How to Study Other Artists Styles

Hi, Friends, did you have a nice weekend?
I'll chat on "my" strategy, how to learn other artists' techniques. I use  "similarities and differences" to study others. Each artist's has different approaches to create work. Their techniques are, in my view, ultimately, theirs. Thus, it's essential to digest another technique and apply it to myself. Then, it's become mine.  
Below, my study of light, colour and wash, based on David Curtis's work, "An Orkney Dawn."

Regarding "similarities," it's easy to get into favorite watercolourists' work or someone similar to one's own style. Practical and very helpful, because it saves lots of time to learn it. Sometimes, unexpected techniques are found to make a same watercolour effect, which fascinates me so much.  

Learning "differences" is quite challenging and interesting! No idea how to do it until I see a demo. So, it's time consuming, sometimes stressful, even though quite adventurous. Making heeps of messes sometimes does not work well. The worst result, in my view, is that losing confidence or losing "who I am." In short, pros and cons in learning other techniques, all comes to an artist's "identity issue." Below, my FIRST experience, PASTEL work!! 
**A dear friend encouraged me to try a pastel workshop. 
(I know, my hair was too short just after hair cut!) 

 Oh, pastel is not easy. I need more time to conquer "Chalk"!

So, I bear in mind my mentor's advice. The mentor, a very experienced landscape watercolorist, said, "Keep your old style so that you can come back to it when you need. Then, keep challenging something new all the time." The wise mentor knew the importance of a healthy self-esteem for an artist. 
I have to confess, I happily went back to watercolour after the pastel class!

Friends, for me, to study other artists' styles is a part of establishing "who I am." Using similarities and differences is effective to learn other techniques. But of course, this is my strategy. Find your own way and work on your style, please!
In addition, we do not need to compare ourselves to others at all.  We're already unique and precious on the earth. I celebrate TONs of messes as "achievements" at the end of a day, because I did my best! This paradox is true. If we accept who we are fully, we begin to change in a better way, naturally. As long as we compel ourselves to change to be someone better, it will not occur. Why? It's an empty effort to be "someone else." When a person accepts herself fully, a person can love herself properly. So, with joy, she begins to change in a better and unique way!
Friends, Happy Painting!! 

How to Study Other Artists Styles

Hidden Talent

Friends, thank you for awaiting a new post. I've finished up the project to advocate the immigrant women in Australia. Very happy! Then, I've got on other publishing projects.
Now, back to the topic, "Hidden Talent."
I'd dedicate this say to you, "Perseverance is a talent."

Ages ago, a dear friend looking at my piled drawings said, "Sadami, you're a hardwroker. That's a talent." I could not believe her say, as I thought I was a one trick poney or a donkey.
"Sadami, listen. Many people will soon stop drawing and give it up. How many people keep drawing?" ...oh, I see... 
""Stick-to-it" is a talent." Her say encouraged me so much. I nearly overlooked my talent!  I determined to challenge pencil sketching people daily after that friend's say.

Continity is power, even though a few minutes sketch was hard. It often dissaponted me. I wanted to give up, but soon I realized I expected too much too soon. So, --- probably this is my another talent -- I just enjoyed my work results and kept on. I always shared joy with people around watching my drawings. Great fun and joy. Then, I moved onto colour pencils from black and white.
Furthermore, the playing with colours has opened a door to watercolour. Today, I enjoy watercolour sketching of a live model.

Learned skills take me to a higher road. I'm playing with washes for the ongoing illustrations. Already uploaded washes are here. 
As a picture book illustrator, I explore watercolour and use it to unify a text and pictures in book making. The potential is limitless. It has simply come from hard work.

Friends, anyone can have diligence and hard work. They are so precious talents. "Experience is the best teacher," is simple, yet true. So, I draw something first. Theory follows Experience. "Seek and you'll find it," is also true. My "hands" will find answers, not my brain! Let us enjoy drawing and just keep up.
Friends,  you have a wonderful talent, called hard work!!  
Happy Painting!!

NOTE: Pardone me, if I do not regularly post every Monday. The ongoing projects occupy me much. The hand seems to be ok, even though it needs to put on a plaster at night. Cheers!

Hidden Talent

Don't Play Me, Pay Me!

I attended Arts Access Australia 2 day Conference, "Desire & Destination". It was very interesting in socio-economic aspects that covered people with disability from Australian daily life to a global phase. In a practical view, topics were from marketing in digital era and how to handle social media for publicity etc, etc. 

In a pragmatic way, particularly, I've learned, "Don't Play Me, Pay Me!" That sounds nice? Friends, we need courage to say "No" to an inappropriate fee.  
Setting price is a practical and serious matter for any artist, who has disability or not. All artists face a dilemma in negotiation with a third party in marketing. In publishing industry, licensing is the topic. In reproduction of art work, a respectful "fee" is vital as well as "Copyrights & Accreditation" for an artist's bread and butter.

