Ruth Silnes' Art: Lesson #7

FREE Art Lessons

We will begin by touching on various aspects of drawing: seeing with the artist’s eye, values, creativity, abstraction, armchair research and where to go from there. The goal is to encourage your artistic abilities. It will be a journey of discovery.

Introduction
It is time for me to pass on what I have learned from my years as a lifelong painter and illustrator, because I have had a wonderful life doing what I love to do.

I have traveled the circuit as an artist, from traditional through impressionistic, from exploration of imaginative cosmic space to atmospheric-nautical with ink, paint, and pastel. In my late years I now use the computer as my art tool. I wrote, illustrated, and published my first book “Keeping Ahead of Winter” after I was eighty-years-old.

I taught oil painting at the San Mateo County Arts Council and taught drawing in my studio at the Twin Pines Art Center, in Belmont CA., now called 1870 Art Center. My work is in the permanent collection of the Peninsula Museum of Art.

Leonardo Da Vinci wrote, “The feeling is what guides you to reach out for the knowledge.”

You will need:
· A medium size drawing pad (if you are just starting to draw, buy a newsprint paper pad -- it is cheaper and you will be more relaxed)
· Number 2B, 4B and 6B drawing pencils
· A pocket knife
· Ruler
· Kneaded art eraser
· Charcoal or conte crayon optional
· An Emory board or a small piece of sandpaper stapled to a piece of wood to shape the point of your pencil
· A drawing board, or use plywood or Masonite
. Masking tape to hold your paper on the board
· Fixative to protect the drawing from smearing (hair spray will do the trick)

Art materials can be bought at your local art store or online at: Dick Blick http://www.dickblick.com/ or Daniel Smith http://www.danielsmith.com/
~~~

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Friday, August 22, 2008

Lesson #7

It is time to review the lessons from the beginning before continuing. Good draftsmanship is necessary to becoming a good artist no matter what medium you use. As long as you make the effort to draw, you are an artist.

You can learn to draw well by drawing. Be wise -- plan on drawing at least an hour a day and take your pencil and drawing pad with you wherever you go.

Notice the activity in the illustration above -- it is artists I worked with as we turned a derelict building into workspaces.

You will find it stimulating to get together with other artists by joining art clubs, painting outdoors with friends or finding studio space. If you are homebound, set up work-space, no matter how small in order to have the materials you work with ready at all times. Before I had a studio, I took a corner of the living room to work and I have seen an artist make a workspace (she called it her studio) in a small closet, even though she had to sit outside the door to work.

Don’t tell me you don’t have room. While I was living in a boat I kept my artist’s materials in a box that had an easel. I had to prepare for an art show so I confiscated the bow room to store my oil paintings until they dried. Later, in a smaller boat, I turned to painting with watercolors, and since they are done on paper I was able to store my paintings under the mattress.

Gj asked: “Who are the artists that did the paintings in your blog? I love them.”
Answer: “Thank you for asking Gj. I did the paintings in the different genres over many years. I started studying fine art in 1954. Before then I worked at commercial art. Yes, I’m now very old -- 93 to be exact --well, young old.”

~~~

Next lesson we will work on drawing facial features.

