Tag Archives: visual-art

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At one point or another, all artists have felt as if their creativity suddenly dried up. Artistic block is the reason some of the most prominent individuals in the art world traveled abroad or locked themselves in a tiny studio. They were seeking artistic inspiration.

If you are looking for inspiration, this post is all about helping you discover a muse to jump start your creative ambition.

Being an artist means you constantly have to assess yourself

Start by asking yourself a few questions.

At what point during the day do I feel most creative?
When throughout the day do I have the most energy?
When was the last time I had a moment to myself?
When was the last time I spent a decent amount of time away from my studio?

These questions will provide you with a baseline for boosting your creativity. They should help you discern which habits are conducive to your creativity, and which are deterring you from success. Now let’s examine some specific ways you can seek out inspiration.

Here are some simple things you can do to jumpstart your creativity:

Do you keep an art-idea journal? If you don’t already have one, an idea journal will help you start focusing ideas. Returning to your journal entries at a later date will come in handy should you encounter artistic block again.
When was the last time you cleaned your workspace? A little cleaning and organization might be just what you need to clear your head and find a fresh start.
When was the last time you thought about the mood of your studio? Try opening a window, relocating your easel or turning on the music. All of these small changes can offer you a new perspective and create an inspirational mood. Finding a new place to create for a day might help you tap into a different mindset.
When was the last time you engaged in your favorite hobby? You never know when an inspirational experience might come your way. Go out and try something new, or take the time to rediscover a beloved activity.
Have you connected with other artists lately? This website is founded on the idea that artists can inspire, and be inspired by, other artists http://artistsinspireartists.com/

We hope this post gives you a creative boost. You can find more inspirational advice by visiting this website: http://emptyeasel.com/art-business-advice/motivation/.

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What Inspires Artwork? (broadwaygalleriesblog.com)
Life Is the Creative Act (onthehomefrontandbeyond.wordpress.com)
7 Tips I Use to Spark My Creativity. (happiness-project.com)

Fireworks Celebrate Cai Gou – Qiang’s Bold Art

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China native Cai Gou-Qiang has exploded the conventional rules of art with his firecracker productions and visual art pieces.

You may recognize the name, Cai Gou- Qiang from the 2008 Olympics. Cai was the mastermind behind all special effects for the opening and closing ceremonies. He is recognized all over the world for his ability to create breathtaking firework displays. While many people can light firecrackers, only few can orchestrate such awe inspiring scenes.

Are you wondering how he acquired such a fascinating and seemingly dangerous talent?

It all began when Cai was young. Fireworks were easily accessible and he played with them often. The fun soon turned into an artistic experiment. However, Cai couldn’t have achieved such heights of success without a few errors.

His first attempt to create art using firecrackers came from his curiosity to see what would happen if he simply fired a rocket into a canvas. As you can imagine, this process only served to burn the canvas to pieces.

On Cai’s second attempt he removed the gunpowder from firecrackers. He then arranged the gunpowder on a blank canvas and lit it. The effect was stunning. It created an art form all its own.

Since then, Cai and his adventurous style of art continue to gain popularity. He has literally exploded conventional rules of art and how it can be created. Cai’s images of space, nature and time are supernatural in their fiery distortion.

For Cai, this artistic journey has been a personal one. His style serves to break conventional rules, and the world recognizes the uniqueness he brings to the art community. For Cai Gou- Qiang, this style of art is suspenseful and rewarding. He enjoys the adrenalin pumping process of working hard and hoping his pieces will turn out. You can bet, his audience agrees. Nothing can diminish the beauty or the sheer emotional thrill of watching Cai’s firework displays. Likewise, his gunpowder designs are just as intriguing and mesmerizing.

The artist, now 54, resides and works in New York.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-0404-fireworks-artist-20120404,0,4212742.story

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Cai Guo-Qiang’s Mystery Circle: Explosion Event for MOCA, LA Recap (hustlerofculture.com)
Exploding 40,000 Rockets at Once Is as Loud and Wonderful as You’d Think It Would Be [Video] (gizmodo.com)
A Video About Cai Guo Qiang’s Art Using Gunpowder and Explosives (hypebeast.com)

Oil Painting Supplies – What Do I Need?

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Take a leisurely walk around your local art supply store. Does being around art supplies excite you? Or does it overwhelm you?

If you’re a just embarking on your journey as an artist, your first experience with shopping for oil painting supplies could make your head spin.

Many professionals will tell you that getting your feet wet (and brushes, for that matter) will take some time. Learning what works best for you is a process. If you have had one of these frightening experiences, fear not, help is on the way!

One thing you may notice in the stores or online, is that there are a multitude of choices you must make before you start to paint. In fact, there are more choices than you’ll know what to do with.

Time after time beginners go into the supply store and come out needing a bank loan to get out from underneath the bill. If you fear this could happen to you, take a deep breath and remind yourself that you don’t need everything that you see. This leads us to tip one of three– know what you need when shopping for oil paint supplies.

Tip #1 – Stick to the basics

Most painting supply stores will have their lines of products broken down into categories assorted from beginners to professionals. If you are a first time oil painter, or are relatively new to the craft, you’re going to want to keep many of the beginner products in mind. But beware: Not all beginner products are a great idea to start with.

Tip #2 – Don’t skimp on brushes

If you are the casual painter, it may be tempting to be conservative with spending. However, it is a good idea to always consider the high-end, quality brushes over the introductory and mid-grade brushes. Why? Cheap brushes shed hair and lose their shape much faster than quality brushes do. Whether you’re 5 or 55, this is an insanely frustrating way to work.

Tip #3 – Try a small variety

There are mediums like poppy seed and lint seed oil, canvas in all textures, thickness, and sizes. Not to mention there are more paint color choices than your car manufacturer offers.

Generally store associates are there to help guide your choices, but this is not always the case. The best idea is to try a small assortment of each of the above products. The goal here is to not break the bank. (Although you needn’t worry if you break the bank because you’ll have enough supplies to paint yourself a new one!)

When shopping for oil paint supplies, take your time and don’t be too hasty. Your aim is to end up with a well rounded basic set of instruments (brushes and canvases). The easels, bags, pallets, and much more are waiting for you at your local art supply store.

So what are you still doing sitting here? Go get your paint on!

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