lean into experimentation
each mark will lead you to the next right step
yancey towne’s art making is a weekly peek into the art studio to share learnings, current projects, and inspiration. Making art is for everyone, here’s to finding yours…
My focus this year is experimentation. I’m working to get out of my own way and just make the art first. Then, I can go back with an editor’s eye to clean things up, and make changes. Normally I allow my critical eye to lead the way which slows me down, limits experimenting, and makes the whole process feel way too heavy.
I’ll be leaning on the mantra from my former ceramics professor “more, faster” because it seems that the faster I work, the less my brain is able to engage and muck up the process. Working faster is not about racing through without a care, more like a steady flow of keeping things moving mindfully.
Quickly sketching with lines and shapes can help loosen up our body and mind to the creative process. Finding ways to let your mind pause the judgements so you can play is key. Have fun first, you’ll learn how to edit later. It won’t take much of a nudge to get your brain pointing out the places for improvement, ha!
The more I practice, the more I realize that every step I make in my art is the exact right step—even if it makes a mess. From the messes I will learn what I don’t like, from the wins I will learn what I love and how it feels to be on the right track. The only wrong move is to not move. Whatever art you want to make, get started, get your hands dirty and make a good mess… 💛
current projects
knits: Now the third color begins! I’ll be making a new row of yellow triangles on this neckline—only three more rows of triangles remain, so maybe I’ll finish before spring? Speed isn’t my goal, I use knitting to quiet my mind after a long day, and as a way to slow down. Having big projects like sweaters reminds me that good things take time. Settle in, do the work, and enjoy the beautiful details.
watercolor experiments: I only got a few layers of paint down this week on these, so I am missing the feeling of the paint flowing and watching the pigment dance in the water across the page. I’m working on contrast and how to darken the dark areas so certain spots will pop off the page.
paints: I’ve had an idea in mind to experiment with—keeping a painting sketchbook to work on at my painting workspace. I’m still in the early stages of figuring out how it all works within my process, but so far it has a space and I have finished the first page. My thought is that it can be a place to keep pushing ideas with less of a ‘risk’ since it’s on paper.
patterns: One of the 100-day projects I did last year was focused on pattern sketches. I’m slowly going through all of that work to play with the designs and make repeating patterns. This is one reminds me of a short, chunky pencil.
I hope you find space to make something of your own this week. Share what you’re up to by clicking the link below, I’d love to see it!
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