Pastel

Keep up the good work.

~~~

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What Is Being Said About "YOU AND THE ARTS"

CAROL CHANNING, Veteran of Broadway, Motion Pictures and Television: “The author/artist inspires those who are willing and able to accept the challenges of Life. She explains Arts remain the catalyst for all who seek successful living regardless of age.”

“Until I read this book I would not have recognized the breadth of the topic. I had a great time reading it!” -- Winnefred Homer-Smith, President. Deans & Homer

“This book is a concise and a clearly written discussion of the reasons for the art of all kinds, for all ages, and it is important enough for the 95-year-old author, who is herself an artist, to learn new computer skills and do the research to support her belief that, indeed, art does matter to us all. I recommend it for high school students and the generations that follow.” -- Jean G. Kohn, MD.MPH, Member American Academy of Pediatrics

Did you ever wonder?
-- Why the arts are essential besides the giving of pleasure?
-- What makes an artist function?
-- What do the arts all have in common?
-- Do the arts really help our health, education and economy?
-- The answers are in this book
YOU AND THE ARTS -- Why Art Matters

Link to YOU AND THE ARTS Ebook: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/27676

April 20, 2010

You realize you are no longer an amateur when your contemporaries accept you for your work. To have a future in what ever your art is while you are making a living, try to find work at what will benefit your art at a future date such as – Public Relations, or do like author Elizabeth McCrackin who chose working as a Librarian. In an interview Sarah Anne Johnson said, “I wanted a job I could leave at the office.” Accounting seems like a far cry from the arts, but the discipline is necessary for keeping your records. Study business.

March 31, 2010

An Invitation to Creativity:

There is nothing magical about creativity. You can’t help but find some area in which you are creative. When things don’t go well in business you create another way of going. You re-arrange your furniture or choose a color that pleases you: You create a meal or plant a garden.

The undiscovered is primed and waiting to shake your hand. How often have you looked in the mirror the first thing in the morning and said, “Blaagh!” You painted your face, or shaved it, or daubed it with cold water and changed your expression? By so doing you created a different mood.

Don’t allow familiar labels to interfere with fresh impulses. Dare to venture with your ideas and expand your horizons. When your mind wanders pay attention to its direction

Guard against how often you say, “No.” Replace it with, “Yes, How?” Experiment and try out things you haven’t done before especially in the field of your interest. Don’t get bogged down with facts. What starts as one premise may change to another that suits you better. It is normal to have outlandish thoughts; everyone does…act on them.

Invite Creativity into your life.

When you expose your innermost thoughts the chances are that the most shocked person will be you. Re-arrange facts. Don’t let familiar labels inhibit you. Stretch beyond comfortable bonds. Trust your instincts and look for nuances. Take risks and don’t judge your thoughts.

To nourish your creativity it is important to praise yourself. Positive thinking will bring positive action – we speak too much about our failures.

While the stimulation of people is important, so is time alone to contemplate. Concentrate and pay attention to your innermost thoughts. The desire for change will chart your course to sail the seas of creativity.

March 14, 2010

Play with your ideas without apparent logic.

Where do you do your best thinking, while out walking, gardening, resting, doing menial chores like washing dishes? I get my best ideas when I’m taking a shower.

Trust your instincts and don’t be afraid to undress your inner thoughts, chances are the most shocked person will be you.

Visit museums and art shows, mingle with other artists, and read art books.

Have faith in yourself and your ideas. You may find yourself a more interesting person than you ever believed.

January 31, 2010

Colors of Shadows
Monet said: “Color owes its brightness to force of contrast rather than to its inherent qualities … primary colors look brightest when they are brought into contrast with their complementaries.”

Composition-A Painter’s Guide to basic Problems and Solutions by David Friend is an excellent book on how to study composition from the old masters.

Now, about getting in the mood to create.

Think about what comes easy? What is special in my life? What can I do now that is within the scope of my endeavor?

Let your mind run free. Explore new avenues, deviate from the regular path – experiment – work in reverse. Let your spirit rule your hand.

Success comes in small packages. Make a list of them and enjoy them no matter how small they may be.

Creativity comes from you, what you are, what you expect to be, and what you are willing to give it.

The artist Wyatt Cooper said, “There are many things in life you cannot get by the brutal approach, you must invite them.”

January 13, 2010

· With the desire, creativity will occur.

· Play with your ideas without apparent logic.

· Have rap sessions with fellow artists.

· Travel the inner depths of your mind.

· When your mind wanders pay attention to its direction, you may want to develop it.

· What starts as one premise may change to another that suits you better.

· Don’t feel guilty when you take time to fantasize, dream or meditate.

· Instead of thinking “can’t” which never did anything, use another approach think, “it doesn’t seem to be working, I’ve tried everything at this time.” Time changes things – with another line of attack at another time you can see it from a different angle.

· If you become stymied, leave what you are doing for a while. When you come back to it you will have fresh eyes and a new approach.

· Be positive and make strong statements.

To be continued.

December 11, 2009

