Allow yourself to learn from your teachers. Drink up their experience and instruction, then let your art flow out of you with the mark of YOUR hand.
Transcript
This is episode 6 of the Art Fit Podcast. Hello, I’m Anna Battle, Shiny Happy Artist and your host of the Art Fit Podcast. Now, just as physical fitness is good for your body, Art Fitness is good for your mind. And you don’t need to be an Olympics level professional artist to benefit from Art Fitness. But what is the point? How do you actually do it? How do you fit it all in? Well, I’m on a mission to help you get Art Fit.
This podcast is brought to you by my Shiny Happy Art Club. I send you a brand new high quality guided Paint Along each month, in acrylic and watercolour, as part of a lovely group of art friends from around the world. So, you can become a Shiny Happy Artist and get Art Fit.
Now, my topic for today is another one of my Anna-isms that I speak about at the beginning of every class, whether it’s online or in person. And it’s about being similar, but different. And I want to extend that a little bit, into the best ways to learn from a teacher. When it comes to art and making art, there’s often a stigma around copying. And I think, there is definitely a place for that. And when people copy and pass work off as their own, by all means, that is not the right way to go about it. But there is so much to be learned by copying and learning from other teachers. And this is certainly the way the Masters did it, all those years ago, learning from each other and learning from their teachers and copying their work.
Now, that is certainly an approach that I use with my guided Paint Alongs. And the thing is, even though I am saying, make this line or load up your brush with this paint colour and make this line, it’s very likely that your mark will be a little different to mine; and that’s fantastic. It’s great if you notice why, but it’s totally allowed. Because in my teaching, I’m aiming for similar but different, and that is all we sort of hope for, at the end. I believe that even when I paint the same subject multiple times, I’m not going to get the same result; as simple as that. Because my environment will be slightly different; the mark that comes out of my hand will be slightly different; I might have had some more learning between the last time I drew this subject or painting, and what it is today. So, allow yourself to be similar but different. But certainly, learn from those teachers.
One way of, sort of, being able to allow yourself to be inspired by teachers, is to do the work and do what they’re teaching you, but always credit them; if you are sharing it in particular on social media, always credit your sources. They love to see that, and feel appreciated as well. And of course, the people who follow them, they’re not questioning what you’re doing either. So, it’s really important to credit those sources. And we’ve always got something to learn from other artists and other teachers. I learned so much from people who are even doing other things that I can use in my art; and including, sort of, music. And I get a bit carried away actually, trying to figure out ways I can include learning in so many ways, so many aspects of my life, my art.
But remember, what we’re aiming for here, is similar but different. And as you are guided on your way to Art Fitness, that’s a fabulous way to do it. It’s a really resourceful way to do it. So, don’t shy away from producing something that is really similar to someone you admire. I think, do it, and learn from it. You might even want to paint it again with different colours, or slightly different proportions, or something like that. But then take away that inspiration into something that you make your own in the future. But do allow yourself that gift of learning from a teacher, by copying and being guided. And put that away in your exercise book; it’s like being guided for a class. In your sketchbook, I’m saying exercise book; that was a slip, wasn’t it? Because I do believe that you’re doing your exercises in your sketchbook. I guess, it’s also like going to a class, an aerobics class or a fitness class, and being guided by the person at the front of the room. If you are then doing it for yourself at home, you’ll probably follow their instructions but you may not do it exactly the same way that they do it; and that’s absolutely fine. The time will come that you decide, which exercises suit you the best, and you can create your own workout. So, that is the process too, with painting. You can figure out and learn from the guide, go on your own journey to do that drawing and/or painting, and it might be similar but different. And then eventually, you’re ready to create your own workout, your own painting; and just picking and choosing from all the learnings that you’ve had along the way. It’s a wonderful way of developing your style.
So, remember, all we’re aiming for is similar but different. We don’t need an exact facsimile. Your fitness is slightly different to my fitness; and that is fine too. You might be really light with your marks or really heavy-handed. Either way is not wrong; it’s just different. But if it’s similar, we’re on our way to achieving great things in our Art Fitness journey. Okay. So remember that, keep that in mind. Give yourself a break, when things don’t work out exactly the same way. And start noticing what is your tendency with the way that you draw or paint, because then you can expect that, perhaps, when you’re moving on and learning the next thing. So, keep that in mind. We’re aiming for similar but different, and I will talk to you again, really soon.
So, you want to get Art Fit? We’ll find out when the doors to the Shiny Happy Art Club open next. There are 24 online Paint Alongs to choose from when you join, so you’ll definitely find something you love. And now, there are also $15 and $25 subscription options. So, go to www.shinyhappyart.com to pop your name on the waiting list. I look forward to painting with you in the Shiny Happy Art Club. And until then, I’ll be back in your ears with the next episode of the Art Fit Podcast.
