This is so refreshing to hear. Now and then I will paint on a large canvas but somehow the smaller sizes are calling me more often.
I need both, larger for stepping out from my comfort zone and feeling the act of painting in my whole body, and smaller… for I guess feeling like I’m home ☺️
I am working on thinking and talking about my smaller pieces with the same passion and importance as larger ones, so thank you so much for your words! 🥰
Every craft I have ever done has been in some form of small scale or miniature. I don’t know why maybe as you said being able to pick something up and. It have a huge mess
And too many tools. I have always been wary of watercolor. Probably because I can’t control it. Guache recently became an interest that may help with that. Using watercolor
With pen and ink for simple sketches also satisfies me. Any advice. On this new medium for me would be wonderful. Loved this whole thread.
Gouache is one of my favourite mediums, purely for its versatility! I love that it can be very opaque but also transparent if you add more water. It's fantastic for layering! Have fun playing around with it. :)
I adore your work I feel so calm looking at it. I tend to only work smaller scale as well. I exclusively work on 9x12in paper for my faces. Working on a larger scale intimidates me to the point I don't think it will work out well for my faces that I paint.
I love your colours! I'm really into gouache at the moment too and working smaller too, I'm painting postcards 5"x7" at the moment, it's really satisfying!
This is so refreshing. Why do most of us feel so much pressure to go big? It’s important to remain true to what we instinctively know about ourselves as artists.
Gorgeous painting, I’m new to painting (today is my first day, I’m working with gouche) and I came across your substack. I love your work, the details are everything!
It's funny how we (the world) in general are more accepting on musicians and actors trying new directions. We even feel excited about those changes. While with painters and writers there is more resistance!
But it really shouldn't be like that. Creative people are curious people, they dabble in new things and develop new interests. It can only be a good thing.
Follow your interests, make works that are different. They will find you the right audience.
Hello Natasha, I love to work on a small scale for many of the same reasons you suggest. I too like the chance and playfulness of watery paints, as well as layering. I used to think I must work larger and make bigger, more dynamic paintings but I realise now there is strength in having a quieter voice x
It was really interesting to read how you associated bigger pieces of art with being a ‘proper’ artist - I’ve had exactly the same thoughts myself as over time my work has moved from big 50cm square panels, to smaller 20cm pieces. For the longest time I felt that I should be working bigger to be taken more seriously, but I’ve found, like you, I just naturally enjoy making smaller, more detailed paintings.
Thank you for sharing this Natasha, and I know you mentioned this on our Patreon zoom session yesterday evening.
It can be a tricky thing to embrace the changes that we go through. For a long time, a couple of years I think it's been altogether, I've been fighting with the thought that I may not make silver jewellery again. Whenever I've got all of my stuff out to work on some, I've had a go, I've found it frustrating and tiresome, and I just don't feel the joy for it anymore, I really dislike the mess, the amount of stuff that's required, materials, tools etc, and I'm in a room in a shared house as you know and it's just not practical. I had been thinking that once I get my own place sorted in a year or so's time, I can have a dedicated space for it all. But actually I'm starting to think I won't ever go back to it, and that has been hard, as I did a degree and spent so much money on learning how to do it, I fought so long with the idea that it was a waste. But these last few months I've left it alone completely, and honestly, I don't miss it, and I've come to understand that I am in an evolution in my life, where I like simplicity, just a few materials around me that's easy to clear up and put away, and art has really become that thing for me now, now that I'm settled in my art style, I love how relaxing it is and how lost I get in it.
All of this is to say that it's ok for us to go through evolutions in our creative pursuits, we change and grow as we explore and what used to work for us, may not work anymore, and that's ok, and the wonderful thing about our creative practices is that that thing we learned how to do never goes away, it's always there if we wish to come back to it, we may need to scrape off the rust a little when of if we do, but muscle memory kicks in and the brain understands that this is something familiar.
You do what brings you joy, and I think this is especially important if you're a full time creative for a job. Your work is wonderful on every scale, so if you need to tuck those big canvases away for a while then so be it, be kind to yourself and do what feels right for you for where you are in life right now ❤️❤️
I can really relate to this, Lynsey. I think it's totally normal for us to change and evolve throughout our lives, and this includes our artistic life, like you said. I think that time also becomes more precious as we get older, so we don't want to waste time doing things that don't bring us joy. It actually makes me feel better to read about your experience with the silver jewellery making, thank you for sharing that here! xx
I love that you have shared this Natasha. When I first started following your art journey many years ago I was drawn to your large, minimalist, muted canvases. It has been such a privilege to watch your journey as an artist. As we go through life we change all the time. The person I am now at 67, it seems to me, is nothing like the 18 year old girl I once was. Why should your art be unchanging as you, yourself, have surely changed. It's all a journey. Leaving things behind to embrace the new that enthralls us is only natural and this is reflected in your work. All very easily recognised as Natasha, but ever changing and growing.
Keep experimenting and paint the way that gives you most pleasure. Your joy in your work shines through, as it always has done, at every stage of your journey.
It's so reassuring to hear this Natasha. Many years ago when I used to exhibit a lot I used to paint on big canvases. Nowadays I've come to realise that they don't come easy to me and are more of a chore than enjoyment. I feel more free and experimental painting small and most importantly, enjoy it! x
This is so refreshing to hear. Now and then I will paint on a large canvas but somehow the smaller sizes are calling me more often.