Masters are people who use what they have and stretch beyond comfortable bounds.

• A disaster from one piece may be the nucleus of another.
• If a thought comes to you, try it right then—stop everything else.
• Put only one thought in a drawing.
• Stretch beyond your comfortable zone.
• Play God for a moment: be the wind, the sea, the tree, be the moon, mars or beyond. Be the wind, a tree, hear the noise of a slammed door.
• A table setting is dull, a broken dish on the floor is interesting. A date book is dull, a diary is exciting.
• Don’t overwork your art, know when to quit

November 19, 2009

It is normal to have outlandish thoughts -- everyone does, the creator acts on them.

Have respect for your ideas and savor your moments. Talk about your successes. Think and use strong words like: EXCEL! MASTER! I KNOW! I AM TERRIFIC AT! FANTASTIC AT! THE BEST! THE GREATEST! SUPREME!

Keep your work simple, the complicated is commonplace.

Positive thinking will bring positive action –- we speak too much about our failures. Nourish your creativity and praise yourself.

Ideas come to us at strange times, sometimes when we least expect them.

Let your mind work for you, when your mind wanders, pay attention to it.

November 6, 2009

--With the desire, creativity will occur.
--Play with your ideas without apparent logic.
--Have rap sessions with fellow artists.
--Travel the inner depths of your mind.
--When your mind wanders pay attention to its direction, you may want to develop it.
What starts as one premise may change to another that suits you better.
--Don’t feel guilty when you take time to fantasize, dream or meditate.
--Instead of thinking “can’t” which never did anything, use another approach think, “it doesn’t seem to be working, I’ve tried everything at this time.” Time changes things – with another line of attack at another time you can see it from a different angle.
--If you become stymied, leave what you are doing for a while.
--When you come back to it you will have fresh eyes and a new approach.
--Be positive and make strong statements

September 25, 2009

Excuse me if I jump around, since you are all at a different level I try to cover a wider range of instruction.

Make a habit of observing your surroundings and study where the light falls, as it affects the values. Where ever you are study the subtleties of the variety of colors. Your own observation will self instruct and also study books and the old masters.

A good book to study on anatomy is Figure Drawing For All It’s Worth by Andrew Loomis. If you are going to draw animals, find books that show their bone and muscle structure. To do portraits it is important to understand how the body works. Use nude models when you can, or use yourself in front of a mirror. You will see character by different body positions and understanding the nude figure clothes will drape correctly.

August 13, 2009

Don’t fear exposing yourselves. Abandon your inhibitions, though it may be uncomfortable at first. It gets easier with time and your work becomes more satisfying.

I believe you should salute yourself, celebrate and enjoy what you are doing. When you are enthusiastic, wonderful things happen. When times are bleak work with fervor – pour your heart out. Your disasters may become your Muse as your true emotions come through.

Greatness may be created by work well composed and well timed as the seed that grows while we sleep.

June 10, 2009

For those of you who have little children give them materials to draw uninhibited. From this they first learn hand eye coordination. As they get a little older, have them tell you a story about what they drew. It is important to always compliment their natural creativity whether you understand what they do or not. Allow them to explore without judging.

Children learn from drawing or from any of the arts. It will help them succeed in life. Creativity goes beyond the arts, it generates ideas. I have a chapter on the benefits of art for children in the book I’m writing. The book is about the importance of the arts to society. I’ll keep you apprised of its progress.

May 14, 2009

Sorry about the delay, but time gets away from me sometimes.

Artists experiment with things not done before; they may take the known and re-arrange it, and sometimes spoil it. Nevertheless, it creates a new entity. There are cooks who have been out of an important ingredient too late to do anything about it. By improvising, using something available, they may give the dish an official sounding name and became famous. Sales people must create a change when the canned speech doesn’t fit the need. It takes creative management to find ways of utilizing present facilities to keep up with changing times.

Creative people need time alone to contemplate, to concentrate, and pay attention to their innermost thoughts.

April 2, 2009

Artists experiment with things not done before; they may take the known and re-arrange it, and sometimes spoil it. Nevertheless, it will create a new entity. There are cooks who have been out of an important ingredient too late to do anything about it. By improvising, using something available, they may give the dish an official sounding name and became famous. Sales people must create a change when the canned speech doesn’t fit the need. It takes creative management to find ways of utilizing present facilities to keep up with changing times.

Creative people need time alone to contemplate, to concentrate, and pay attention to their innermost thoughts.

I’m fortunate to live in the San Francisco Bay Area where there is a multitude of artists, art exhibits, theaters, musicals, museums and galleries. Creativity is abundant.

I’ve been going through files I used when I was giving seminars on creativity. It will be interesting for me to review some of the information with you–-so here goes:

We will go on a journey of discovery about the
power to create. The undiscovered is primed and waiting to shake your hand. The purpose is to expand your creative intelligence and stimulate what you already have. You must be open to change, dare to make mistakes. If you win 51% of the time you are ahead of the game.

