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The advantages of working on a series!
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Message
Posted
I have also taken to painting as a series but currently of only four! There’s always the possibility to do more later, but it does make you plan and observe differently. I’m looking forward to following Alan’s castles and other old buildings. Our group have a paint out morning at Chastleton House , National Trust building and gardens on Thursday, weather permitting, so looking forward to that kick starting me!
Posted
I’ve done lots of local River Mole paintings, mostly of about three or four different views, but I always try to vary them each time. I’d never thought of them as a series, but looking back, I suppose they are. (I’d do another each time one was sold - my local framing gallery is just up the road from the river and local river scenes were always very popular.) It’s a challenge to produce something different each time - so far I’ve used various mediums/styles including ink resist, watercolour, monochrome, Neocolour II water soluble wax pastels, acrylic ink, fibre tip pen, Lino cuts and tissue paper.
Edited
by Jenny Harris
Posted
Sometimes a painting will start you off on a series - views around the village, local coastal scenes, portraits…in fact, to an extent, one painting does lead on to another for me. Even if I choose a different topic I think there’s often a connection or association which takes you further. Long may it last - the enthusiasm and interest ( even if, at times, we all suffer painting block).
Posted
I think it's a good idea to work on a series and might give it a go myself at some point. Your knowledge of the subject matter and different ways to interpret it as you go along should improve the outcomes I would think. Yes, I definitely might have to think about a subject and take a leaf out of your book Alan.
Posted
I can only admire the work ethic involved. I wish I could share it, but at the moment I seem to have lost interest in art. I haven't done anything for nearly two weeks, and remain uninterested. This is unusual for me but not new. Usually after a while, the urge to make pictures returns. I doubt that will happen until the current heat wave passes. I've been doing things, mostly in the garden and small jobs about the house. Perhaps some form of series will be the answer, when I can think of something to get me going.
Posted
It’s not an uncommon occurrence Lew, I went for nearly three months a short while ago - there’s no reason for it, and certainly in my case, no answer!
But fortunately the urge to paint and draw always returns, art and creativity runs through my veins…
As I recall, you were on a roll recently when you were illustrating your friend’s short story!
So that tells you something I suppose, a goal to work towards.
A series/theme etc could well help you, my recent Dockland drawings helped to kick start my enthusiasm again, I set a target of 20 drawings, I believe that I surpassed that number.
I’ve got several excellent fans blasting away in my studio, so hopefully I’ll still be able to concentrate - they’re long days if you don’t have anything to occupy your time, and depression can quickly set in…
Posted
Yes, I have a similar experience with series, I just call it something different: for me, they're in-depth exercises in a specific theme that interests me at the time – and then I automatically paint the same theme over and over again for days or weeks until I realize: that's it, I've got it, okay. That could be 10 rose paintings, or numerous motifs with bokeh effects... I do the same thing with cooking, by the way: if I get a craving for cheesecake (the German sweet version), I can bake cheesecake for days until it's finally (for me) perfect. Then I'm done... or ask me how long I had to practice until I could make a delicious Italian risotto... my neighbors were happy about the excess cheesecake too :)
@Lewis: Yes, I know that total disinterest too; I think it's simply the breaths of art that need to "rest" to regenerate and develop new ideas... we're not machines, after all, most of us... ;) it just need to trust it self a little; everything has its purpose....
haha:) 🤣😁
Posted
I feel it’s good to have a break at times. I keep a list of projects or challenges if you like at hand so I can never say what can I paint or draw now. The idea is to enjoy your art not slave at it. I am quite constant at art making though as I love paints and brushes, pencils and paper, you can’t beat it. 🎨🤗