Welcome to the edition #22 of the Art Missive! We are 3,124😈 in this
newsletter. Whether you have been here from the beginning or you have just
arrived, thank you so much for reading ❤.
I have finally started to
decorate my studio. I know I was supposed to do that two months ago but life
has been busy. Now, being surrounded by many inspiration helps my creative
ideas flow.
In this Art Missive
⌛ Reading time : 3 minutes
👉 Actionnability: immediately actionable
💪 Goals:
Find your own art style
Level up your art skills
Get inspire
“Steal like an artist”
Once I realized how important this concept was, my art took a huge leap
forward.
As artists, we often idealize the notion of creating everything solely from our
imagination. However, the reality is that even the most extraordinary artists
have elevated their craft by stealing from others.
But in art, stealing is not what you think.
Studying the work of other artists is a vital component of artistic growth. By
examining what makes their art captivating, we can uncover valuable insights.
It doesn't mean directly copying or plagiarizing their work, but rather
studying and analyzing what makes their art successful and incorporating
precise elements into your own unique style.
It's about being influenced by others, adapting their ideas to your own
creative process, and using them as a stepping stone to develop your own
artistic voice.
Over time, you will develop a patchwork of influences that you have absorbed,
constituting what people will call your unique style. .
In the edition #22 of the Art Missive, I share with you 3 artists I
have stolen from.
I discover Elizmill 3 years ago when I first started an Instagram account. What
striked me the most about her beautiful artworks is the dynamis fo here lines.
I closely studied several of her drawings, focusing on understanding the
secrets behind her clean and expressive lines. I even redrew parts of her work
when I couldn't grasp the subtleties hidden within.
👉 Lessons I learned: line variation.
By studying her work, I gained insights into how to vary my lines for a more
nuanced and dynamic effect. I noticed that she used thicker and darker lines to
draw attention to certain areas or create shadows. On the contrary, lighter and
thinner lines were employed to suggest shapes without overpowering them.
Polina Bright is renowned for her clean and symmetrical portraits. Her Reels
and YouTube videos often showcase a calm and peaceful artistic process. She
doesn't rush through her artwork.
I learned a great deal from her approach.
I watched numerous Reels and YouTube videos by Polina Bright, repeatedly, and
here what I learned:
👉 Lessons I stole: smooth process
What I observed was that she uses simple lines, focusing on maintaining a
steady and harmonious brushstroke. By studying her process, I identified the
main steps:
1️⃣ Establishing proportion with basic shapes
2️⃣ Defining the design and adding details.
3️⃣ Partially erasing with a kneaded eraser and building powerful linework on
the erased lines.
4️⃣ Creating shadows and light through multiple layers of hatching.
Since then, I have incorporated the exact same process into my own drawings.
Jennyfer Healy's portraits are truly impressive, carrying powerful meaning and
storytelling within them. I have learned many valuable lessons by studying her
work:
1️⃣ Drawing hair. OBy observing how she draws hair, I realized
that I shouldn't attempt to depict every single hair strand. On the contrary, I
should avoid being too vague about the haircut. Jennifer Healy creates a
comprehensive and meaningful appearance of hair by using chunky strokes. She
carefully designs each chunk of hair to achieve a beautiful, flowing, and
dynamic rendering.
2️⃣ Drawing the nose. I compared many of her nose drawings
with reference pictures to understand how she reproduces them so effectively
with a touch of stylization. From that, I grasped the different parts that
compose a nose. I also learned that drawing a nose realistically isn't
necessary, and simplifying the different shapes of the nose can lead to
accuracy and interesting stylization.
3️⃣ Composition: When I find myself unsure about how to
arrange various elements in my portraits, I often turn to Jennyfer Healy's work
to study her compositions. I consistently notice her affinity for symmetry, yet
she manages to maintain an organic feel. She places focal points in the center
while arranging storytelling elements around the face. She frequently uses the
hair to link all the elements together and create a harmonious composition.
When I’m creating, I often come back to her portraits to understand how she
solved some problematic I might encounter. I don’t replicate her solution, but
I adapt it to my own process, which makes me save a lot of time.
Tips to steal like an artist
👉 TIP 1: Do it properly, even if it takes time! Allow
yourself the time to truly learn and understand. It can be tempting to rush
through the process and simply replicate what other artists do. However, this
approach is more akin to theft rather than the artistic practice of stealing.
To steal like an artist, you need to invest time in studying other artists and
comprehending the underlying lessons that you can adapt to your own unique art
style. Patience and dedication are key to truly benefit from this process.
👉 TIP 2: Don't hesitate to reproduce the art you admire. When
studying other artists, it's possible that simply observing their artwork won't
provide you with all the answers you seek. In such cases, it can be beneficial
to reproduce certain parts of their work as faithfully as possible to truly
grasp what makes it unique and special. By engaging in this process, you can
gain deeper insights and understanding into their artistic techniques and
concepts. Just remember to approach reproduction with the intention of learning
and exploring, rather than claiming the work as your own.
👉 TIP 3: Implement what you've learned immediately. When you
discover new insights and techniques from other artists, it's important to put
them into practice right away. Delaying implementation can lead to losing
momentum and potentially forgetting or overlooking valuable lessons.
Now, you have everything you need to start stealing like an artist and bring
your art to another level!
1️⃣ Choose an artist whom you admire and resonate with.
2️⃣ Identify a specific element or aspect in their artwork that captivates you.
3️⃣ Study their artwork, focusing on this particular element and examining it
in detail. Take the time you need to do so!
4️⃣ Incorporate the lessons you learn from this artist into your own creative
process, creating a new artwork that reflects your unique interpretation and
style.
5️⃣ Share this artwork with the world!
Next week’s special event
Next week, I'm excited to announce a special event in the Art Missive called
"An Evening by the Fire”. This event aims to create a sense of belonging and
unity among our community of artists.
I want you to feel that you are part of a tribe, a gathering of like-minded
individuals who share a passion for being an artist.
To do so, I will be hosting the event in next Monday’s Art Missive where you’ll
be able to personal stories from other artists. Imagine sitting by the fire,
sharing heartfelt experiences and connecting.
I invite you to share your own art story. I will be collecting these stories
and selecting the ones that resonate the most the goal of the event.
The chosen storytellers will have their personal stories and Instagram Art
Account showcased to give them an opportunity their inspiration with others.
If you're interested in sharing your art story with the Demon community, simply
complete the survey 👉 Complete the Google
Form
I can't wait to read your fascinating stories and share them with everyone in
our next edition.
Let's gather together next week, where you'll have the chance to read inspiring
stories from fellow artists and feel the warmth of our creative community.
|