An artist is a guide who makes drawing marks grow and paintings flow

“An Artist Is A Guide Who Makes Drawing Marks Grow And Paintings Flow”

By Michael Dale

I recently discovered a book by Nita Engle called “How To Make A Watercolor Paint Itself”

It seems a strange title. It seems even stranger to claim that a painting can paint itself. It sounds crazy…

“How can a painting paint itself?”

This is what all artists want to discover in their search for art perfection. And, for the best artists, the claim could seem to be true with their skill and knowledge making every brushstroke look so easy.

However, what lies behind all good art is one stark fact… that it can only be created from an artist’s deep knowledge of what art materials can do…

“It is from the years of continuous painting and practice that gives a top artist the confidence to produce a masterpiece”

By being prepared for failure an artist will experiment with art materials. And, in that experimentation there will be surprises… at times the paint will do something extraordinary. This is what you should be looking for when you draw and paint…

“You should be looking for surprises that you can learn from”

And, when you can reproduce the effect you can use it as a painting and drawing technique. This unique skill in getting your chosen art medium to work for you will set your art apart from other artists. When you are painting…

Let your watercolors flood and flow
Allow your oils to build texture and body
Make your pastels become creamy and fluid
Trust your acrylics to do amazing things

And, when you are drawing…

Use the earthiness of chalks
Shape your charcoal with finger and eraser
With brush or pen encourage inks to build your images
Exploit the benefits a simple pencil gives you to generate your ideas.

Practice painting and drawing with your favorite art materials. Let them become your familiar art friends. Get to know them well and when you ask them to help you draw and paint… that is exactly what they will do for you…

“As an artist, you will be their creative art guide”

Michael Dale is the author of 1- Color Is Best (the quick and easy way to learn to paint watercolor) and 3- Colors Are All You Need (mix any color you want fast using only 3 colors). Go to http://www.paint-and-draw.com/ to find out more.

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