Inspired by Lee Gordon Seebach's post "Jumpin' Jack Dry Wash"
Beyond his craftsmanship and dedication, Lee (aka @chessmonster) consistently takes us a step further by sharing his knowledge - his process. His video shares the painstaking exercise which he follows to create a fine piece - from a photograph he took after a walk in nature to find his subject, to a value study in black and white, to studies in color - all before he begins painting his final piece in watercolor!
I'll take all the knowledge bombs I can get
I don't have the knowledge or years of experience that many resident Steemit artists have but I have a thirst for knowledge and sincerely want to be a better artist.
Patience & Practice
Drawing and painting is a creative outlet for me that I never knew existed before I joined Steemit. So many fine artists and illustrators openly share what materials they use, give tutorials and little knowledge bombs and I am thankful for all of it.
The Lotus Flower and The Sun
The idea of this piece came to me when I found out my husband's cousin recently got married. I am so happy that she is finally in a good place with a good guy that I wanted to gift them with a painting symbolizing an embrace of sorts - and nurturing.
And then I watched Lee's video
My initial thought was: This has special meaning. I want to take my time with this piece and do it right .
It took two days to go from initial idea to sketch to tracing in marker. In @chessmonster's video, he creates a value study in black and white.
As I looked at my drawing I tried to imagine it's background, the different shades and how to create the details in paint.
I realized my sketch is not the final piece but my value study in black and white.
So here I am thinking about the next step.
Will I have the patience to practice this piece in watercolor and acrylic -- and possibly multimedia?
Which will have the closest result to the image forming in my imagination?
Will it be good enough to gift?
And then I saw this quote, which may seem off topic but it's not, I promise you:
"Science is not about control.
- Richard Powers
It is about cultivating a perpetual condition of wonder
in the face of something that forever grows one step richer
and subtler than our latest theory about it.
It is about reverence, not mastery."
It's about reverence not mastery!
HUZZAH!
I know in my heart I will never consider myself a master of anything but I will always have wonder and take steps to make my life richer. There is a humbleness to that and most definitely reverence for life... and art.
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