Furthering Your Art Knowledge

Furthering Your Art Knowledge
by Derek C Wicks

One of the most common questions I am asked is ”which instructional dvd should I buy from you?” Of course my initial response is instinctively to say “buy they all”. The truth of the matter is artist should be exposing themselves to as many DIFFERENT influences and styles as they can. My accountant and I would love to be the only source for your artistic influence, but that would only limit your information intake. Workshops are a most in my opinion. The advantage of a workshop is not only are you exposed to the instructing artists knowledge base, but that of the other participants too. I can say with all sincerity that I have learned something new from one of my students every workshop I have run. Workshops give you the opportunity to see things first hand. Such things as touch, consistency, mixtures and brush weight that you can not see from a book or video. Do not get me wrong, my art book library is well over 50 books, but there is no replacement for hands on training. Video is a great second choice. They give you live action instruction which I feel gives you more insight to a technique then trying to learn it from a series of freeze frame photos in a book.

Take as many workshops as you can with as many DIFFERENT instructors as you can find. Expose yourself to different techniques and styles and let experimentation determine if you will incorporate what you have learned into your style. I have taken many different workshops over the years in many different fields. I have participated in workshops on art, photography, business and investment. To this day I actively participate in several workshops or classes every year. the end exposure is the key. Some people are more comfortable with video and learning in the comfort of their own home, others like to read and print is the most effective format. Workshops will always provide the most effective source for hands on learning, but they are not the only source. For those of you interested in my instructional video line, use the “instructional DVD’s” tab in the header graphic on all my main pages.

View all of my blogs online at my wildlife art
website

For help with painting view my art instruction videos .

THE NEED FOR A THICK SKIN

So you have decided to be an artist and you are going to give the world the most perfect piece of art work it has ever seen. There is only one problem with that theory, our perception of perfection is very different from one to another. So now you have put your heart and soul into a piece of work that consumed the better part of a month to create and they do not like it. Devastation! How do you deal with this devastation? Grow a thick skin. Learn to take criticism as well as you take praise. Easier said then done right? Of course it is, but if you want to be a successful artist, professional or amateur, you will need to understand that art is no different then anything else in the world, subject to interpretation. What kind of world would it be if we all liked the same things and had the same tastes. So what do you do if someone criticizes your work, how do you deal with it? With a positive attitude, and an open mind. Sometimes it can be hard to really hear what someone else is saying when it is not what you want to hear. Take it with a grain of salt. Remember in certain instances it is not an issue of your work, but an issue of numbers. What I mean is if you apply to a show and you are not accepted it may not be that they do not like your work it could be that there are only a certain number of spaces and they already have several artist’s with a similar style. Their choice is based on numbers, not the artwork at hand. Criticism is a hard fact and factor of any art form. We ride that roller coaster of emotion and bare our hearts on our sleeves for all to see and hope for their acceptance. From time to time we will not get the response we are looking for or desire. The great thing about art is you can always create a new piece and take a shot at that ‘perfect image’ that everyone loves. Stay positive and most of all believe in yourself. You are your best support system. One who believes in him/herself can achieve their most wondrous dreams. He/She that can not see the potential in themselves has already lost. Be a believer!
- Derek C Wicks

View all of my blogs online at my wildlife art
website

For help with painting view my art instruction videos .