Art Blog – Kirsty Donald

How to use a sketchbook as a guide for your abstract painting

Feeling lost in abstract art can be a common experience, but it’s also an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. Using a sketchbook to guide your intuition can be a powerful tool in finding your purpose in abstract art. Here are some steps to help you along the way:

Embrace the Uncertainty:

Understand that feeling lost or uncertain in abstract art is normal. It’s a genre that encourages exploration and self-expression without strict rules.

Set Intentions:

Before you start, take a moment to set intentions for your artistic journey. Ask yourself questions like: What do I want to express? What emotions or ideas do I want to convey? What is the message I want to share?

Experiment with Different Materials:

Use a variety of materials in your sketchbook, like pencils, charcoal, ink, watercolours, acrylics, etc. Each medium can evoke different feelings and textures.

Free Your Mind:

Allow yourself to let go of preconceived notions or expectations. Don’t worry about making a “perfect” piece. Instead, focus on the process and the emotions you want to convey.

Practice Mindfulness and Introspection:

Spend some time in a quiet, comfortable space. Close your eyes, take deep breaths, and try to clear your mind. Reflect on your emotions, experiences, and thoughts. This can help you connect with your inner self.

Start with Gestures and Lines:

Begin with loose, flowing gestures and lines on your sketchbook. Let your hand move freely without overthinking. This can help you tap into your subconscious and intuitive thoughts.

Respond to What Appears:

As you make marks on the page, pay attention to what emerges. It could be shapes, textures, or forms that evoke certain feelings or memories. Allow these elements to guide your next steps.

Experiment with Layers and Textures:

Build layers of colours, shapes, and textures. Use different techniques like blending, splattering, or scraping to create depth and interest.

Reflect and Analyze:

Periodically step back and observe your work. Consider what resonates with you and what doesn’t. Reflect on the emotions and thoughts that arise as you look at the piece.

Seek Inspiration and Learning:

Look at the works of other abstract artists. Attend exhibitions, read books, and watch documentaries about abstract art. This can provide fresh perspectives and techniques.

Document Your Journey:

Keep a journal alongside your sketchbook. Write down your thoughts, feelings, and observations about your artistic process. This can be a valuable record of your growth and insights.

Trust the Process:

Remember that finding your purpose in abstract art is a journey. It takes time and patience. Trust yourself and your instincts.

Ultimately, finding your purpose in abstract art is a deeply personal and evolving process. Allow yourself to explore, make mistakes, and learn from your experiences. The most important thing is to enjoy the process of creating and expressing yourself.

The Secret to Art That Resonates

In the quiet spaces of my studio, where the world fades away and only the canvas and I remain, I’ve discovered a secret, an intangible force that breathes life into my creations. It’s the very essence of art-making – the key to crafting works that don’t just hang on walls but resonate with the viewer.

Vulnerability: The Birthplace of Connection

Art isn’t just an expression; it’s a revelation. It’s in those unguarded moments when I let my emotions flow through the brush that something magical happens. The viewer isn’t just seeing a piece of art; they’re witnessing a piece of me as the painter. Vulnerability bridges the gap between the artist and the audience, forming an unspoken bond.

Universal Language: Emotions Unveiled

The beauty of art lies in its universality. It’s a language that transcends spoken words, a silent conversation between souls. By channelling these universal emotions, I create pieces that speak to something deep within us all.

Mastery: The Hand that Guides the Heart

The technique is the silent conductor, harmonizing with the emotions that flow. It’s the marriage of skill and intuition. Through years of practice and endless exploration, I’ve used my craft to create my vision.

Courageous Innovation: Pushing Boundaries, Defying Norms

Art isn’t static; it’s a living, breathing entity. To truly connect, I’ve learned to embrace the unknown. It’s about pushing boundaries, experimenting with unconventional mediums, and defying the constraints of convention. Innovation breathes life into my work, inviting viewers to see the world through a fresh lens.

The Dance of Intuition and Craftsmanship

In every piece, there’s a dance – a delicate balance between instinct and expertise. It’s where intuition meets technique, where vulnerability intertwines with mastery. It’s an invitation extended to the viewer, a quiet whisper that says, “Come, share this moment with me.”

Ultimately, the secret to creating art that connects isn’t confined to any canvas or medium. It’s a journey of self-discovery, a dance with the intangible, a language spoken from the heart. It’s about embracing vulnerability, channelling universal truths, mastering the tools of the trade, and fearlessly venturing into uncharted territories.

So, as you stand before a piece of art, remember that it’s not just pigment and canvas; if you listen closely, you might just hear the heartbeat of the creator echoing through the strokes and colours. This is the secret to crafting art that connects.

How to draw inspiration from your surroundings to create your art

Drawing inspiration from your surroundings is a great way to create art that is both unique and meaningful. By taking inspiration from the world around you, you can create art that reflects your experiences, your emotions, and your perspective on life. Here are some tips on how to draw on your surroundings to create your art:

Observe your surroundings: The first step in drawing on your surroundings is to observe them closely. Take a walk around your neighbourhood, visit a park or museum, or simply sit outside and observe the world around you. Pay attention to the colours, shapes, textures, and patterns that you see.

Take photos: Once you have observed your surroundings, take photos of the things that inspire you. This could be a beautiful flower, an interesting building, or a unique piece of street art. These photos will serve as a reference for your artwork.

