativity and I, therefore, recommend you avoid like the plague are:
1.) Showing a pre-draft version of a work to anyone. I recently broke that rule when I showed you the early versions of my polar bear sketches. Huge mistake. Somehow, even without hearing any criticism, all I could think about were the problems with each composition. It was paralyzing and a mistake I hope I won’t repeat soon.
2.) Wanting things to be “perfect.” Note the “Serenity Prayer” in the sketch above. Endlessly tweaking a thing, hoping to improve it, is probably the single biggest drain on my creativity. It’s something I struggle with endlessly.
3.) Television. I love TV. I love “Grey’s Anatomy” and “House” even “Roseanne” reruns. But every second I spend in front of the television is time I spend watching other people practice their art and another second I didn’t spend making my own. If I had the guts I’d drop the damn thing out the second storey window.
I just thought of one more thing that works for me, well, sometimes at least… trying new ideas I hear from other artists! Let me know what works for you, I’d love to give it a try.
Against the Cold: House Sparrow. Photograph, 7 x 5 in. Copyright 2008, Tania Nault.
Winter Rose Hips. Photograph, 5 x 7 in. Copyright 2008, Tania Nault.
Between doing my business books, working out a budget for my upcoming group show (Regina Federation of Artists Spring Show & Sale, March 28, 29 and 30) and trying to make sense of my pay stub from the day job, my head feels like it’s about to explode. Well, it could be the math, or it could also be the horrible sinus cold I’ve been nursing for the past few days (my sister inherits my dad’s blue eyes while I get his tendancy for sinus infections, genetics, you gotta love ‘em). Either way, I feel like my left eye ball is going to pop out at any moment.
Did I mention it’s freakin’ cold out there today? -52C (-62F) with the windchill. I don’t care where you’re from, that’s cold. Well, I’m off to make myself a hot chocolate. And yes, I’m adding some Baileys to it.
Polar Bear: value sketch. Graphitint pencils on black paper, 12 x 9 in. Copyright 2008, Tania Nault.
I’m really excited to come back to this bear. The original photograph, by “Cholin” (William Pickard) on stock.exchng, caught my eye with the lovely back lighting and contrast of lights and darks. And even though the bear in the photo is a zoo bear, there is a determined look in his eye, like he knows where he’s going.
I had some trouble with the original thumbnails - neither composition said exactly what I wanted it to. Part of my problem was that the viewer would meet the bear’s eye on the way out of the composition. I decided to solve the problem by flipping the bear to “read” from the left to right. I think that the viewer’s eye will still travel along the bear’s shoulder, but the breaks in the fur and value shift should help push the eye back to the bear’s face. This is going to be a big board 24 x 18 inches and I wanted a dynamic composition, but also wanted the bear’s environment to play a part. I decided that showing this bear at the edge of an icy shore with water fading off into the background would illustrate the bear’s dilemma.
In case you’ve been under a rock for the past several years, the major issue for animals in the Arctic is the increasing melt of the sea ice(1). And polar bears have been particularly hard hit because they depend on the sea ice to hunt other marine mammals that make up the majority of their diet. Polar bears have evolved to live with the annual ebb and flow of the sea ice(2). In the fall the sea refreezes and the bears can leave their summer grounds and return to the ice to hunt. Over the winter they must eat enough to not only survive the long Arctic winter, but also must have stored enough fat to last through the summer, when they must again return to land where they spend at least three months eating very little. Every day the bears have to wait for the ice to return brings them closer to the brink.
While ecological concerns are something many other wildlife artists have addressed in their work, this is a first for me and I’m curious to see the what direction it takes me.
(1) Roach, John. “Most Polar Bears Gone by 2050, Studies Say.” National Geographic News. 10 September 2007. 28 January 2008 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/09/070910-polar-bears.html.
(2) Gunderson, Aren. “Urus maritimas: polar bear.” University of Michigan, Animal Diversity Web. 2007. 28 January 2008 http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ursus_maritimus.html.
Prominence. Scratchboard with acrylic ink, 5 x 7 in. Copyright 2008, Tania Nault.
As you can see, she’s got whiskers and my signature, so I must be done! Actually, I was so pleased with the eyes on this one I didn’t wait for owner approval, she’s already varnished and waiting for framing.
What’s next? On the pet portrait front: Chance and Prominence have another feline roomate: Little T and I’ve been asked to do her portrait as well. On the wildlife front: a Polar Bear! I’ve solved my (overthought) composition problem, so you’ll see the final drawing for that project tomorrow.
