Art Mediums and Selecting a Theme

Watching color painting of a Jacob Sheep

Every artist has their story; some of us share the details and others keep them quiet.  I do both because I find it’s the artist finished and unfinished work that tells the story best.

Knowing your subject, selecting a theme and using the right medium is also important.

When I was a lot younger my art was detailed through pencil rendering in addition to pen and ink.  They were my favorite mediums and later I dabbled in oils. 

My style back then was a mix between realism and detailed abstract.  This was something that I made up because there was nothing else like it.

Ideas for using art mediums

Settled on Two Mediums

In 2019 I began to dabble in watercolors and took a few classes.  It was a lot of fun, met some neat people and found a good fit.  There was just something about water moving through color that grabbed my attention. 

Currently I've chosen to use two mediums, the first being watercolor and the second pencil. It’s possible a little pen and ink might show up because I like to mix mediums. 

The pieces I’m sharing here are just some ideas I was playing with which brings me to style.  I will be implementing impressionism. 

I don't for see creating any realism because I'd rather spend my time looking at nature in the present and I sort of feel like photography captures realism best. 

Many ideas have been swimming and for the first time in a very long time I am seeing things in an element that is inspirational.  It’s difficult to explain and everything seems to catch my attention.

Impressionism watercolor painting of a jacob sheep

Selecting a Theme

Selecting mediums and style can be pretty easy but choosing an art theme is a different story.  My goal is to work towards selling my art and since my goal is pretty grand, beginning with a theme seems to make sense. 

This brings me to my Jacob sheep painting of Granny. This piece is just an example because I was curious if I could do an impression and still bring forward her personality. 

I also thought about going back and sorting through our farm photos might help inspire a theme.  It did at first, but I have this feeling going backwards is not the best way to begin.  

So, I am going to let my heart lead from our environment and see what happens.

If you are getting started with art, I highly recommend discovering the mediums you would enjoy working in first.  Take some classes if you want to dabble and see where the heart leads.

See the good,

Carole