The Palette Within
Originally published in The Palette Magazine April 2005
Have you ever wondered if or when you’ll be “good enough” to create art that really pleases you? Do you ever find yourself artistically stuck – jumping between different styles or techniques unable to figure out what and how you really want to paint? Do you find yourself wanting to be like every good artist you’ve seen, and then realize that you have no real idea of who you are as an artist?
As artists we can become so caught up in consuming knowledge, accumulating more and more in the way of skills and techniques that we can forget what we are truly about. We are creators. At a time when citizens are regularly referred to as “consumers” and “retail therapy” has become the norm, we stand apart as creators. Before you pick up another brush think about this. Your images may be decorative, transcendent, naïve, poetic, strong, weak, ugly, beautiful, mundane, unforgettable, good, bad or somewhere in between. Regardless of your own and others judgment of your work, remember that out of paint and paper and through the movements of your body you create something material from thought and sensation. Nurturing your process of painting ensures your creativity will continue to evolve and that the art you create will be true to you.
You’re reading this magazine because you intend to
improve your painting. Attention to craft is noble, but beware
of holding yourself to standards that may have nothing to do
with your life and skills. Many times adult art students
despair of ever living long enough to get “good
enough”. The thing to remember is that every time you
pick up your brush your palette is not limited to the colors in
front of you and the techniques you’ve mastered. Your
palette includes your lifetime of experience.
We’ve all seen amazing drawings and paintings by young
children. Beautiful colors and design flow easily from a child
unencumbered with limitations. Even if your
childhood ended decades ago, you
can still rediscover the open mind that comes naturally to a
young child. Think like a child, (albeit a very experienced
child) and disconnect your limitations. You’ll naturally
reconnect your creativity, resulting in art that emanates from
the palette within you – the unique combination of life
experiences and art skills only you have.
Here’s a few tips to get you started and then keep you connected to your palette within:
• Watch your thoughts.
Replace any negative or limiting thoughts with something
positive or nothing at all. Do whatever it takes for you to
develop a quiet and open mind.
• Practice your process.
Every day take five to fifteen minutes and draw or paint
something. This can be a new piece every day or a
continuation of prior work.
• Remember that technique follows your
creativity.
Learning new techniques can trigger a fresh surge of
enthusiasm and creativity within you. Use this energy as
a way to reach new creative heights. After you learn a new
technique “forget” it. Trust that your mind
will remember the techniques you’ve learned when you need
them. This will ensure that you don’t get so caught
up in the mechanical aspects of painting that you neglect the
creative process.
• Smile when you paint!
You’ll look better, you’ll probably feel better,
and you may even paint better!
It’s Never Too Late to Begin
The artist Elizabeth Layton
didn’t began painting and drawing until she was 68 years
old. From that time until her death in 1993 at age 84, she
produced a body of art that continues to be displayed and
collected in public and private collections nationwide,
including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Research
her work online and you’ll see how she combined the
simple technique of contour drawing with a life palette of rich
experiences to create powerfully moving art.
About the Artist
Cristina Acosta is the author of Paint Happy! (Northlight Books,
©2002, ©2004) and a contributor to many national
magazines. An artist, writer, home décor designer
and color consultant, she loves
the process of creating art in a variety of mediums while
remembering to smile. See the Paint
Happy exhibit and you'll smile too. Cristina is a
contributor to a variety of home décor magazines. Contact Cristina, she loves to hear
from artists sharing their inspiration.
