Creating My Own "How"

The past two weeks I've been knee deep in Lilla Rogers' E-course, Make Art that Sells. It is such an amazing course. I have not experienced anything like it. There are about 500 people taking this course and they are all amazingly talented.

If you don't know who Lilla Rogers is, she is an artist's agent. She finds paying gigs for artists in all types of industries like, home goods, bolt fabric and children's illustration. She has also authored a fantastic book, "I Just Like to Make Things", which is all about how to be a licensed artist. This class is an intense expanded edition of her book.

I said above that I've never experienced an e-course like this one. I am finding each week to be a big challenge of my artistic abilities, in a good way. I had the most difficulty in week one. We had to make a piece for the bolt fabric market. Now, I thought I could handle it since I just finished a course on creating surface patterns. Well, I struggled. This class is filled with very talented artists, some of whom are already licensed. I fell into the comparison trap. I created a piece that was ok.

It actually works as a coordinating piece but not as the main piece. Ironically, a few hours later I thought of this. I wish I had thought of it sooner. Oh well.

The second week was all about making plates. Fun or fancy plates that are hip and can be used everyday, not just on Thanksgiving. I think I did better on this assignment. See, this class is not about showing you how to do something like all the other courses I've taken. Lilla did not film one of her artists painting a plate design and then sent us off to do it. She just shows some examples of what is trending and then gives us the assignment. I'm a visual learner so that's the tough thing for me. I have to figure out the "how" on my own. This is actually a good thing. I think that's how you become a true artist. You are creating your own "how".

 

With the plate project I worked really hard on creating lots of layers and details. I usually don't think when I paint. I go with the flow. I need to work on finding a balance between creating thoughtfully and creating from flow. I know finding that balance will make me a better artist in the end.

This week is about illustrating children's books and part 1 of our assignment is snails? Yep, snails. I am enjoying being challenged. Snails were never on my drawing radar, until now.