Last year i lept into a class at the Art Student League of Denver called the Nature of Abstract with Michael Gadlin. You can read more about that adventure here: The Nature of Abstract, The Nature of Abstract pt. 2, & The Nature of Abstract the finale. Michael & i work extremely well together, pushing each other in lots of creative ways. After the class finished, i knew i wanted to have more lessons with him for he knows how to challenge me. He knows my strengths & weakness and really knows how to get me out of my comfort zone so i grow as an artist. So i joined him in his studio last week to begin our first new lessons. Here's a look at my day through photos courtesy of Michael.
i started with homework before class even began. i started studying some lessons on principles and artists who corresponded with the principles. These principles are different than design principles but similar in some ways.
i admit i am a bit of a learning nerd so studying before class increased my thirst and my readiness to begin. Before i started painting, Michael & i discussed some of these principles and looked at many works of art to get a feel for them.
i was instructed to bring unusual objects to use for painting along with black & white paint. do you see the cleaning brush in my hand?
Crazy as it sounds, it does force me to be looser in my strokes. Everything begins with black & white, color is the icing.
i was nervous at first. i get too much into my head and that's one of my biggest obstacles. Sometimes the only way to begin is to just start, to take a big breath and leap.
so i did and i lost myself in the art. and it felt good. really good.
While i was lost in the art, Michael got inspired to paint. Doesn't that always happen when you are working with someone else, talking about art, and inspiration hits? It was fun to look up and see him at work. Michael gave me homework again which includes losing myself in painting again. i am a little anxious to begin one of the assignments but i will again take that leap trusting it will lead me to a whole new place.
