THIS is Why Art is Good for Your Soul!
Feb 14, 2020Someone asked me recently during a Q&A session, "What does it mean to express yourself through art and how do we figure out what we want to express?"
If you’ve ever taken a “Sip and Paint” class, you have seen how each person in the class creates a different painting even though everyone starts with the same picture. It's amazing. I teach the exact same technique, but each of my student's paintings looks different. Why is that? Because part of who you are gets expressed in your painting from day one, no matter who you are or what your experience is. Your experience level, your person, and your personality are present from the beginning.
One of our friends has a really distinct style. She paints little pixelated dots and I don't know where that came from. I don't know if it was something she intentionally thought about doing or if it's her personality coming out in that technique. You discover your unique style over time as you practice painting and sometimes it can take a long time. But when you start discovering your style you can start expressing yourself in different ways with that style.
One of the ways you can express yourself is through your use of color. There are a lot of painters who paint really subdued colors and their work is very realistic. I think that's directly related to their personality, what they see in the world, and what they want to express.
I am someone who likes to use a lot of color. I also like to paint quite loose, with big, gestural brush strokes. This is a reflection of my personality and it's how I like to paint. I painted like that from the very beginning and it's become more appealing to me as time goes by. I don't want to paint small details in a tight way.
But a full expression of yourself might also relate to what subject matter you’re painting. My mom loves children and she loves to paint children, especially her grandchildren! My dad is 80 years old and loves to paint old barns, buildings, boats, tools, logs and anything else that tells a story from the past. This is one way that they express who they are through their art.
I can't tell any artist how they will find their own expression, but I do believe each artist will find it. As you paint more and more you will discover your own style and means of expression. Just keep painting!
Weekly Live Q&A
Every week at Acrylic University we have a variety of events like Q&A's, Live Workshops, Guest Artist Interviews, and Demonstrations. I love to go live and answer questions from our members who come from all over the world! Below you can find a link to our membership. You can also search these articles for helpful, creative insights!
