Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Masquerade (SOLD) and Three Things That Have Made Me A Better Artist

Masquerade SOLD
4" x 10" watercolor

Lately I've been thinking about what has helped me grow the most as an artist and I've narrowed it down to three simple things.

1. I have always kept a sketchbook. This is by far what has helped me the most. I remember when I first started getting serious about art again how frustrated I was with how ugly my first sketches and paintings were and then feeling amazed when I looked back and saw how much my skills grew simply by drawing a lot. Maintaining your artist's eye is exactly like exercise, if you don't use it you lose it. 

2. I have a superhuman power to be able to face rejection and failure over and over again (followed by weeping and cupcake eating) and then pick myself up and try again with a FIERCE resolution to learn from my failures and overcome them.

This is crucial to any artist's success.

You have to believe in yourself and what you can do SO much that it won't matter to you what anyone else thinks about you or your work. Let them reject you from their show or make snide comments about your excessive use of pink but don't let them see it get to you. Learn from the criticism what you can, then smile and return to your easel with your head held high and a renewed determination to try again.

Let your failures turn into a driving force to improve and not be defeated.

3. I always have and ever will absolutely love to paint and create. It's who I am. Without this love, this passion (or obsession some might say) the first two simply don't matter. This is why we are artists.

Huzzah! :)))

(I feel like I'm repeating myself because I know I've said something along these lines lots of times before, but I've been thinking about the upcoming portrait class I'm teaching and what I want to tell the students and these three things came to my mind and would not leave. :)

(And yes. . . that's me in the mask)






20 comments:

  1. Hey, I was just here and didn't see this post till it popped up in my reader. Do I get to be the first commenter? Happy day! I've never been first. :)

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  2. Wow! Is that the female version of Zorro out there to save discouraged artists from the villainous critics! This is a very meaningful post and worth remembering word to word. Thank you.

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  3. Thanks Crystal, you are so inspiring, I am putting the sketchbook back in my tote bag....LOVE your painting.

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  4. Wonderful post, Crystal. I knew that was you! I really need to sketch more often, I do love it.

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  5. I want to come to your class! This is such a great post, it made me want to stand up and cheer! I think I will bookmark it and read it every time I feel discouraged with my art. Thank you! Oh, and the painting is so creative! I like the mysterious shape, to accent the intrigue of the mask!

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  6. very cool painting :) and a book mark worthy post ! Thanks for the reminder.

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  7. I just snapped my brush with excitement reading your post.... your like my Rocky soundtrack at the gym :) Thanks for the pep talk....tomorrow's an allnighter of coffee and paint slinging for me.

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  8. Hi,Crystal,
    Lovely painting and the nice post! Exactly the same stuff I share with you. Regarding 2) and me, followed by glasses of wine with friends, particularly, artists guys. Honest, very fun. We begin to laugh merrily!!
    Cheers,Sadami

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  9. Lovely painting!

    I hope you never eat too many cupcakes :) x

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  10. I can't believe you would ever get a painting wrong Crystal...you are one superb artist...I am in awe!

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  11. I agree with Ann's Art - your work is just superb! You're such an inspiration for us all.
    Thanks for sharing your tips & your art with us.
    Gratefully,
    Grandma Nancy Sapp

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  12. Great painting, Crystal. And thank you for your most encouraging words - good posting!

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  13. Love this painting, Crystal! The format is fabulous and a hint of mystery. You should do a series of just strips showing eyes, the window to the soul. Your Halloween inspired paintings are great. I'm still in LOVE with your wizard painting. I keep going back and looking at it over and over. Are you making prints?

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  14. Absolutely agree with you on these Crystal, also that mask is lush, gotta love your blues woman!

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  15. ABSOLUTELY STUNNING PAINTING!! this is just outstanding my friend!! WOW! i love the simplicity and complexity of it. beautifully done!

    and your words are going next to my easel. you are tireless and always optimistic and positive, not to mention monumentally gifted!!! you are such an inspiration! thank you!

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  16. Awesome painting and writing, Crystal! It's all worth repeating. I have a couple of hand-painted signs in my studio. One says, "You can do it!" and the other is one of my favorite Bible verses (Philippians 4: 6-7).

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  17. Of course it's you! And it's amazing!
    I am going to print this post out in very LARGE font and stick it on the wall of my art room! Really, I seriously am going to do that!!! In bright red!! :0)

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  18. Good work and really great advice...especially the cupcake eating : )

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  19. I was browsing around and your art is GORGEOUS!

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  20. I love this post, it made me smile and feel encouraged and inspired all at the same time. Thank you!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment they really do mean so much to me! Because not all bloggers have their email enabled so I can reply directly through email I will try to reply here in the comments. If I don't please forgive me, life must have been hectic that day! :)) Huzzah!!

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