Post Card Practice

I keep a stack of 4.5" x 6" postcards cut from sheets of 140# watercolor paper in a ziplock bag in my art backpack.  When I have a little time and some inspiration, I can work small. It's an easy way into creating, a warm-up.

I find the trick to making progress or even maintaining your art skills is persistent practice. Find anything that interests you and practice drawing or painting it.  Working on loose pieces of paper can reduce the fear of making a "bad painting." You can toss it if you don't like the results.

Every painting and drawing teaches you something.  You can step back and notice what you do and don't like about each creation. 

I like the loose hydrangea blossoms in the post card above.  I like the contrast and edges created by the dark shadows around the lower leaf.  I don't like the upper right area's blobby lack of definition.  Perhaps a few ink lines would add the definition I desire, but I don't want to lose the lower leaf's magic, so I'll likely leave it as is.  It's a postcard after all!

I share this to give you a sense of how you might look at your own work.  Instead of saying "It's awful!" or making some other broad statement, notice what you do and don't like about your painting or drawing.  Now you have a list of things you can work on. You have goals.

In my case, I want to make more paintings that are loose and use dark negative space shadows to create positive space shapes. I want to define the subject with high contrasts in color and value.  I'm willing to let things be abstract in places, but want to create lively lines.

I guess I'd better keep practicing!

Happy Creating!