I need both, larger for stepping out from my comfort zone and feeling the act of painting in my whole body, and smaller… for I guess feeling like I’m home ☺️
I am working on thinking and talking about my smaller pieces with the same passion and importance as larger ones, so thank you so much for your words! 🥰
Every craft I have ever done has been in some form of small scale or miniature. I don’t know why maybe as you said being able to pick something up and. It have a huge mess
And too many tools. I have always been wary of watercolor. Probably because I can’t control it. Guache recently became an interest that may help with that. Using watercolor
With pen and ink for simple sketches also satisfies me. Any advice. On this new medium for me would be wonderful. Loved this whole thread.
Gouache is one of my favourite mediums, purely for its versatility! I love that it can be very opaque but also transparent if you add more water. It's fantastic for layering! Have fun playing around with it. :)
Thank you! Im going to dive in one of these days. Did you open all of the colors on your pallet?
I adore your work I feel so calm looking at it. I tend to only work smaller scale as well. I exclusively work on 9x12in paper for my faces. Working on a larger scale intimidates me to the point I don't think it will work out well for my faces that I paint.
I love your colours! I'm really into gouache at the moment too and working smaller too, I'm painting postcards 5"x7" at the moment, it's really satisfying!
I think the work tells us what it needs. It’s our job to try to listen and do it the best justice we are able with the skills and supplies we have. 💕🙏
This is so refreshing. Why do most of us feel so much pressure to go big? It’s important to remain true to what we instinctively know about ourselves as artists.
Gorgeous painting, I’m new to painting (today is my first day, I’m working with gouche) and I came across your substack. I love your work, the details are everything!
Thank you! How's the painting going, Antonina? :)
It's funny how we (the world) in general are more accepting on musicians and actors trying new directions. We even feel excited about those changes. While with painters and writers there is more resistance!
But it really shouldn't be like that. Creative people are curious people, they dabble in new things and develop new interests. It can only be a good thing.
Follow your interests, make works that are different. They will find you the right audience.
Hello Natasha, I love to work on a small scale for many of the same reasons you suggest. I too like the chance and playfulness of watery paints, as well as layering. I used to think I must work larger and make bigger, more dynamic paintings but I realise now there is strength in having a quieter voice x
Thank you for saying this. I agree, and I truly love your work! x
It was really interesting to read how you associated bigger pieces of art with being a ‘proper’ artist - I’ve had exactly the same thoughts myself as over time my work has moved from big 50cm square panels, to smaller 20cm pieces. For the longest time I felt that I should be working bigger to be taken more seriously, but I’ve found, like you, I just naturally enjoy making smaller, more detailed paintings.
This is really reassuring to hear, Julia. Thank you for sharing your experience. Art is art, and its value isn't dictated by its size! :)
I couldn’t agree more, well said 😊
Thank you for sharing this Natasha, and I know you mentioned this on our Patreon zoom session yesterday evening.
It can be a tricky thing to embrace the changes that we go through. For a long time, a couple of years I think it's been altogether, I've been fighting with the thought that I may not make silver jewellery again. Whenever I've got all of my stuff out to work on some, I've had a go, I've found it frustrating and tiresome, and I just don't feel the joy for it anymore, I really dislike the mess, the amount of stuff that's required, materials, tools etc, and I'm in a room in a shared house as you know and it's just not practical. I had been thinking that once I get my own place sorted in a year or so's time, I can have a dedicated space for it all. But actually I'm starting to think I won't ever go back to it, and that has been hard, as I did a degree and spent so much money on learning how to do it, I fought so long with the idea that it was a waste. But these last few months I've left it alone completely, and honestly, I don't miss it, and I've come to understand that I am in an evolution in my life, where I like simplicity, just a few materials around me that's easy to clear up and put away, and art has really become that thing for me now, now that I'm settled in my art style, I love how relaxing it is and how lost I get in it.
All of this is to say that it's ok for us to go through evolutions in our creative pursuits, we change and grow as we explore and what used to work for us, may not work anymore, and that's ok, and the wonderful thing about our creative practices is that that thing we learned how to do never goes away, it's always there if we wish to come back to it, we may need to scrape off the rust a little when of if we do, but muscle memory kicks in and the brain understands that this is something familiar.
You do what brings you joy, and I think this is especially important if you're a full time creative for a job. Your work is wonderful on every scale, so if you need to tuck those big canvases away for a while then so be it, be kind to yourself and do what feels right for you for where you are in life right now ❤️❤️
I can really relate to this, Lynsey. I think it's totally normal for us to change and evolve throughout our lives, and this includes our artistic life, like you said. I think that time also becomes more precious as we get older, so we don't want to waste time doing things that don't bring us joy. It actually makes me feel better to read about your experience with the silver jewellery making, thank you for sharing that here! xx
I love that you have shared this Natasha. When I first started following your art journey many years ago I was drawn to your large, minimalist, muted canvases. It has been such a privilege to watch your journey as an artist. As we go through life we change all the time. The person I am now at 67, it seems to me, is nothing like the 18 year old girl I once was. Why should your art be unchanging as you, yourself, have surely changed. It's all a journey. Leaving things behind to embrace the new that enthralls us is only natural and this is reflected in your work. All very easily recognised as Natasha, but ever changing and growing.
Keep experimenting and paint the way that gives you most pleasure. Your joy in your work shines through, as it always has done, at every stage of your journey.
X
This is such a lovely, encouraging, supportive comment, Lesley. Thank you so much! x
You are very welcome 🙏
It's so reassuring to hear this Natasha. Many years ago when I used to exhibit a lot I used to paint on big canvases. Nowadays I've come to realise that they don't come easy to me and are more of a chore than enjoyment. I feel more free and experimental painting small and most importantly, enjoy it! x
That's exactly it - they feel more like a chore, and that's not how painting should feel! x