• Home
  • Blog
  • Paintings for Sale
  • Painting Course
  • Top Painting Tips
    • Prints
  • Art Coaching
  • Resources
  • Free Download
  • Artist Statement
  • Podcast
  • Painting Podcast
  • Contact
  • Reference and Tutorial
Malcolm Dewey Fine Art
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Paintings for Sale
  • Painting Course
  • Top Painting Tips
    • Prints
  • Art Coaching
  • Resources
  • Free Download
  • Artist Statement
  • Podcast
  • Painting Podcast
  • Contact
  • Reference and Tutorial

Where do the Ideas Come from?

6/2/2013

Comments

 
Picture
A popular question from collectors is where do I get the ideas for paintings. This may relate to the subject or the colours used or any other aspect of a painting. I often laugh off these questions simply because there is not a ready answer. Mostly the immediate answer sounds too trite. The truth is that stimulating ideas are part of each artist's process and it is helpful to know what fuels your idea engine.

I am attracted to subjects that have elements of strong lights and darks, a good design that will draw in the eye and keep the viewer interested. The third leg is that emotional connection that is much more difficult to define. Without it however the painting has little chance of survival. This makes commissions so tricky. There must be a spark for me to give it any justice.

Having accepted that I cannot paint a scene that does not move me there are others ways to get the ideas flowing. I need a positive frame of mind for starters. Some artists want to show the grim side of life, but that does not work for me. There is no radio news, TV or newspapers in my studio. They kill my creativity. I need positive energy and usually nature provides that for me. I guess that explains my love of landscapes. All I need is to take a drive out of town. It is a case of wanting to stop every kilometre to capture a scene. It has become a joke for my family. I am considering mounting a camera on my dashboard!

Waiting for inspiration? This does not work for me. Inspiration shows up when I get working. Preparing painting boards, stretching a canvas or just cleaning up the studio can get the ideas ticking over. If I get a good idea I will go out and look for the scene. For example I have just been working on a seascape. The idea was simple enough, but went a lot deeper into my personal nature. It was the idea of staring out at the sea, which I can easily do for a hour, and letting the shapes, shadows and light form images in the mind. Free thought similar to what you get from staring at clouds. In any case I then headed off to the beach on a cloudy day and watched the sea. That was all I needed with a few notes and I could work on a larger studio painting.

Other times I will set up an easel outdoors in an area that appeals to me then using a viewfinder I will look for a composition that has all the strong visual elements that I like. Whatever approach I follow is part of a working process. It is not a case of watching tv, for example, and an idea pops into my head. Creative processes lead to more creativity. 

I am never worried about running out of ideas. I do not believe in creative block and so on. It comes down to a choice and then getting to work. If I do not do the work then there will be little in the ideas department.

Comments
    FREE Book
    Picture

    Color Tips for Artists:
    ​Free
    Picture

    Book Bundle Special
    See More
    Picture

    Author

    Malcolm Dewey: Artist. Country: South Africa
    View Portfolio:

    Picture

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

    Categories

    All
    Art Business
    Artist Notes
    Books Worth Every Dime!
    Its An Artists Life
    Musings
    News
    Painting Course
    Painting Demonstration
    Painting Tips
    Podcasts
    Popular Posts Archive
    Reviews


    Picture

    Picture

    Visit Malcolm Dewey Fine Art's profile on Pinterest.

    FREE
    ​GUIDE

    Picture

    RSS Feed


    Picture

    Picture

Studio:  Troon Crescent, Port Alfred, South Africa
​Malcolm Dewey Fine Art is committed to top quality art, excellent educational material and having a great time! To back that up all works sold come with a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee. Simply return the work, undamaged, within 30 days. Returns at purchaser expense. All transaction are protected by third party bank-level encryption to keep your information safe. Plus your email address is safe. No spam - ever!

​Copyright 2010-2020: Malcolm Dewey Fine Art
​
Picture
30 Day Money Back
Picture
Secure Transactions
Picture
Picture
No Spam Ever!
Photos used under Creative Commons from maHidoodi, buggolo, Fabio Téllez
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Paintings for Sale
  • Painting Course
  • Top Painting Tips
    • Prints
  • Art Coaching
  • Resources
  • Free Download
  • Artist Statement
  • Podcast
  • Painting Podcast
  • Contact
  • Reference and Tutorial