Technique is what makes us better and the results may be way more satisfying -- on that level. But the actual anticipation of the resultant picture and the painting of it has to be fun to make us want to take the time to do it over and over. I think technique and patience is what separates the pro from the amateur (pro meaning whether people would pay to have it as opposed to making the distinction between whether actual money is being exchanged). Nothing at all wrong with amateur mindset. Because Art is fun.
But once one becomes practiced at technique it becomes second nature and it's no longer a distraction, much the same way that when someone is learning the piano, at some point the keyboard falls away and thereafter it's entirely about interacting with the music.
Because there are so many diverse techniques out there, the challenge in it all is finding what one will make their own. The major pitfall there is just endlessly copying other people's work which is just sort of like work. Technique is a good and necessary step to learn as an artist, but learning how to compose and how to say something with one's own voice is the place someone on the path to mastership wants to get to.
And it's all too easy to be weak in that area if one only copies and only works on technique. I didn't learn that until very late in the game myself because I was so focused on perfecting technique and the "end game" to use a chess analogy. And while I got people to admire my craftsmanship which served to get me work, I never owned my stuff because I wasn't able to take a vision of my own to finish with boundless enthusiasm and all the fundamental stuff being as it should.
The irony of that looking back was that it's fairly easy to learn composition after all -- if you have the wit to pay attention to that bit. But I didn't have someone giving me advice. And as such I lost out on the most fundamental joy of being an artist -- creating something that was unique and mine. So I didn't have that fire in the belly that makes for great artists. And so my craft became work. Good income. No voice.
That worked fine for people hiring someone looking to hire an artisan to make a slick product to sell after they had the early stuff approved and conceived. And the people doing the hiring of artists wanted a good polished finish. So that's where I put all my efforts, never thinking that early part of the process and my voice was important because it wasn't to what I was getting paid to do. However, doing that meant was there was a fairly low ceiling for personal growth with nowhere to grow beyond that in that business context. (ie. I "sold out" without realizing that was what was happening. It wasn't all bad. It could be fun like doing a puzzle. But it was also devoid of Soul for me, and as time passed, I got to where I experienced more of what it wasn't than what it was.)
But if you're not motivated to paint from drawing a fat paycheck, and you're looking do do art from inside, learn how to come up with the initial vision and you will forever after find motivation (if not obsession) to where you can't wait to get to the next piece and the next. We pick up technique along the way as we're being artists. That will just simply happen. But focus on your own voice first and all else will come to you.
I'm speaking to you in your place in life where you're probably less interested in becoming an illustrator and are more about becoming a fine artist, gallery type artist. I started as an illustrator and I was broke at the time so chasing a paycheck took precedence over my Art. You probably can have a more pure motivation where you're chasing joy and can afford to do it the Creative Artist's way round.
Right. So as to this painting. It rocks! It's fantastic. You learned a lot and so it's time to move on to your next painting.
Last edited by D Akey; 03-06-2016 at 04:25 AM.
"Not a bit is wasted and the best is yet to come. . ." -- remembered from a dream