Painting and Drawing the Same Subject
If you’ve noticed my body of work over the past year or so, you’ll notice that much of my work is of the same subject or subjects. Perhaps you ask yourself why Keith concentrates on one or another subject rather than trying new things…well, that’s what this article is about.
They say “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” and in some ways we artists are, in fact, trying to imitate what we see made either by the hand of God or the hand of man. Artists take what we see, process that image through the filter of our lifetime experience, then attempt to imitate what we see in our mind’s eye.
Think, for example, how planes and automobiles today are not the same as they were in say 1917. Ford, Curtis, Buick, and Wright may have been early innovators, but by imitating their inventions then improving on them we have the Teslas and Boeing 777s of today.
Repetition and Imitation
My art is made up of pencil drawings, charcoal sketches, pen & ink sketches, and watercolor wash. In my garlic series, I have drawn garlic with a pencil, and charcoal. I have sketched in the garlic with pen & ink then added wash. I have used different pigments of watercolor, and I have even used espresso and wine as washes. Again, all of the same subjects: garlic.
I read an article not too long ago about an art professor in California who had his students paint the same subject something like 50 times during the semester. This is where I insert an “OMG” emoji!
The professor uses this method to help artist find their individual styles. Let’s face it. After you paint or sketch the same thing about twenty times or so you’ll get pretty bored, but it’s at this point that students start experimenting with color, value, and expression. It’s at this point where struggling artists begin to find their “voice”.
And That’s Why I Keep Painting and Drawing the Same Subject
When I take a class or find a method or technique I like, I will practice that technique, over and over. One example is with the atmospheric painting I stumbled upon last year. I did quite a few of these at different sizes for weeks then moved on to another technique. That being said, I still go back and do an atmospheric painting now and then.
Recently I have been working on adding sunrises and sunsets to my paintings which means combining what I’ve learned in atmospherics with new colors and lifting techniques. To that end, I’ll continue to work on my lights and atmospheres even while popping back and forth to an occasional sunflower or garlic painting.
There you have it. Now you know why you’ll see me paint or draw the same subject time after time. I’m developing my “voice”, I’m building muscle memory, and I’m improving my craft, one day at a time.
Now go make some art!