Time to Get Serious

The union oyster house Boston 11 x 14 cold press watercolors by Matthew Mc

After several weeks of World Watercolor Month #worldwatercolormonth, it’s time to get serious about painting. Now…don’t get me wrong, I’ve been very serious and taken my time and done my best on many of my paintings, but…

When I see a painting like this, The Union Oyster House, by Matthew Mc I realize I still have a long way to go when it comes to composition, value, and color in my work. As I mentioned in my post Quantity-Quality-Or Both, I’ve been pumping out a quantity of art, especially this month, to practice and learn but once this month is over I’ll need to concentrate on quality.

Fly Fishing in the Yellowstone

Artists can be their own worst enemies when it comes to critiquing their work and I’m no different. I have, however, learned that Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is artistic talent. Like all learning we have ups and downs, twists and curves that we must negotiate in our journey because art isn’t a destination it’s a journey…like life.

An example of what I mean is my Fly Fishing in the Yellowstone painting. I am very pleased with the composition of the painting. The fisherman isn’t quite on center and mountains in the background give some depth. I feel, however, the colors and values are a bit flat. I’d like to have added more color and more lights and shadows.

It’s Time to Get Serious

By getting serious I mean it’s time to take the art to the next level and that will mean taking a course on composition, value, and color. At this point I’m not sure where or when exactly or who I’ll take it from but the internet is a vast place and if it’s out there, I’ll find it.

So now I roll up my sleeves, jump on YouTube and check out my many subscriptions and I’m sure I’ll find what I’m looking for. While I’m looking, go make some art!

 

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