The Art of an Artist’s Incubation Period (Revisited)
beginning of an animation of Vitruvian Man I'm doing for Mograph class.
“Spring Break” is over and I spent the entire week married to my computer learning more After Effects techniques, neglecting my 3ds max schoolwork and gloriously drawing in Photoshop.
I also painted to fix something in an old painting, after a very nice Arts organization leader asked me to please submit my figurative work to their Call for Entries and waived the fee for me.
Being back in school has given me the opportunity to learn new skills so I can get work after all this hoopla and also has forced me to focus on other creative areas of working outside of painting. These artist painting incubation periods are dreadfully painful, however,I am already seeing improvement in all of my art. Learning and growing pains are worth it.
Even if you are doing something other than your main medium of choice, you can still be learning new things to bring back home to your lovely comfort zone. It makes picking up those brushes even more exciting and special to me, for sure.
L
Leslie Pierce Paintings @ Blue Dahlia Bistro in Austin: Now through April 3rd
I just hung some of my paintings (cut the naked people paintings out) up at Blue Dahlia Bistro on East 11th street in Austin. I really am ready to take things to an incredible level in my painting so stay tuned. 
How to Take it Up a Notch as an Artist…
I may have mentioned before that I am currently back in school (yes, again/ argh) for a second degree. This one is in Video Game Art. Since I have NEVER played games (too busy working and making art) and am slightly older than most of the students in school, I have spent the last 2 plus years not knowing what anybody is talking about at all and all the while thinking- Dang (insert expletive of choice), when am I going to paint again!
Perhaps, the WorkForce program, though I am grateful to be in, was not an exact science fit. What is the take away for me is it has made be much more critical in my own art and I am going to take things up a major notch (es).
So how do you take things up a notch as an artist? I may or may not be an expert on this but I can tell you some simple, easy to understand hard fast rules for improving your art. This will take courage and a great deal of honesty so let’s roll up our sleeves right now and dive into some big questions to help us navigate, shall we?
1. Is your art consistent from one piece to the next? This can be seen in your line quality, brushstrokes, light quality and the things you put into your art
2. Is each of your compositions solid? Does your eye flow through your piece. If it stops on what part over another, is there a good reason for this- is this where you intended your area of focus to be?
3. Are you making good use of color? Do you have a good understanding of Color Theory? I like playing with things like “simultaneous color contrast” and “pushing and pulling” color.
4. Are you over-working your painting? (Better known as is your painting turning to yukky mud) Sometimes, it’s better to let the painting and yourself rest a spell and come back to it later on with fresh eyes. Other times, (this has never happened to me cough-cough…) it is simply better to just start over. 
Like this:
I Cannot Believe I am Re-Working This Painting Again!
But this time, I do believe it is looking much better. Here’s a quick snap until Sunday when I finish it up. The color is much better than this photo, as well.
The Juggling Act of Being An Artist Revisited….
Sometimes, it can be frustrating when other things in life pull you away from having the time and focus to create your own art. I hit a wall of it during the last few days but talked myself back to success mode again. I also got real with myself on where I want to go with my current paintings. I am definitely ready to take things up a notch or two. I seriously cannot wait to finish up with the 3D classes I have been taking for the last 2 plus years so I can get more of my 2D going full time. I am hanging in for the additional degree but honestly I just want to paint and draw.
"Paradise Within,"
It’s a Great Rainy Day in Austin to Get More Paintings Done…
I’ve been so busy in school doing things I do not love in 3D that I have not gotten some real painting time in other than doing demos while teaching. That is changing today! It’s been raining like crazy in Austin, Texas and I feel the need to create. This need involves real life paint and paintbrushes. What a perfect day to stay inside and mix up some fresh, luscious color. I feel so happy to be setting my artist goals and achieving them. http://www.artistlesliepierce.com
"It's Not You, It's Me...", 16x24" Oil and encaustic on masonite, Leslie Pierce 2011
Like this:
“Contemporary Figure Drawing and Painting,” at Laguna Gloria in Austin, Texas!
 Graphite drawing after Pontormo/ "Renaissance Man", Leslie Pierce 2007 |
Just Confirmed: I will be teaching my brand new class: ”Contemporary Figure Drawing and Painting,” for The Art School at Laguna Gloria starting this summer!
The class will meet twice a week- Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9 P.M., like a real college class but for 8 sessions, starting on 7/17.
This is pure awesomeness.
