Last week while teaching classes in Vermont I talked a lot about practicing and I realized I needed to bring this talk to all my students. I have come to realization that many student artists don't just sit down and practice. What I mean about practicing is to work out some new effects or try out a new paper or brush before you actually do the effect or use the brush
or paint on an actual work of art.
It is very strange to me that with many professions, for instance sports or in music or when there is something that you are learning that is physically done, these people tend to practice what they do before they ever try to achieve the finished product. People in sports before a game practice and even warm up before a game. Musicians practice and warm up before a gig. Business people and teachers prepare and
practice a speech or a presentation and teachers prepare lesson plans all before actually doing what they planned for. So why is it that artists don't practice or plan before they jump into a work of art.
In all my workshops I now have students practice what we will be painting before we get into the actual painting. This way they know exactly what to expect when we start painting.
Pictured Below are some of the practice sheets we did in the
classes before we started on our paintings. I usually have them work on 300lb paper so one side is for practicing while the other side is for the actual painting.
Always make sure when you are practicing to use the same materials that you will be using when doing the actual painting. Many students think they should use the cheap paper when practicing because they feel they are wasting paper. It doesn't make sense to use different paper to practice on because it may handle different from
the paper you do your finished work on.
Always have a scrap sheet of paper next to you that is the same as what you are painting on when creating a painting. There are many times I need to do a brush stroke before I get to the actual painting so I keep a scrap sheet of paper next to the painting that reminds me that I should try it first there and then on the actual painting.
Brushes, paper and mediums all never come with instructions
so this is a good reason you have to practice with these tools and surfaces and mediums. Get a feel of the tools and surfaces and surfaces so you are comfortable with handling them in a professional manner, it will help you so much when working on a creation.
