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I painted with a tutor for many years as a serious-hobby watercolourist while I continued to work in my corporate career.

The great thing was, I would turn up to art class and she would have the subject all prepared for us: real-life objects, photographs, magazines, warm-up materials and ideas. We would have a big discussion about the subject and view it from several perspectives - she did a tonne of research and put many hours of thought into every session - how grateful I am!!

Although this was a fantastic resource at the time, this reliance became a burden I was not aware of. I found I could make time to paint but when I actually got to my studio time, I HAD NOTHING TO PAINT! I was so reliant on someone else providing my subject that I didn’t know what to do to sort myself out. I hadn’t given time to subject selection so I would be completely stumped!! Now I know why artists spend time drawing and painting their own hands and feet – because they’re there and they’re handy!!

This ‘problem‘ hit me again later when I studied with another tutor who had a completely different style. I was on my own having to bring my own subject matter. I had no-one to rely on but me … this was how ‘writer’s block‘ came about, I had nothing to paint but I did have my painting gear right in front of me, lol!!

HOMEWORK:

1. If you really are stuck for time and the provision of inspiration from your tutor is imperative, make sure you get plenty of resource material (photos, notes etc) to take home with you and develop this subject into a series of artworks.
2. Schedule time for researching: read magazines of your chosen subject; research online; spend time out in the field with your camera and drawing gear. Cut out images from magazines and newspapers that feed your creativity, it might be colours or styles that attract your attention, keep them in folders with clear pockets, flick thru them from time to time to get inspired!
3. Always carry a sketchbook and pencil and draw everyday. Don’t wait for your subject to appear, draw and paint whatever presents itself to you, every subject you draw and paint prepares you for your next artwork.

The more I look for subjects the sooner they appear. The more I paint the more ideas I get.

have fun!!
cheers
Amanda


www.amandabrett.net
​

​"I keep wanting to get photos of those sheds, but always seems to be wrong time of day,  wrong tide or wrong weather for stopping. Or... we use the road on the other side of the estuary!"

This is what happens if you paint photo realism or you are too dependent on photos - you're probably sunk because you are waiting for ideas to happen.

Ideas don't just happen - artists, scientists, engineers, poets, musicians MAKE IDEAS HAPPEN.

We don't have time to wait.

The ugly truth? No matter how long you wait, you will never get your perceived "perfect photo"
the weather will be crap, the light will be wrong - whatever! This is really just another form of procrastination.

There's 2 solutions:

1. stop and paint or sketch anyway
2. take the crappy photos when you are there - from 50 angles, zoom in, zoom out - what we really need is resources and reference shapes. 

Set your camera to hi-res.
when you get your horrible photos home, pick out the ones with the stuff you need and start doodling and sketching on a big sheet of paper.

make lists. Sketching is an idea generator.

HOMEWORK:

1. Always have your camera and sketchbook with you, see my tool list for sketching out
2. Plan your next possie to stop and sketch, make sure you are comfortable.
3. What did you notice? What did you discover about yourself? What did you learn?

ciao cari pittori xx