Weekly BobBlast Issue 545

How I Get Ideas for Paintings

Welcome Back to Another BobBlast!

This BobBlast is in answer to two questions I often get—how I get my ideas for painting and how do I start a painting? The hardest part is knowing when and how to start. I remember when I was first starting to paint… I was so nervous about making an unsuccessful painting! I mean, what will my friends and other people think if I made a bad painting? So I would paint subject matter that I thought would be popular and well-liked. Hmmm… I may have had more success, but I wasn’t happy.

I realized that I paint better and I’m happier when I paint a subject that’s closer to my heart:

•Childhood memories

•Personal experiences

•My own stories

My interests that find their way into my paintings are Magic, Music and People. They start off as multiple warm-ups as I am working out my thoughts. These multiples develop into a series, then a body of work. 

So, at first I journal about why I am painting this series, including any feelings I have about the subject. That’s what I paint! I believe it doesn’t matter how you communicate—it just matters that you do.

Decide what you want to paint. It can be a simple subject. It doesn’t have to be a high and mighty concept. Paint your own story, your own interests, paint what pleases you!

In the video, I decide to paint a common, everyday object that I use everyday! A Coffee Cup. I write about it, I study the coffee cup, I draw it, I paint the structure of the cup in black and white. After I am familiar with the coffee cup, I add color and start to have fun with it!

Just Start! Then paint it over and over and over!

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2024

•December 11, 2024

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“Using Neutrals in your Paintings”

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•December 14-15, 2024

Painting Figures without Painting Figures - ONLINE WORKSHOP

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•December 16, 2024

Abstract Florals from Loose Colorful Splatters - ONLINE WORKSHOP

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2025

•January 6-10, 2025

Abstract Acrylic Painting & Collage

Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson, AZ

Sponsored by Madeline Island School of the Arts

contact 715-747-2054 or misa@madelineschool.com

Click here for more info

•January 14, 2025

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•January 18-25, 2025

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Click HERE to view BobBlast Issue 545 video!

How I Get Ideas for Paintings

Weekly BobBlast 545 - Video run time 15 minutes, 9 seconds

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