Upping Your Game

As an artist, I think it's important to always continue learning and improving your technique. Really this applies to everything you want to do well in life. There is always something else to learn, something to improve AND there's always someone who is better. In art I suppose we think some artists are better but really what we want is more a sharing of technique or tricks. One person's art can't really be considered better than someone else (same level applies) only different and different interpretations. Lately, my goal is to up my game in portraiture. It's not really that I want to paint like an old master but if I can fully understand how they achieve the results they do, then I can apply whichever part(s) suits me. With this in mind, I hit the internet (see blog post Inspiration in an Artistic Dead Zone).

So I have learned that this is an all over the map category. I have equally learned that showing is not teaching. There are a few YouTubers out there that should learn the difference. I say that but in fairness they may just be trying to showcase their talent. Good for them if that's the case but not very helpful when you want to actually take something away from the "lesson". So, instead I followed a how to document. This was called no mixing, 7 step to a perfect portrait. I used my own reference material and followed the instructions. You know something? Not as easy as it seems. I may in fact call her 7 steps - we'll see. A few things to iron out still but the basis is there. I followed the 7 steps and yet I still feel she is not complete.

So with that I learned a new technique, a couple of interesting ideas along the way - mostly with colour additions which I would not have used. Would I follow the 7 steps again? No! But it was interesting. I will continue to scour for the old master's technique. Who knows maybe I'll hit the jackpot eventually. I'll share my findings...

#learning #Artclasses #paintingtechniques #portrait #portraiture