( 그림공부 ) 매일 그림 연습을 위한 10가지 팁

Among the Reeds  (pastel on paper, 9×12)

Eve Miller 라는 미국의 여류 파스텔 화가가 쓴 글을 옮긴다.(구글 번역, 영어 원문은 맨 마지막에 )

 

예술적 발전을 가속화하기 위해, 저는 창의적인 가능성을 넓히고 기술과 기법을 향상시키기 위해 

매일 그림 그리는 연습을 시작했습니다. 

저는 지금까지 5년 이상 매일 그림 그리는 연습을 해왔습니다. 시간이 지나면서, 제가 전시회에 

제출한 작품이 연습을 시작하기 전에 제출한 그림보다 더 자주 수락된다는 것을 알게 되었고, 

이는 기쁘게도 예상치 못한 결과였습니다.

이를 실현하기 위한 10가지 팁
저는 야심 찬 예술가에게 매일 그림 그리는 연습을 하라고 조언하고, 시간이 지남에 따라 쌓이는 

이점을 거두라고 조언합니다. 자신의 연습을 시작하는 데 관심이 있다면 다음 사항을 고려하세요.

1
전담 시간을 따로 두세요. 하루에 5분이라도 창작할 시간을 내는 것이 중요합니다. 지금은 그림을 

완성하려고 할 때가 아닙니다. 낙서, 스케치, 썸네일 만들기, 색상 연구 만들기 또는 파스텔 테스트 등 

탐험할 시간입니다. 짧은 시간 안에 무엇을 배울 수 있는지 놀라실 겁니다. 저는 보통 매일 30분을 보내며, 

나머지 하루를 보내기 전에 작업을 멈추고 평가할 수 있도록 타이머를 설정합니다.

2
일관성을 유지하세요. 저는 아침에 그림을 그리는 사람이기 때문에 매일 아침 연습하는 것이 좋은 

워밍업이 됩니다. 하루 중 가장 에너지가 많고 방해가 가장 적은 시간을 파악하고 정해진 날짜를 정해놓으세요.

3
트리거를 찾으세요. 앉아서 "창의적으로 행동하는" 것은 위압적일 수 있습니다. 

저는 영감을 주는 인용구, 미술 서적, 다른 예술가의 작품이 일상 연습에 불을 붙이는 데 

도움이 된다는 것을 알게 되었습니다. 그것들은 저를 땅에 붙이고 작업하는 동안 집중할 

무언가를 제공합니다.

4
왜 그림을 그리는지 스스로에게 상기시키세요. 저는 보통 그날의 창의적인 의도에 집중하고, 

이를 색인 카드에 적어 이젤에 놓습니다. 왜 그림을 그리는지 기억하는 것도 중요하다고 생각합니다. 

이유를 아세요.

5
행복한 장소를 찾으세요. 작업하는 공간과 사용하는 재료가 마음에 들수록 신성한 창작 시간을 

더욱 즐기고 감사하게 될 것입니다.

6
밖으로 나가세요. 영감을 얻기 위해 자연의 무작위적인 아름다움을 관찰하는 것이 중요합니다. 

산책을 할 때는 그 순간을 즐기는 데 집중하지만, 눈길을 끄는 것을 기억하려고 노력합니다. 

스마트폰으로 촬영하고 참조한 장면보다 "기억 그림"이 더 자연스러운 느낌을 준다는 것을 알게 되었습니다.

7
대부분의 날은 이젤에 준비하고 도착하세요. 전날 밤에 이젤과 재료를 설치하면 훨씬 더 쉽다는 

것을 알게 되었습니다. 그러면 다음날 아침에 모든 준비가 되어 작업을 시작할 수 있습니다.

8
책임감을 가지세요. 그림을 그리려면 시간, 동기 부여, 영감이 필요합니다. 

저는 좋아요를 받기 위해가 아니라 책임감을 갖기 위해 매일 연습 결과를 소셜 미디어에 게시합니다. 