Keynote Speaker Petra Kuppers

Associate Professor, English Department

 University of Michigan

Take an example of my watercolour sketch. It looks like an "easy work." Unfortunately, sometimes undervalued price offer comes. But in fact, so many years have been spent to learn it. Devoted time, labour and materials --- cost is a lot. Those huge investments are invisible and stay behind a look-like-easy work. Thus, misunderstanding happens.

Once, my mentor of landscape said, "Value your work. Otherwise, who values your work?" His encouragement was right.
Today, our peak body, Australian Society of Authors sets children picture book illustrastors' minimum wages at Rates and Conditions. So, based on the rates, our negotiation will go with a third party. You'll get why I call ASA, "Guardian Angel" for Australian illustrators and authors. 

Back to the topic, varied workshops. Eventually all come to "human rights" issues. The presenters passionately talked about hot topics -- currently facing issues such as grants for artists with disability, etc, etc and the bright future view and challenging.  We, participants -- artists with disability, workers, carers and so on -- learned lots through discussions. You can see the very well organized program that focuses on the past, present issue, ongoing problems and the future with hope. 

Emma Bennison, Arts Access Ausrtalia Chief Executive Officer

The kind program set an enough interval time between workshops. It allowed participants to move as their pace from door to door safely and comfortably. All the rooms provided big boards for voice reader function. The theatre set a sign language interpreter for audience.
One more very comfortable thing was no one looking at my leg asked "Why did you get disability?" from curiosity in a rude manner. 

Wonderful!     

In addition, I, personally, do not find a difference between people with disabilities and people without disabilities. We have same emotions and same nature. That's all! At the same time, we, human beings are all unique and different. In a big picture, some people might have a difficulty in walking like me, and others not, but that's all. 

This conference was brilliant to provoke the public awareness of how people with disabilities are living and struggling to achieve equality and accessibility in society. I hope that many people "without" disability will join AAA and Accessible Arts events.  


Now, although my right hand still has the inflammation, it works well. Thank you for the kind cheers. I'm working on illustrations. 
Friends, you, too, Happy Painting!!

Don't Play Me, Pay Me!

Good News!

Hi, Friends, thank you for kind concerns and a great patience. Your cheers have helped my hand's recovery. Although a plaster and tapes have not been comfy, now, a doctor gives me a permission to get back to work. Yey!! I'll draw in my own pace. Slowly and steady. Typing still leaves pain. Not good. I avoid computer use as much as possible. 

Now, lots of things have happened and ongoing. All good news.


1) The ongoing project for immigrant women in Australia
Two images to go. The team is very supportive. They allow me to take a rest well and put my health first.
In November, hopefully, printed books will be distributed to public libraries and Non English Speaking women will access the information, where to get help in Australia.   

2) Arts Access Australia Conference & Art Exhibition 30, 31 October 2012 
Desire and Destination : Arts Activated Conference 

The Concourse - 409 Victoria Ave, Chatswood NSW 2067, Australia. 9:00 am -  6:00 pm

Click the link, a map comes up. I'll enjoy them all. Friends, if you like, come over!

Furthermore,

I'll join the discussion on the ABC of Publicity on 1st November,

Free masterclass for arts organisations and artists with disability to get tips and tricks for your own publicity and press campaigns from experienced media professionals and publicists from the ABC.

4) Right Now (not-for-profit media organisation focuses on human rights issues in Australia
October, "Right Now" focuses on "disability."
Through AAA, a few days ago, Right Now contacted me and will use my work for their newsletter. Great honour and wonderful publicity. I'd say thank you to Right Now staff. 

....and, finally, a bit... private... ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ·.•*•♫°•♫·.•ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ

                                       today is my birthday!

I thank YOU, and also thank for my difficulties. Without them, today's Sadami, particularly, an artist Sadami does not exist. 
In addition, typing is heavy for my right hand. 
Another project is coming to me. Very busy. I may not regularly update this blog. But I always read your blogs, please pardon my laziness not to leave comments.
Friends, Happy Painting!!

Good News!

Hi, Friends, I'll Slow Down

Hi, Friends, how is your weekend?
I really enjoyed the  Rumsey Heritage Rose garden festival in Parramatta park. My art friends and I had a wonderful time in bird watching, live band music and watching sculptures in the park.

Now, not good news. My right hand has in trouble. The hand specialist is checking it, who did the surgery this year. The right hand is not so glamour at the moment with taping and a plaster(boo!). It needs more medical examination. You got why I have not either visited your blogs or left comments like before. Please pardon me. I must rest the hand as much as possible. So, I'll upload mainly my art work without a chat for a while.  

Currently, the exception is an ongoing illustration project that advocates immigrant women in Australia. The project team and I happily work together. Nearly there. I'll finish it up this month. I heartily hope my tiny work will empower Non English Speaking people and give them hope in Australia.

And our life drawing class has started. It inspires me so much. I tried to capture a model's mood in A2. Well, actually, our life drawing class member invited us, members to the rose festival. 

OK, Friends,  I have to go, but I'll certainly enjoy your blogs and never lose heart. I want to get well.


