Watercolor: Crow Celebrates Fall (& preparation for Winter in the art studio)

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watercolor of a crow in a hat
Crow Celebrates Fall 8 x 5 Watercolor on paper

Fall is rolling in


Here in Southern California, the evening air is starting to whisper for sweaters, and the day time light has a couple of extra lumens of squint. With activities slowly moving indoors during the approach of Fall and Winter, this is a perfect time to get organized in your art-making space (c’mon, you
know you want to), and review your plans for the season, and the supplies needed to carry them out.Fall is coming…

Where to Begin

I start this process with a list. It’s always too long, but I’m breaking it down, and getting things done. 1) Re-arrange the studio 2) sort/inventory paper, ink & paint supplies 3) clear a surface for paper tearing and printmaking plate prep 4) list themes of this season’s work, and pin to a wall where I see it every day 5) collect reference photos, render sketches & snip inspiration, and tuck all that into a folder pinned near list from #4 6) plot schedule of art-making time for the month of November…. etc, etc.

Donate your Extras

Every year, I make more room in my studio by donating art supplies I’m no longer using, or art making stuff I have in duplicate. My local high school has an art department that’s happy to take anything I want to donate: frames, glass, mat board, art supplies, paper, etc.

donate what you don't use in the art studio
Donations for the high school art department in my neighborhood

An Inspiring Video

In the category of artist tips & tricks, artist Eric Wiegardt talks about the benefits of using Gatorboard as a watercolor paper support while painting, instead of foam core or pressboard/plywood. I use it too, so I thought this might be helpful…. (If you get this blog via email or rss, and you don’t see the video below,  you can watch it here.)

 

What are your plans for the Fall in your art-making space? Do you clean and purge, or plow right on through with non-stop work? Tell us your tips and tricks in the comments.

Thanks for stopping by and we’ll see you in the next post!

Belinda
P.S. You can subscribe to get these posts via email by signing up here.


Art Quote

Creativity is the basis of self-expression. Why are some people supposedly more creative than others, and why can’t others open themselves up enough to be able to express who they are?

Creation is the birth of something, and something cannot come from nothing. When someone creates something: a painting, a poem, a photograph, the creativity comes from an idea, from a feeling, from emotion, or from a combination of ideas, feelings and emotions that are somehow ‘reborn’ from all our experiences and perspectives.

Creativity is the desire to express ourselves. To formulate these expressions, we have to draw from our reservoir of experience, dreams, desires and experimentation and mix together what was, what is, and what could be… I don’t think you can learn it, it is rather something that evolves. Your perception of everything in your life fills up this reservoir.

Some people are drawn to create and express themselves, others are drawn to reflect, to analyze. But in the end, they all could be creative if they had the desire to explore the way in which they are integrated in the world of their experiences. Because creativity is really a rebirth, a true tone we feel for ourselves and for our world. Then our work becomes a real part of who we are. Maybe all this is a question of how deep we are willing to go…
Peter Lindbergh, Photographer

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2 thoughts on “Watercolor: Crow Celebrates Fall (& preparation for Winter in the art studio)”

  1. Beautiful crow and post
    Thank you for the video

    Years ago I took apart a childs two sided easel for the perfect drawing board size hardboards. Primed with gesso and sprayed with a sealer, they have held up well, one for crafts, and the other for drawing and painting.

  2. Bonjour,

    Le corbeau de votre aquarelle est adorable. J’aime le petit chapeau que vous lui avez attribué !
    Je n’apprécie pas du tout cette période de l’année où les jours diminuent où tout semble s’éteindre… Une période très nostalgique en ce qui me concerne.
    Je suis heureuse de voir que pour vous c’est une période de planification…
    Joli billet.

    Gros bisous ☼

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