every time i do a stint of digital colouring i go through a shake up!
it makes me question why i'm doing it, what i'm trying to achieve that i can't achieve with non~digital work. and what is it i'm trying to do with my non~digital work again??
i left it alone for a bit and found these leaves from the real world {they've been a source of inspiration many times} and got out the gouache and markers and did some drawing by hand! i did put them together digitally and painted the red in photoshop in the last image. the little ones are gouache on chalk board paint.
i get a feeling that my work is going in many directions at the same time, which is exciting but also comes with a weird sense of guilt! not entirely sure where that comes from, but it could have something to do with thoughts/theories that come from having an online shop and 'branding' {kind of the opposite of free art~making}, the pull between graphic design {the past} and fine art {my real passion} and what i should be doing . . . eeeek, the pressure!!
do you ever tie yourself up in these kinds of knots about your work?? does it always come before a calm, resolved feeling?? {fingers crossed}.
happy creative space day! pop into kirsty's for more spaces.
ps. thanks for the kind thoughts/comments on the last post + thanks to everyone who has subscribed and entered the giveaway :)
22 comments:
I am always amazed by how much work and effort, skill and talent goes into making digital images. I would have no idea where to begin, Belinda! You are an inspiration.
This is just divine, Belinda. Those branches are so beautiful. I do know what you mean - it is a constant tussle between all those forces and then there's family and other ingredients that shake up the soup... put it all in the blender and you get the creative mind! :)) I read somewhere a great piece about being true to yourself - experiment, try new things, shake it all up and use the bits that speak to you. The computer is just another tool for expressing your ideas - it is not the creative force, you control it :) Have fun playing! Kx
I so know what you mean about being pulled in different directions. I think it helps not to over-think it too much and just let things take their course to a certain extent.
Lovely print btw. Love the tones in the gouache that you just can't get with digital work.
love! love!
So beautiful and inspiring, I often get perplexed with what I should be 'pumping out' for the brand/shop and what I should be doing to keep creatively sane.
there's always insanity and frustration before the calm and resolve for me. they go hand in hand. i certainly understand the feeling! it's the single most frustrating thing in the world when you're in the middle of it and very hard to see the end of the tunnel until the brilliance decides to grace you with its presence. i think you're well on your way - i absolutely love this image!
these are faaaaaab :)
I know what you mean about feeling guilty...I so admire artists who can maintain a laser focus in their work and every piece goes perfectly with every other piece. but I'm more of a go-back-and-forth, try-different-media kind of artist. in my head, it all goes together thematically and I hope that comes through to the viewer.
incidentally, my digital pieces lately have been all about transparency and layers playing off one another in a way that's not possible with scissors-and-paper collages. I guess I think there's no wrong way if you like what you're doing :)
Oh, yes. And that is exactly why I love this creative community, because they help gently kick me in the pants to keep going despite all the inner turmoil!
I'm really loving doing my digital illustrations, but I do feel almost a sense of guilt for not doing it "by hand." I read something recently, though, that said, essentially, "Drawing is still drawing, whether you do it with a pencil or the computer. You still have to be able to make the art, whatever tool you use." Oh. Huh. :)
well i think everything you do is just beautiful, and I know I couldn't do any of it
I guess I agree with gretchen, you are an artist, the process is immaterial, so to speak
It's good to try out new things and it doesn't matter which medium you use, it is still a creation of you, Belinda! I love the branches and showing us your source of inspiration and how it turned out! Fabulous!
It is all just beautiful.
My brain is constantly questioning and agonising over everything I make and do and the thing I love about blogland is how normal it makes me feel.
That last piece is just the most gorgeous art work I have seen for quite some time. I hope you find some calm and peace soon.
This sounds awfully familiar to me. The knots I mean..I find myself to be a prisoner of this chain of thoughts many times.
As an artist you want to make art, free art, that's the reason for choosing this life after all. But at the same time you don't want your art to be stacked somewhere on the addict or cellar. You want it more than anything hanging on someone’s wall, making some one happy when looking at it. That’s part of the magic of creating.
So inevitably you find yourself in the spider web of finding a balance between commercialization (branding your work)and following your heart. How does one keep oneself from paralyzing while thinking these things through. This what I ask myself many times...
By the way i forgot to mention i really love the branches and the red squares are a delight.
i find the creative knots to br frustrating but productive as they tend to lead you down new paths. some paths end up being dead ends of course but some lead to a magical place. i love the branches with the red square belinda....keep rockin' the boat : )
beth
I have been feeling the same way lately, pulled in many directions and wanting to experiment with new techniques. I feel like if I could just put all of my effort in one direction that maybe it would take me somewhere, but it wouldn't feel right to ignore all other inspiration.
I love the leaves, the photographs, the drawings, and how you mixed drawing and digital together. I love how you have three versions of the same idea here, it's really amazing!
I love seeing the inspiration and then the actual work! Lovely piece! ;)
thanks for all the feedback and thoughts here ~ such an interesting discussion :)
Love the little red squares which compliments with the green :) I didn't thought of any reason why am I using digital instead of traditional painting technique or what I can't achieve with traditional method. But I guess that is really a question that makes a blow in my head :D
oh ! this is beautiful!
I guess having been a graphic designer and being used to digital, it is easy to come back to what you've known for a long time. The mistakes we make with computer are always reversible as the ones we make with paint are more difficult to repair. Personally, I don't see any arm using a computer. You might want to use it as a fantastic sketch tool...
Love the delicate leaves with the red squares, Belinda. So fresh!!
Ha! I know where you're coming from. I'm doing deer in headlights for similar reasons - and sticking to therapy knitting while I mull over that particular Question.
If it means anything at all, from the outside, everything Gretchenmist is sitting in a perfect harmony.
always divided; business and art making seem to be mutually exclusive and I too feel confused. In business you need to plan and budget and forecast and create or fill a need, be consistent and organised... which just seems to be the antithesis of creating naturally and intuitively. Cripes my head is in a whirl bout it all :-)
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