I started to paint!
There is a thesis that every photographer should know how to paint. Should analyse others works, preferably good old master painters, and… Should paint him / herself.
So as painful as it is, since I always wanted to paint, but always was too frustrated with the results I did paint something.
It’s a lots of fun, but also so much frustration, and to my disappointed sleepless nights, because I can only paint at night. Just can’t focus on it during the day time…
I’ve put some of my attempts here on RB. I’m not sure if I should put it here, but oh well if you won’t like it, I will remove it. In the end these are just my exercises not the big art or something. ;)
If you want to draw yourself but you don’t have the will to do it some tips I’ve found help me.
Firstly draw only what you like. If you always have problems with drawing hands or roses or horses (which are said to be hard subjects) try for example a beautiful tree. :)
Secondly don’t assume you will get good results. It’s better to assume it’s ONLY a practice and you will destroy it or put to archive and never look at it again. Start with just some doodles on the paper margin. Nothing serious just harmless doodles. ;-)
And the advice that works for me best. Go shopping. Go to some artist equipment shop and buy yourself a little colourful pack of crayons, a little pencil, earser, of course beautiful textured block with nice drawing on the cover. Just not too big sets. Because these are only exercises, nothing serious, right? If you will get into it you can always but bigger sets and if you don’t, oh well you don’t waste too much money. And in case you feel irresistible whim to doodle something you have some tools already. :)
And the last very tempting advice. Browse. Go to deviantART, or any other huge database of art and browse. dA is good, because they have it very well categorised.
This mean you may find all the purple water colour irises made in technique of traditional art which is veeeery useful. Also dA have vast amount of stock images that can be VERY useful as a references to your drawings. :)
What do you think? Encouraged to create good old traditional art? :D
MichelleR
After reading this I almost want to give painting a shot. I’ve never tried painting a picture. Hhhmmmm… something for me to think about…
seawhisper replied
Oh yes. Remember about these little colourful paints and crayons and a fresh new paper. }:>
KLiu
I was the kid all through school, even into University, whose artwork was never good enough to get hung in the hallway. Just recently I did the same as you and I started taking oil painting lessons from a neighbor. Now we’re swapping oil painting for Photoshop lessons! I’m not great, but with a teacher who speaks a language I understand, the results are much better than I ever expected. She really focuses on color, value, hue, edges, and composition. I think it is making a difference on my photography.
seawhisper replied
Oooh so you’re the living proof that the thesis works! :)
How long do you paint now?
I think that teachers in most schools sux. ;) They have no attitude, most of them are unable to give you any serious knowledge and are just people stressed to the bones who have too much job on their heads…
I think I had quite a good teacher though. She was telling me I should go to art class because I have some skills and they need polishing. But I knew that some skills are to little and need to be balanced with a lots of practising and devotion. And I just didn’t have the nerves for it. :D
From a perspective of time I think I prefer painting as a hobby not as a job. It’s more fun and so less stressing.
I’m so glad to hear you think similar about learning to paint. Some people seem to think that painting that is not professional in the adult age is childish.
I think they’re jealous. :-)