Friends, Happy Painting!!

 

Hi, Friends, I'll Slow Down

Sketch "Why" for Character Design

Hi, Friends, did you have a wonderful weekend? Yes, I had! Hey, nearly at the end of 2012. Time flies like an arrow. Many annual exhibitions and next year competitions' invitations are coming. 

Now, this post is to answer for the Q , how to do draw figures alive and lively. Actually, these steps are for my character design for children picture books.
Friends, already you know, sketching is my hand's thinking. My brain thinks nothing.

Preliminary research = Observe WHY
With a great curiosity, I always look at people. Such as... why does that person behave so? How s/he picks up food and pays money over a counter. Why that person looks like a typical music player? Face expression, body language, emotion, movement etc, etc. My eyes seek a character.  

Sketch WHYs
When I find a why, I draw it. Often only ONE why is pinned down with two or three A4 pages spent per person. Quick! A few minutes is enough. Don't worry details. Only get a focal point. Rough lines make very lively people on paper.

Put Colour On the Spot 
Colour at once. I'm a very colourful person and so my work is. "Capturing a mood" is very the best advantage of direct work. Light, sounds, sensations, weather, etc, etc. Above all, a model's emotion fascinates me most. They are wonderful info to make settings to illustrate texts, which will involve readers well.

Then, my brain works from here in a studio.
Each sketch is categorized into files as references for use.
I look through collected references .... 

Analyze Collected WHYs
I always check social conventions and prototypical images in sketches.
Focused "whys" tell similarities and differences in same subjects   such as women. Analyzed common elements show the "features" of subjects. Collected differences reveal "individual uniqueness." Particularly, for picture book illustrators, it's very important to understand social schema and use them in work.  

Use Learned Features to Caputre Character! 
Social schema and learned features are powerful tools and subtle techniques to create a character. It convinces readers well. 

Playing up "features" creates a stereotyped character and an exaggerated personality. Making caricatures is a good idea to check what whys will work or not. After sketching the sax player, I enjoyed these cartoons.

If individual "differences" are concerned, a fine portrait turns out.

"Mismatch between features" makes quite a funny and unexpected image, but also it would be a very sophisticated joke, nice for political cartoons. 

Did you enjoy this post? So far, I've written on drawings that fine artists, too, can use for portraits. Furthermore, children picture book illustrators will work on given manuscripts and create characters in stories. If you like, I'll write on Character Design more in a following post.


The more sketch, the better hands and eyes remember. Daily training enriches techniques and improves drawing skills. A sketch captures the points and depicts what I feel in a model. A figure comes up lively and vigorous. At a glance, you can draw an interesting person smoothly. You can draw figures in a studio even by heart or from memory or based on photos, too. 


Sketches are golden assets for job. 
In my dictionary, creativity is another name of hard work that goes with fresh ideas hand in hand. 
Friends, enjoy daily sketching.
Happy Painting!!
 

Sketch "Why" for Character Design

1)Life Drawing 2)Indigenous Literacy Foundation Bid For My Work

Hi, Friends, did you enjoy a weekend? We're enjoying a long weekend. Come over NSW, Monday is our Labour day!

OK, a first topic, "colourful life drawing," a vivid colour use. Only primary colours -- yellow, blue and red are used. 
Technically, my life drawing should be called, "life painting," rather than drawing?! All work, paper size is A2. I love "big" papers for life drawing. (Sounds like stress buster?)

The model's face expression caught me. His image was "strong." Crayons were bright blue and green. A background was added later. Very dark purple, mixed with blue and red, works well. It looks like black. 

Below, contrast was the key. Strong and big brush strokes create the lively work. "Simple and bald" makes a drama. Always I come back to life drawing to get inspiration for illustration. (* I used Burnt Sienna a bit in this work.)  

 

It's a great virtue of an artist, particularly, for an illustrator, to have many styles in repertoire. Like these life drawing results, can I be brave and playful in other work? -- is a next challenge. "Be flexible and explore something new,"  I ask myself. Departure from the basics and create something unique -- is my quest. (*Not easy to achieve them all!)

 

Now, the second topic, "One Word One day,"  a charity auction for Indigenous children's literacy. All money goes to "Indigenous Literacy Foundation." 
Oh, my, Friends, "Indigenous Literacy Foundation" bought my work!! Wow, sooo happy! Great honour!! 

 Banner and My Work

The auction was really a fun. This guy entertained us so much to bump up bidding. Australian famous authors, foremost illustrators and their fans enjoyed raising funds in ABC building (=Australian Broadcasting Corporation ). The hall was full of laugh! (*NOTE: The auction, on it own was "silent.") Seeing is believing. Friends, next time, you have to come and join us. 
It's nice. I was so happy to know that we can make a change by art and through art.
...I believe in my illustration teacher's say,  "Children picture books can change the world!" Yes, we can.  

Friends, Happy Painting!! Have a nice week!

1)Life Drawing 2)Indigenous Literacy Foundation Bid For My Work