“I think one’s only hope of doing things that have a new presence, or at least a new accent, is to know what exists, and to work one’s way through it”…Frank Auerbach
..Journal..Pear in the Light..Mixed Media
Drawing can be taught, but not painting..you can only learn to paint by painting…
Painting does not come naturally, it is a skill born of long practice…..
Since all painting comes from other painting, I looked at paintings, and read about paintings as much as possible..I learned for example, that Picasso did many copies of other famous paintings so as to gain the skill to create his own unique work…in fact throughout history, everyone copied each other..
..Journal…Red Apple..Watercolour and Gouache
“To know what exists in order to develop what is uniquely your own”…this statement I kept to the forefront as I looked at Cezanne’s work and learned about his brush strokes, or at Van Gogh and experimented with his colour combinations…
What came out of this was my own style and use of colour, and though I paint many different types of subject matter and genres, they each have my own particular stamp…
..Still Life with Citrus
In the previous chapter of this series, I talked much about my years of practice, when I had no plan to sell what I created and in fact destroyed some of my work, in order to make more..
..Journal..Cherries..Watercolour
I made marks with brushes, paints, pastels, inks, and every combination of all of them, till I felt I knew absolutely everything about how they all worked, and kept either visual or written records of everything I had created…...the only way to create good paintings is to feel the paint, use the brush or pencil over and over again, till it becomes almost another limb of your body…..
..Journal..Red Apple 2.. Watercolour
Keeping a visual journal was an important way of discovering my own personal style, in that it was a way to try out new techniques and combinations of colours and mediums…it was a place to keep a record of experiments, ideas and impressions…many of these records are full size paintings, some are sketches, others, merely written notes…over the years, I accumulated quite a number of journals of all shapes and sizes, and now I have a complete storehouse of ideas… enough to last a lifetime…[some samples are shown here]....
..Journal…Pastel Flowers
Listening well is also a very important part of the creative process…listening is a form of seeing…the ear transmits energy and keeps us aware and stimulated…listening creatively allows new ideas to enter your mind, which can then be made into something visual…I find that listening to great music especially when I’m working, helps me to paint with greater skill, and enhances my creativity.
..Homage to Cezanne...Featured today in All Things Philosophical, Prose, Poetry
So look, listen, and above all practice your art….”know what exists and work your way through” to what is uniquely yours…Janis
Tales from an Artist's Journal Part Five...Finding Your Own Personal Style
Tales from an Artist’s Journal Part 5…Finding your own Personal Style
Els Steutel, about 1 month ago
You are doing such a great job by painting all this, it’s a joy to look at:)
Janis Zroback in reply to Els Steutel’s comment, about 1 month ago
Thank you Els…I always have to upload all images before I transfer here, so sometimes they disappear afterwards, but they will be back one at a time later on…
Els Steutel, about 1 month ago
.....I have noticed that….never mind..there still great!!
Janis Zroback in reply to Els Steutel’s comment, about 1 month ago
Thanks again Els…I can keep them on my pages, but it’s too many at the same time, so I delete them as soon as I have finished writing the article…but I will bring them back later on…
coppertrees, about 1 month ago
Wonderful Janis, If you do not want these to show up while you are writing just click do not show to public and you can go back and change after you are done.
Janis Zroback in reply to coppertrees’s comment, about 1 month ago
Brilliant idea…thanks so much Vickie…I never thought of that, and I will try to remember that valuable tip next time…
coppertrees, about 1 month ago
I just thought it would help with the confusion.
Shree, about 1 month ago
Hey Janis….i specially loved those last lines : So look, listen, and above all practice your art….”know what exists and work your way through” to what is uniquely yours….......so true and real for each artist….thanks for sharing such wonderful tips, no way we can miss not to fav. it.
webbie, about 1 month ago
Great job…Janis…wonderful job editing…:)
Janis Zroback in reply to Shree’s comment, about 1 month ago
Thank you Shree…I’m so glad you are enjoying these articles and that you take the time to let me know…without the comments there is no motivation or encouragement to continue…
Janis Zroback in reply to webbie’s comment, about 1 month ago
Thank you Thelma…glad you like it…
melodious, about 1 month ago
wonderful, thank you for sharing! inspiration to get into my studio to practise… i needed that today!
Estelle O'Brien, about 1 month ago
Thanks so much Janis for sharing your wisdom and experience. The line that really jumped out at me was…”drawing can be taught, but not painting… you can only learn to paint by painting”. I am just beginning to realise that.
Janis Zroback in reply to melodious’s comment, about 1 month ago
I’m so pleased that you are enjoying this series and that it is inspiring you to get back to the studio….thank you for letting me know…
Janis Zroback in reply to Estelle O'Brien’s comment, about 1 month ago
Thank you for your comment Estelle…I’m glad to know that you are gaining some insights from this series of articles, and taking the time to let me know…I do need the feedback to continue writing the articles…
TomBaumker, about 1 month ago
Very well done I love the way you displayed these, The one with homage next to it is my favorite I like the way you did the antiqueing to the back ground, I own a Leonardo Divinci and he has a unique background style also. hugs Tom
Steph Granshaw, about 1 month ago
thanks for being here and your sound advice.
Blessings!
Janis Zroback in reply to Steph Granshaw’s comment, about 1 month ago
You are very welcome Steph…I enjoy writing these articles, and I am glad to know that people are indeed getting something from them…
Janis Zroback in reply to TomBaumker’s comment, about 1 month ago
Thank you Tom….If you own a genuine Da Vinci, then guard it with your life…I try to reproduce age in many of my paintings…it’s something I enjoy exploring.
Joanne Bradley, about 1 month ago
Thoroughly enjoying every article. Despite my being new at this creative process, I do understand that each individual artist must find their own way through creativity to find what is their own unique voice. And reading your articles facililtates this by giving food for thought and examples of what has worked for you!
Janis Zroback in reply to Joanne Bradley’s comment, about 1 month ago
Thank you Joanne..I’m so pleased that you are enjoying these articles, and that you are letting me know your impressions… the feedback from all of you is so important, as not only is it motivation to continue writing them, but it also gives me ideas for topics in the ensuing chapters…
Alison Pearce, about 1 month ago
Great article Janis! It is interesting that you can recognise the artist simply from the style. I can recognise yours and Vickie’s work immediately before I see your names listed beside the piece! The mark of great artists!
Janis Zroback in reply to Alison Pearce’s comment, about 1 month ago
Thanks so much Alison..it’s interesting that you’ve made the remark about recognizing style…I just had a look at my pages and noticed how my paintings are different and similar at the same time…hmm!