The most important thing is that you, as an artist, learn to see and understand what you’re experiencing. We often go through life so busy that we miss its beauty. Art is a language made up of color, contrast, pattern, texture, and shapes.
Throughout history, artists have learned how to use and control these elements to portray a feeling or meaning for themselves or the viewer. It would seem obvious to me, but why not spend some time understanding what previous artists spent their entire lives developing, and then choose to use these art principles or art tools when and if you believe you need them?
The key ingredient to developing your eye and understanding of art is the development of your hand and the control you need when painting. The minute you choose to make an expressive brushstroke, that stroke can have a breath to it. In this breath, you vary your touch, which ultimately will change the thickness of the brushstroke in various ways. One way is the actual width on the surface where you make the stroke, and the other way is the height of the stroke as you drag it across the canvas.
Every time you make a mark, something changes in your artwork, and the psychological effect of each mark is evident. It is like the Rosetta Stone. Without the key, it’s hard to read, and it will be hard to write your story without the proper vocabulary.
Let me leave you with this.
Please never forget. The elements of art are your punctuation in your story, voice, and art today. Art Mapping is crucial to understanding why you’re drawn to a specific image. Allow me to introduce you to an Art world full of Vocabulary Words for you!