Last week I was in Iowa City. I took my daughter to college orientation for the University of Iowa. My days with her home all the time are numbered, and soon it will just be my son and I. On the flight this is what he packed…
We did the carry-on thing because well, who wants to check bags anymore? And so he packed his own backpack for the three days. While we were on the first flight he said he brought things for drawing. I was thrilled. (He has been doing great drawings lately.) I expected a few pencils, a small book or a few markers, but instead he pulls out an entire set of 100 colored pencils. It must have taken up most of the space in his bag. And was pretty heavy. I giggled to see how he could not travel without all those colors.
I am guilty of that – Having to have all the pastels when I travel or demo – might need a certain color right? Can’t be without puce-purple #104. The painting would be ruined.
I am obviously saying this tongue-in-cheek. Paintings can be successful and lush with only a few colors. And when I limit my choices I can actually concentrate on what is more important in the piece- whether it be form, color harmony or my own intuition. Each painting is a journey. I think of it like traveling though a crowd to get to the other side. If I can limit some of the crush of options around me, my path will be smoother.
So in a few weeks I will be painting plein-air. In oil. Outside. With bugs. (New master coming to town from Montana!!!) All three things I never experience while I am typically painting. I will need to limit my colors and concentrate down my options- and remember I need to be able to carry everything.
It will be fun. It will be hard. I will keep ya posted.
SO… did you six students relate what my teaching abilities seemed to be like ?
seriously , I felt as if I were trying to help , with my hands tied.
your pastel ladies were doing their own thing … not a one color value study… and others were struggling with how to apply paint … not to mention the landscape lady that was there early when you were. I tried to give her advice … as you did … but that was NOT the class assignment .
sorta frustrating
thanks for filling in for me……
I remember asking my mother what her favorite color was. After some deliberation she replied, “yellow, no, blue. But I like pink too! All of them!” Flash forward several years and I was painting with my grandson, her great-grandson who was 5 or 6 at the time. I asked him the same question. Without hesitation he replied with a big grin, “All of them!” Kindred spirits always!
🙂
I love you posts and look forward to them. I also love that you are having local artist speakers at Sweetwater. Pittsburgh is certainly rich with talent. I also love that you are bringing top rate artists to the Burgh! It puts us on the map! Thanks for doing this service to all artists in Pittsburgh. My thought, Speaking for myself. As an artist, I do like to work alone. I have to do this to concentrate. But, I also need communication with other artists to share problems, get positive feedback and just have fun with likeminded people.
It’s cool when someone close to you is in love with color as well.
Like. Limited palette it challenges my use of colors and balance. It was also a point Phillip pointed out at the last Art Guild talk!
But I love visually looking at all my color pencils in their box! It’s like the experience with a new box of crayons when I was a kid!