Forget the Formula

People love to find a formula for marketing, pricing, selling and sometimes even creating art. The better you understand the world of art galleries, shows and marketing work, the more successful you may be as an artist. Or not. Formulas have a place in business but when you forget the formula and find a recipe your art will evolve more organically.

I often say that I cook the way I paint. I look in the pantry or the fridge and see what is available. I rely on years of experience to understand what flavors work well together. Which vegetables pair well with others and how to break the rules. Perhaps I only have carrots and no celery, or curry spices instead ofFrench tarragon and oregano. I bend the rules to embrace a new recipe. Most times the result is good and sometimes it is fabulous. Then I must remember to write it down so I may replicate it. I usually forget this step and the next time I want to make it; it turns out slightly different. That’s ok. Variety is a spice itself.

With my background in chemistry and experimental science I love to mix things up. My art studio is my lab, much like the kitchen. I have decades of experience working with acrylic mediums, paints, papers and found objects. I have written six books and produced hundreds of hours of videos sharing my experiments. When I go into the studio, I may have a specific goal in mind that requires certain ingredients. I begin the project, but I always keep an extra panel, canvas or paper next to me for the experiments. I call this my accidental masterpiece. While I am focused on creating the “real painting” I am letting my imagination soar on the accidental process. This is where the real magic happens. Yes, you may end up with something less than spectacular but if you do this every time, whether you are painting or creating mixed media work, you will begin to trust the process and discover some absolutely fantastic new combinations.

An unusual color combination combined with specific patterned collage papers can spark an entirely new series. Using a combination of gels and pastes in a fresh way can lend itself to amazing textures. I recently had a jar of medium that was about to expire, and I just dragged it across one of my extra canvases and it made the most unusual texture that was impossible to achieve any other way. Don’t you love it when those happy accidents occur! This is the recipe I am talking about. The recipe is adaptable, flexible and always evolving, just like artists. When I was a young aspiring song writer, I used to think that suffering was necessary in order to write. Now I know that joy is the key. Loving the process and finding and sharing the excitement and joy in creating is my superpower.

I am sharing my base recipe for joyful creating. Adapt and alter as needed to suit your style.

Ingredients:

Excitement, curiosity, raw emotions

Canvas

Paint, Brushes, rollers and fingers

Collage materials

Stamps, stencils or rollers

Markers, pencils and inks too

Whatever you discover in your pantry

Steps:

Begin with curiosity and exploration.

Combine in unusual ways.

Alter the proportions.

Let it all rest and then review.

Repeat as needed.

Turn it all upside down.

Walk away for a day.

Let it cook as needed.

Look with fresh eyes.

Repeat often and when the old internal critic has something to say, simply hit the mute button and carryon.

Share and enjoy.

If you would like to join me in creating, I still have a few spots available for workshops in 2024. Checkout the website for details. https://www.sandraduranwilson.com/workshops