>>> This challenge was run live in September 2016. It was unexpectedly popular {see here for evidence!}, and I definitely plan to run it again in 2017. You should still be able to sign up to receive the download below, and you’ll then also be on the list to receive an email alert when I next run it. <<<
I have a question for you. Do you ever feel as though you might actually have several different artists with wildly varying ideas and skill sets living inside you?
I have felt like this a lot over the years, particularly in the early days. One day I’d be making a vibrant abstract landscape painting, the next a stylised portrait all in blues, and the day after that I might be experimenting with mixed media and lettering. You could’ve lined them all up in a gallery and convinced people that each was done by a different {and frankly not very accomplished!} artist.
I’m all for experimentation and play, but there’s another side to learning how to make your own art that I often see people struggling with, and have certainly struggled with myself:
How do you make your art consistent, so that it all looks like ‘yours’, even when you have a million ideas, want to try All The Things, and can’t seem to control what comes out of you?!
In part, there is a rather unsexy element of patience and practice that will start to bring your work together into a more cohesive whole. Persistence will inevitably reap rewards over time.
This year, eight years after I started making art regularly, is the first year I’ve seen a deep and consistent cohesiveness to my work. It was building gradually for a while, but it really has taken that long to feel it right down to my bones. So don’t be disheartened if you struggle with this!
But there are also things you can do to encourage the process along right now. One very effective way I’ve found is to create in series. I resisted series for a long time because I get bored very quickly; I rarely want to make something again after I’ve done it once.
I thought it was a flaw in me, and it’s been frustrating at times, but since accepting that it’s how I roll, I’ve noticed even more consistency creeping into my work. One of the many paradoxes art likes to bring us!
The Project
So in the spirit of diving ever more deeply into our own unique art, and with a nod to the fact that we all have busy lives and many of us share this ‘low boredom threshold’ ;), I’ve devised a quick little challenge for us to try.
One week to create a small series of paintings or drawings {or whatever it is that you love to make}. I’ll be doing it too of course; because of the short time frame I’ll be working on small squares of paper of a limited number {yet to be decided!}.
I’ve created a worksheet to help us focus; it makes a huge difference to a project when you start with some kind of specific intention or plan, and when the time frame is short that becomes even more true. The last thing we want is to choose something so vague and ambitious it overwhelms us and crushes the fun out of it.
What it will give you
The idea is that we can show ourselves that not only can we fit our art into our daily lives, but also that we can create cohesive art that reflects something of our true selves by virtue of doing several at once and seeing commonalities. By making a series, even a small one, I think it’ll be possible to see that we do each have a personal style to our art.
It’s an experiment, but one that I think might be quite revealing if we give it {and ourselves} a chance.
And if this isn’t a particular issue for you, you’ll still have a small and satisfying series at the end of the week. Perhaps even some new ideas.
It could be two paintings, it could be ten. That’ll be up to you {and I recommend keeping it as absolutely minimal and simple as you need}.
Possible ideas
You could work with just a pencil and paper and make a small series of drawings of a single subject, or you could try a limited paint palette, or build up layered mixed media pieces. You could work on a couple of large pieces or many small ones. You could explore abstract landscapes, tiny drawings of things in your home, portraits; whatever feels interesting, easy, and not too ambitious in scale!
I plan to work with a limited palette, and explore my current penchant for ‘less is more’, possibly with a drawn element, knowing I may want to make adjustments to that plan once I begin.
I recommend also working with something that either already interests you or even that you’re already working on. The point is to have a specific focus for seven days and see where it leads. Let’s make it as easy as possible!
I’ll be sharing my progress over on Instagram, using the hashtag #mycreativetouchstones, and as ever would love it if you wanted to play along!
To help us plan {in a very quick and easy way!}, I’ve created a little worksheet, which you can download by clicking the button below.
We’ll begin officially on Thursday 1st September; that’ll give you a few days to mull over ideas, fill in the worksheet and prepare your supplies so you’re ready to rock on Day 1. Then each day of that week you’ll receive an encouragement email from me to help you keep going.
I hope you’ll join me!
This is a great idea! The Drawing Project is finishing so I’m feeling a bit un-moored in terms of what to focus on next. Hopefully I can find time to take part in this 🙂
Would love to have you join in Stephanie! And a huge well done for completing your year long challenge! That’s some serious commitment. 🙂
Oh I’m so in! ????????????
Yay!
Just so love this. I’m inspired‼️
Yay! Excellent. 🙂
Have signed up but no sign of the Worksheet! Looking forward to the mini project and especially to Touchstone.
Hope you’require having a good summer.
Ian
Have emailed you Ian! So happy you’ll be joining us in Touchstone!
I’ve tried to get worksheet as well with no luck.
Sorry about that Julie – fixed now!
Thank you! Your timing is perfect and I am excited to join in. I just recently found your site and am enjoying visiting and seeing your art. 🙂
Yay! Glad you’ll be joining in Ann!
Excited to try a limited color palette. How limited would you say is limited? I tend to work around 7-10 colors on a normal day…
I’d say 3-4? But it’s really up to you; limited for you could mean five, whereas for someone else it could mean two!
Hi Tara,
i sm so happy I have subscribed to your blog. Already going through one of your courses and planning to many more. Just want to know where I can go for a list of materials. I see Inktense blocks and charcoal. I am using acrylic paint but wondering what you use. Also Neocolors? Are those wax chalk? Help? And thank you
Hi Susan – I did have an Amazon shop with all my favourite supplies until they changed things and it disappeared! I am going to make another at some point, and coming soon on the blog will also be a Q&A post about materials. Neocolors are like wax crayons and come in water soluble and non water soluble versions; the water soluble ones are Neocolors II.
Would love to join in this challenge
Planning to run it again this autumn!
HI Tara
This is a prayer answered. I am no artist by any means however there is something inside that needs to come out. I only started painting in November/16. Abstract felt so good and satisfied that hunger in me. I actually was please with what I was doing and often repeated to myself ,”Less is more” as I worked. I am not that patient of a person but with the art I had lots. Did I tell you I am 64, all my life I have wanted to find something artistic to do and in November my head kept saying go and get some canvas. So I did.
I have had a dry spell for a few months now ( 2017) and just took everything I painted down and put them away. Well have started buying smaller canvases and messing around with them. The thing is I have started to really want to paint abstract scenes and small children. I try and from a distance it doesn’t look bad…up close well…..
When I read this piece it has inspired me to take the challenge. Does not matter that there is not a group doing it.
I just can not thank you enough for your article.” When the student is ready the teacher appears.”
I feel so good about this
sincerely
Liz
You sound like an artist to me! 🙂 So great that you heard the voice and paid attention. I do plan to run the challenge again this autumn, just so you know! Very happy that you took something useful from the post!
Hi Tara,
Thanks for coming up with something this wonderful. I am a brand new artist ???? I have just started painting with acrylics & this could not have come at a better time.
I could not download the worksheet so please help me in that. I would love to join.
Thanks
With much love
Kusum
So happy to hear it’s at least potentially useful to you Kusum! Lol. Don’t know what’s going on with that link; I keep replacing it and it decides to just not work sometimes. It should be fixed now but in case not, here’s the direct link: https://u48881512.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/48881512/Touchstone/7%20day%20mini%20series.pdf. You can also sign up using the box at the bottom of the post and receive the free Building the Dream pdf as well as the challenge worksheet.