Sketch and experiment: Use your photos as a guide to create sketches and experiment with different styles and techniques. Don’t worry about making mistakes or creating a finished piece of art. The goal is to explore your surroundings and let your creativity flow.

Use unconventional materials: Another way to draw on your surroundings is to use unconventional materials in your art. For example, you could create a collage using leaves, flowers, and other natural materials. Or, you could use recycled materials to create a sculpture or installation.

Embrace imperfection: Finally, remember that art doesn’t have to be perfect. Embrace imperfection and let your art reflect the beauty and complexity of the world around you.

Drawing on your surroundings is a great way to create art that is both unique and meaningful. By observing your surroundings, taking photos, experimenting with different styles and techniques, using unconventional materials, and embracing imperfection, you can create art that reflects your experiences, your emotions, and your perspective on life.

Contemporary Landscape Art: Exploring the Beauty of the Natural World

Landscape art has been a popular subject throughout art history, with many famous artists such as Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, and Georgia O’Keeffe capturing the beauty of the natural world in their works. Today, contemporary landscape artists continue to push the boundaries of this genre, exploring new techniques and perspectives to capture the ever-changing landscapes of our world.

Contemporary landscape art is not just about painting beautiful scenery; it is also about capturing the essence of the natural world and the emotional response it evokes in the viewer. The works of contemporary landscape artists often focus on the impact of human intervention on the environment, highlighting the importance of preserving our planet for future generations.

One contemporary landscape artist who embodies these ideals is Anselm Kiefer. Kiefer’s works are known for their grand scale and use of unconventional materials, such as lead, straw, and ash. His landscapes are often desolate and haunting, depicting a world that has been scarred by human intervention. Kiefer’s works challenge us to consider the impact of our actions on the environment and to take steps towards preserving our planet.

Anselm Kiefer,Lichtung (Clearing), 2015. Oil, emulsion, acrylic, shellac, silver sheets, iron wire and burnt books. 280 x 570 x 40 cm. © Anselm Kiefer Photo © Georges Poncet.

Another contemporary landscape artist who explores the relationship between humanity and the natural world is Maya Lin. Lin’s works often focus on the intersection of art, architecture, and the environment. Her installations, such as her “Wave Field” project, which consists of a series of undulating mounds of earth, are designed to highlight the beauty of the natural world and inspire viewers to consider their place in it.

The Wave Field, 1995. Francois Xavier Bagnoud Aerospace Engineering Building, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. 105ft x 80ft x 3ft tall (10,000 sq. ft). Photography: Balthazar Korab

In addition to these two artists, there are many other contemporary landscape artists whose works are worth exploring. For example, David Hockney’s vibrant and colourful paintings of the English countryside capture the beauty of nature in a way that is both timeless and modern. Julie Mehretu’s abstract works are inspired by landscapes and explore the relationship between natural and built environments.

Road and Cornfields. East Yorkshire from “Midsummer: East Yorkshire”, 2004. Watercolour on paper. 15 x 22 1/2″. The David Hockney Foundation.

Contemporary landscape art is not just about capturing the beauty of the natural world; it is also about raising awareness of the fragility of our planet and the impact of human intervention on the environment. By exploring new techniques and perspectives, contemporary landscape artists are helping to inspire a new generation of artists and viewers to consider their place in the natural world and the importance of preserving it for future generations.

How to move beyond perfectionism to find your creativity

You’re sitting in front of your painting, and it’s just not feeling right, and then that dreaded defeated feeling creeps up, that deep-seated worry, and you think, ‘maybe it’s not good enough’.

Learning how to create without fear is so important. It gives you the freedom to explore without the focus being on the end result. But where to begin?

What if there are no mistakes?

For me, it was learning to accept the mistakes I was making, that with every piece I am learning, developing my style and skill, and in this process, acknowledging that it’s ok if I’m still finding my way.

This section felt flat in this painting, so I added some movement with charcoal. It felt like a mistake at first, but it made this section of the painting less flat and reflected the marks in the landscape.

Mistakes can be magic

The mistakes we make can often make the painting work, that little bit of magic we didn’t anticipate happening. The ink may have flowed or splattered; the paint gave an uneven texture, and the palette knife made a bolder mark than you expected. These ‘mistakes’ can all add to your work, and you’ll begin to learn which mistakes you want to keep.

This section of black really dominated this area in the painting and drew too much focus. Using a palette knife, I pulled across this blue, hoping for an even texture, but actually, I much prefer the broke look of the paint, which reveals the layers of colour below.

Creative editing

Editing doesn’t mean getting the gesso out and starting all over again. Step back and evaluate what works in your painting before painting over anything. Make a mental note, or keep a studio journal with a photo of your artwork and really assess your painting:

What do you like about it?
What sections work? Is the composition balanced?
How were you working when things were going well?
How are you going to develop this practice?

Towards the end of making this painting, I decided that the white path looked flat and needed more interest as a focus in the painting. I used a light shade of grey t give a better impression of the stone slabs. This gave it a more natural look rather than being so stark.

Painting with honesty

Mistakes, imperfections and flaws are all parts of what make us human and connect us with others. As artists, we put what we see on paper or canvas and learn to do it without censoring ourselves; we express our honest interpretation of what we see and experience.

Perfectionism keeps us from expressing ourselves freely, and it’s this freedom and energy that makes a painting. When you let go, you’ll develop so much more as a painter and really find your voice through the paint.