How to Be the Artist of Your Life!

(The background image of the horse is a 8x 10 colored pencil drawing on white paper.  The above print is available for purchase.  If interested  please email me at malekoarts@aol.com  Thanks!)

The Twisted Path of Art

"The Process" - from idea, to drawing, to color, to completion!

To often we overlook the joy in the journey. This design started with the idea of doing a patriotic piece to represent America and the freedom we celebrate on July 4th of every year. Trying to capture a feeling of freedom, I chose an eagle to represent that freedom of flight, unbound by limitations.



Set against the American flag, this represents the freedom we enjoy. The drawing stage is often clumsy and ideas emerge on scraps of paper (see the taped together pieces).

The color came next to capture the essence. I chose to recreate the eagle and flag with a certain realism in regard to color choice, to portray a vivid brilliance to the colors to show power and force.


The beginning idea of of media is an ink wash technique where the original drawing is done using ink lines. The color is then added with either crayons, pastels or colored pencils, often a combination of them all.

The design is the sprayed with water using a spray bottle and I turn the paper letting the water and ink run in a certain direction to portray movement.

If all elements come together hopefully the finished product is comparable to the image
first conceived in my minds eye.

A glimpse into one of my processes it takes to create a piece of art. -Maleko

An artists pallette should never be clean - How does your use of color, tint, shade affect your art?

In creating do you find it limiting to work with only a select few colors or freeing? 

 

Does an artist need more choices of colors or is the creativity in the utilization of a few colors?

Is the creativity in the  combining colors to arrive at other colors that you need to portray the emotion or temperature of a scene?  The elements of creating a work of art are in every decision, in every element, every move, they all combine to hopefully create the beauty that is first in your heart and visualized within your mind.

~Maleko 2010

Creating a Creative Space

Creative ideas can occur at any time, no matter where we are or what we are doing. But do you have a 'space', a 'place', a 'spot' where you can endeavor to implement those ideas? This can apply to artists, writers, thinkers or anyone of us that needs a place to call a destination.

A place where the idea can become a reality?

Some things to think about when looking for the creation of that creative space in no particular order:

1) Privacy - What do you need? A private space, walls, a shared room what works best for you/

2) Tools - What tools or equipment might you need? Chair(s), table, supplies, storage etc.

3) Size - How much space do you realistically need for your stuff?

4) Views - Windows versus walls? Would a view of the outside be inspiring or distracting?

5) Light - Do you prefer natural or artificial light? Does it matter? Northern light?

6) Sounds - What do you prefer extreme quiet, white noise, music, outside noise?

Think about these things to start and I am sure they will lead to other questions to make your creative space that place that allows you to shine.

(Thanks to Lori McNee for the inspiration for this blog, link to her blog post on 'Northern Light' by clicking on the blog title above.)