How Paintings Get Started
Watch this time-lapse video by Canadian Artist Janice Tanton make a little butterfly come alive. This is how paintings are born.
Watch this time-lapse video by Canadian Artist Janice Tanton make a little butterfly come alive. This is how paintings are born.
Timelapse of a 9 hour period of painting by Janice Tanton.
How do you decide to choose a new subject matter when you embark on a new painting or drawing? Do you draw what you love, or what you are most curious about?
My purpose in getting out of doors to paint is always to learn. I find that being in the place, dialling in the shapes, colour and quick light one of the best things that a painter can do to learn about the world around them.
I'm now feeling like I'm finally back on the horse. 2015 is looking like a brand new horizon and to ring in the new year, I've been back in the studio almost working full time. It's a great feeling to finally have some control back in my arm and painting hand, and I have more paintings in my head than I could possibly paint in four lifetimes.
What I love about the practice of painting is that it's amazing to me at any stage - that's why I do it. Sure, there's an idea - a concept and image in my mind for the work, but it's never exactly what ends up on the linen.
I admit being a workaholic. The creation of images fascinates me and borders on obsession. What does it mean to produce really great work, in a prolific manner? I think the answer to that lies in a concentrated residency period that allows experimentation. Quantifiable data can help flesh out part of the picture, but not all of it. Here was my short experience at The Banff Centre.
When I came back from Gwaii Haanas National Park in June, my head was filled with so many images, experiences and thoughts that I needed some time to sort through them before picking up a paintbrush. I'm still going through that, with over 5000 photographs, a full sketchbook, sound files and video. One of the things I'm starting to do now is to thumbnail sketch out in "storyboard" form, my trip through the park itself which took 5 days. I'm looking at every photograph, recalling the experience and picking a few moments that interest me. One of the greatest tools any artist can use is the thumbnail to do this, and it's a great tool that I learned way back in my college days as a graphic designer.
This weekend, artists and galleries are throwing their doors wide open to welcome you into their secret world of creativity! For the first time in a very long time, I'm…