0
5 In Art

Be Creative

“90% of painting is redoing your first pass.”

This means that once you’ve covered your entire canvas, you’re project is only 10% complete.

As an art major, this has become our anthem. Equally liberating and maddening, the truth of this quote becomes so evident. The number of hours and days spent in the studio working over a painting will take you on an emotional roller coaster.

With every art project I’ve been given, no matter the task, the process remains the same. You start with confusion, searching for creative sparks in your brain to inspire your work, hoping something will set your soul on fire. Finding this inspiration feels much like the giddiness of Christmas morning, filled with wonder of possibilities and potential of this new creation.

 

Then comes the work. In this process there are often times when you question why you ever thought you enjoyed art in the first place. There are moments of encouragement, finding new colors or exciting ways to express your story, but there are also great moments of frustration, scrapping back paint or entirely coving your canvas again in hopes to bring it back to life.

But through all this is where the art becomes its own. Every layer of paint, both scratched away and added again, has its own story creating layers upon layers of expression.

Regardless of how an art work finishes, it’s the work behind it that is beautiful.

While this quote is directed at the art world, it parallels every area of my life. Inspiring me to never be in a place of contentment and knowing there is always room for improvement.

How liberating to know that if at first we fail, it’s a good thing. And how inspiring to know that our first pass is only the beginning

In this project our task was to “be creative”, a d find a way to share a story through drawing. No guidelines. No limitations. So I decided to combine my two loves, art and dancing, into an expressive story. I have always been inspired by the art of Heather Hansen, a dancer and fine artist, whose work combines movement and visual arts. With inspiration from Heather’s work, I came to the decision of drawing the pathway of an old ballet variation, marking out the motions of my feet and hands through charcoal onto a large sheet. I’ve never had so much fun in my life.

Much Love,

You Might Also Like

5 Comments

  • Reply
    Brooke
    April 6, 2017 at 8:25 pm

    This article is so beautiful, Savvy! I think a lot of people misunderstand the importance of art in our society and in our own personal development. I wish elementary, middle, and high schools had more developed art programs, because without art how can we really bring our own personal touch to the things we do? I’m a local titleholder for MAO and my platform is related to STEAM, science, technology, engineering, art, and math. I am a true believer that art plays such an important role, especially in the STEM fields. I am so glad you created a blog, and I CAN’T WAIT to read your future posts!

    • Reply
      Savvy Shields
      May 14, 2017 at 3:12 am

      Brooke! Thank you so much for sharing, truly makes my heart melt. I love hearing about other human’s passions about the arts, and I’m so proud to hear your platform is promoting the importance of the field. So proud of you already, sister! Much love my fellow art girl.

  • Reply
    Art + Fear – savvyjanine
    May 14, 2017 at 2:06 am

    […] Be Creative […]

  • Reply
    Duane Gunn
    May 15, 2017 at 2:38 am

    I am a huge a pageant fan,i love them all but the Miss America Competition is my favorite pageant because of the Scholarship program for women in America and all over the world.I’m From Greater Sudbury (Chelmsford ) Ontario Canada.I’m 42 and have a learning disability young man. Here in Canada the scholarships are awarded to young women ages 17-24 in Miss North Ontario Pageant,Miss Teen Age Canada Word,Miss World Canada and I think Miss Universe Canada pageant.I had trouble getting scholarships to go to college after i left from St.Charles College High School.Even though i did get high marks and was very smart but the school did not give scholarship to our grads in my class,but i did get a grade 12 Life Skills high school diploma, I did get a burseary from the goverment of Ontario to go to Cambrian College after i started working at Jarrett Value Center.but I saved up some money to go to college. thank you for your being Miss America 2017.And also your platform issue.my cause is the special Olympics Ontario Canada and Knights of Columbus. Your friend Duane A Gunn.

  • Reply
    Duane Gunn
    May 15, 2017 at 2:40 am

    I also love art,math education as well. thank u for your blog.,

  • Leave a Reply to Duane Gunn Cancel Reply