저는 고독을 좋아하지만, 후속 조치를 위해서는 상호 작용이 필요하다고 생각합니다.

9
판단을 버리세요. 일이 생각대로 되지 않더라도, 그 과정에 마음을 열면 훨씬 더 즐거운 

경험이 됩니다. 당신은 부정적인 의견(당신이나 다른 사람의 의견)에 의해 정의되지 않는다는 

것을 기억하고 앞으로 나아가세요.

10
당신에게 말을 걸어오는 영감을 찾으세요. 매일 실천하기는 어려울 수 있지만, 주제, 과정, 

소재 등에서 영감을 받으면 계속할 가능성이 더 큽니다. 아름다움은 바로 거기에 있습니다.

 

Dawn  (pastel on paper, 12×9)

Serenity in the Marsh  (pastel on paper, 12×12)

Morning Magic  (pastel on paper, 14×11)

 

About the Artist

Eve Miller, of Beaufort, S.C., is an instructor and award-winning pastelist. She’s a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America and a Master Circle Member of the International Association of Pastel Societies, as well as a member of several other art societies and organizations. Follow her daily painting practice on Instagram.

My first introduction to art-making took place in my 60s, after having retired from teaching French and Spanish for 35 years. Fortunately, art found me at a time when I had the luxury to take classes and workshops from talented contemporary artists.

 

To accelerate my artistic development, I embarked on a daily painting practice to push creative possibilities and improve my skills and techniques. I’ve now been practicing every day for more than five years. Over time, I noticed that the work I submitted to exhibitions was accepted more frequently than the paintings submitted before having begun my practice, which has been a delightfully unexpected outcome.

10 Tips to Make it Happen

My advice for aspiring artists is to commit to a daily painting practice—and to reap the benefits that build over time. If you’re interested in establishing your own practice, consider the following.

1

Set aside a dedicated time. It’s important to carve out time to create, even if it’s just 5 minutes a day. This isn’t the time to try to complete a painting. It’s a time to explore—to doodle, sketch, make thumbnails, create a color study or test pastels. You’ll be surprised by what you can learn in a short amount of time. I usually spend 30 minutes daily, setting a timer as a reminder to stop and assess my work before I move on with the rest of my day.

2

Be consistent. I’m a morning painter, so my daily morning practice serves as a great warm-up. Observe the time of day you have the most energy and the fewest distractions, and commit to a standing date.

3

Find a trigger. It can be intimidating to sit down and “be creative.” I’ve found that inspirational quotes, art books and other artists’ works help to ignite my daily practice. They ground me and give me something to focus on while working.

4

Remind yourself why you’re painting. I usually focus on a creative intention for the day, which I write on an index card and place on the easel. I find it’s also important to remember why I paint. Know your why(s).

5

Find a happy place. The more you like the space in which you’re working—and the materials on hand that you’re using—the more you’ll enjoy and appreciate your sacred creative time.

6

Go outside. It’s important to observe nature’s random beauty for inspiration. When I go for a walk, I focus on enjoying the moment, but I also try to memorize what catches my eye. I’ve learned that my “memory paintings” have a more spontaneous feel than those scenes I captured and referenced with my smartphone.

7

Prep and show up at the easel most days. I’ve learned that it’s much easier if I set up my easel and materials the night before, so I’m all set and ready to go the next morning.

8

Be accountable. It takes time, motivation and inspiration to paint. I post my daily practice outcomes on social media, not for the likes but because it makes me accountable. I love my solitude but I find interaction necessary for follow-through.

9

Let go of judgment. Even if things don’t turn out the way you think they should, it’s a much more joyful experience when you’re open to the process. Remember that you’re not defined by negative opinions—yours or others’—and move forward.

10

Find inspiration that speaks to you. It can be difficult to commit to a daily practice, but if you’re inspired by your subject, process, materials, etc., you’ll be more likely to continue. That’s where the beauty lies.