You saw this on Easter, I started on it again after dinner.
I’m one of those who appreciate a crude look to even elegant art. Some of my favorites are Kevin O’Neil and Ralph Steadman. I’ve had times where I’ve seen an energetic sketch, only to see it tamed too far with inks or paint.
It was great when I had confidence. So many would say “I wish I could draw. I’m too much of a perfectionist. I can’t ever get it right.” I learned the media will tell you where it wants to go, and you need to feel that and listen.
But the harder lesson is great artist fuck it up. I’ve seen good sketches by great artists, then they add paint. It starts to look awful. That’s where it’s easy to stop and go “it’s ruined.” The greats shrug it off and go “there is a lot more to go” and they know what they are doing.
When you do this for money, it’s very easy to second guess yourself. Playing safe works in business, but it doesn’t make you a great artist. So, as an artist, I have to look at a piece and say, “ok, let’s fuck it up and see what we get.”
If I can pull something great out of it, no problem. If it’s ruined, I can trace it, pull an idea off it, or come up with something completely different and move on. But you can’t be afraid to fail or fuck it up if it’s going on the wall. Paper is cheap. Canvas can get gessoed over. Don’t be afraid to start over.
Dungeon Net
Hogspy
