Art aims – what I hope to achieve in 2021

Before I launch into my blog, I want to acknowledge what a difficult time we’re all living through. Much of what all of us call ‘normal’ is taking a battering at the moment, and it’s pot luck as to whether you’ve been severely affected by the current pandemic such as losing loved ones, or if, like me, you’re one of the lucky ones who’ve merely (to date) been inconvenienced with a loss of lifestyle which is hopefully temporary and some lost income. I count myself as privileged that my circumstances allow such self-indulgent ramblings, and I don’t take it for granted.

So 2021 has started, and I’ve found a renewed vigour with my art, I’ve created 14 new pieces of art this year already, and it’s only the 19th January!

When I picked up the pencils, dip pens and brushes freshly in 2018 I had one aim. I was fed up with clinical computer illustrations, I wanted to immerse myself in the randomness and uniqueness of hand drawn artwork, I would embrace the ink splats, mistakes (happy accidents as Bob Ross would call them) as a unique part of each piece. Moreover, as a commercial artist and graphic designer, who had always been driven by deadlines (time is money!), I would stop creating ‘quick’ and start creating ‘beautiful’.

The many lovely comments I get on social media from people approving of the artwork means that I have indeed fulfilled the above self-set brief. Also, I have occasionally produced work that I’m really pleased with, particularly the recent painting I did ‘Ice Fishing in Ivalo’ and ‘Lighthouse at Fife’, two works in which I feel I have really created something that my earlier self would have been impressed with.

So, boxes ticked, I feel it’s now time for the next step. But what should that be? I’ve decided that 2021 will be a year of honing and experimentation for me. I’ve a couple of exciting projects looming that will really test my illustrative abilities, plus our extended lockdowns have afforded me the time to ‘play’ a little.

I regularly look at Instagram, and when I do it doesn’t take long for me to see artwork that is far beyond my current skill level. But often these artists do what I don’t do, looking at their previous posts, which show a real consistency, they clearly find a formula that works and then stick to it to really hone their abilities to the highest pinnacle they can achieve.

My ‘problem’ seems to be that I’m fighting on too many fronts…. I’m dabbling in ink, watercolour, oil painting, pencil drawing, and digital art, drawing all manner of subjects from cartoons to abstract nature studies. Maybe that’s a good thing, but the danger is that whilst I may slowing improve across the board, I might become ‘jack of all trades’ but master of none. I know that sooner or later I should stick with a formula and really take it to the maximum to see where I can go with it, and what I can achieve.

I also really love it when a piece of art that I produce really emotionally connects with somebody. When that happens I find it really encouraging and it spurs me on to produce more.

But what to concentrate on? That is what I’ve promised myself that 2021 will reveal. I also probably need to slow down a little and take time to create really exceptional pieces. So expect a few social media polls as I test opinion on my creations. Feel free to follow my Instagram account (use the icon at the top of the page) to join me on what could be an interesting journey.