Creativity is for everyone, but here I will confine it to the arts.

· With the desire, creativity will occur.

· Play with your ideas without apparent logic.

· Have rap sessions with fellow artists.

· Travel the inner depths of your mind.

· When your mind wanders pay attention to its direction, you may want to develop it.

· What starts as one premise may change to another that suits you better.

· Don’t feel guilty when you take time to fantasize, dream or meditate.

· Instead of thinking “can’t” which never did anything, use another approach think, “it doesn’t seem to be working, I’ve tried everything at this time.” Time changes things – with another line of attack at another time you can see it from a different angle.

· If you become stymied, leave what you are doing for a while. When you come back to it you will have fresh eyes and a new approach.

· Be positive and make strong statements.

It is normal to have outlandish thoughts -- everyone does, the creator acts on them.

Have respect for your ideas and savor your moments. Talk about your successes. Think and use strong words like: EXCEL! MASTER! I KNOW! I AM TERRIFIC AT! FANTASTIC AT! THE BEST! THE GREATEST! SUPREME!

Keep your work simple, the complicated is commonplace.

Positive thinking will bring positive action –- we speak too much about our failures. Nourish your creativity and praise yourself.

Ideas come to us at strange times, sometimes when we least expect them.

Let your mind work for you, when your mind wanders, pay attention to it.

Use all your senses in your endeavors, (sight, smell, feel, hot, cold, calm strength, weakness. Emotion: love, hate, tenderness, excitement, happiness, delight, surprise, sadness and pain. Sound: music, noise, voices and roar.

Communicate with yourself, become absorbed in thought, suppose things out, devise and plan.

Masters are people who use what they have and stretch beyond comfortable bounds.

· A disaster from one piece may be the nucleus of another.

· If a thought comes to you, try it right then—stop everything else.

· Put only one thought in a drawing.

· Stretch beyond your comfortable zone.

· Play God for a moment: be the wind, the sea, the tree, be the moon, mars or beyond, hear the noise of a slammed door.

· A table setting is dull, a broken dish on the floor is interesting. A date book is dull, a diary is exciting.

· Don’t overwork your art, know when to quit

Now, about getting in the mood to create.

Think about what comes easy? What is special in my life? What can I do now that is within the scope of my endeavor?

Let your mind run free. Explore new avenues, deviate from the regular path – experiment – work in reverse. Let your spirit rule your hand.

Success comes in small packages. Be aware of your success.

Creativity comes from you, what you are, what you expect to be, and what you are willing to give it.

The artist Wyatt Cooper said, “There are many things in life you cannot get by the brutal approach, you must invite them.”

Play with your ideas without apparent logic.

Where do you do your best thinking, while out walking, gardening, resting, doing menial chores like washing dishes? I get my best ideas when I’m taking a shower.

Trust your instincts and don’t be afraid to undress your inner thoughts, chances are the most shocked person will be you.

Visit museums and art shows, mingle with other artists, and read art books.

Have faith in yourself and your ideas. You may find yourself a more interesting person than you ever believed.

There is nothing magical about creativity. You can’t help but find some area in which you are creative. When things don’t go well in business you create another way of going. You rearrange your furniture or choose a color that pleases you: You create a meal or plant a garden.

The undiscovered is primed and waiting to shake your hand. How often have you looked in the mirror the first thing in the morning and said, “Blaagh!” You painted your face, or shaved it, or daubed it with cold water and changed your expression? By so doing you created a different mood.

Don’t allow familiar labels to interfere with fresh impulses. Dare to venture with your ideas and expand your horizons. When your mind wanders pay attention to its direction.
Guard against how often you say, “No.” Replace it with, “Yes, How?”

Experiment and try out things you haven’t done before especially in the field of your interest. Don’t get bogged down with facts. What starts as one premise may change to another that suits you better. It is normal to have outlandish thoughts; everyone does…act on them. Invite Creativity into your life.

When you expose your innermost thoughts the chances are that the most surprised person will be you. Re-arrange facts. Don’t let familiar labels inhibit you. Stretch beyond comfortable bonds. Trust your instincts and look for nuances. Take risks and don’t judge your thoughts.

To nourish your creativity it is important to praise yourself. Positive thinking will bring positive action – we speak too much about our failures.

While the stimulation of people is important, so is time alone to contemplate. Concentrate and pay attention to your innermost thoughts. The desire for change will chart your course to sail the seas of creativity.

Selling Art

There is much written about how to promote and sell books, but very little about art. I have discovered that after writing, illustrating and publishing my book “KEEPING AHEAD OF WINTER-4100 Nautical Miles Inside America” my art became more important. It seems to me the same tactics should work to promote your art.

To sell your work you have to think like a business person. It takes time away from your art but it’s necessary if it’s important for you to earn money.

Have a picture of yourself on your business cards so the recipient you give it to will remember whose card it is and put your web and/or blog address on it. You may even want to put a picture of your best work on the back of the card. Design a website and/or blog. Some say to write in your blog every day. Check other artists' blogs and websites to see what they are doing.

more to come

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