How to Plan a Sketch or Painting without Motivation

 

Come on, let's be real here - we've all had that moment where we stare at a blank canvas and just freeze up. It can be intimidating, to say the least. But have you ever noticed how some people embrace the white canvas and refuse to paint over it? I mean, have you ever been to a museum and seen a painting that's just plain white? It's not a mistake. 

In fact, the absence of color can be just as significant as the presence of it.

Maybe the color white is symbolic of something deeper, something we want to see or feel. Perhaps it's a way for us to manifest our own thoughts and emotions onto the canvas. 

Whatever the reason, it's clear that the white canvas holds a special power over us, one that we can either choose to embrace or run away from. So next time you're staring at a blank canvas, take a moment to consider the possibilities that lie within the color white. Who knows, maybe it'll inspire your next masterpiece!

HOW I PLAN MY PAINTINGS

I'm very picky and being bipolar makes it hard to stick to one option. So, I just base my pickiness on how I'm feeling that day. Once I decide on a mood for my painting, like happy, sad, serious, poppy, colorful, or monotone, 

• Pick a mood, the mood will also be your color palette
• Select your color palette. I love using Adobe Color for this.
• I choose a subject that fits the theme. Landscapes and portraits can work for any of these moods.
• Do a rough sketch of your study. For me, this is crucial because I've come to realize when my sketch outlines are OK, or DONE, even if only half done -- I have more motivation to continue the work. 

Here's an example: 

One of my youtube shorts.

My mood at the time is Grief. I was mourning my grandmother who had raised me. One of my last dreams was of her on her grave standing during the evening as the sun was setting. The color palette was golden hues for me, although not necessarily a color of grief, sometimes anger is a secondary emotion with grief. 

I started off with a very simple sketch with minimal lines. 

Painting Process

       

       Sketch underlying drawing 

       Underpainting, this sets the temperature and tone of the work.

Use your lightest colors, warms or cools, whatever you want to show underneath

Art to your heart's content. Sometimes putting up a video of live streamers doing art can help motivate you, join discord channels with active artists, interact with them if you feel like you can't socialize in person, do what you need to do.  

YOU ONLY LIMIT YOURSELF. DON'T :)

Reels available for view on @PainterFleites on IG or Youtube!

• Put on some music, ambience, get yourself in the groove
• Remember, time isn't everything, you can step away from your desk
• Take a break painting if you've gone over 30 minutes. STAY in the ZONE if you don't think you need a break otherwise, to get in the zone takes time too! 
• Taking a break from painting lets you see the picture and colors from a different perspective because you're not in a critical mental zone

I hope that this minor blog will help you seek out motivation when you're doing art. Breaking tasks down into smaller categories will make projects seem less daunting and actually more manageable. As you complete each small step, you'll feel a sense of accomplishment and motivation to keep going.

This will only make you want to do more and thus keep the motivation and will on going.

Goodluck!!

Tips for finding references and images to paint!

- Pixabay

- Pexels

- Streetviewer 

Color Palette sites exist, just need to do some research

Adobe Color

Color Picker Websites