Frequently Asked Questions for Artists

I'll try to answer a few questions.

Janice Boling paints a picture in 1970

Janice at piano with one of her early paintings in the background and a drawing she did of paint bruhses

Why do people become artists?

I don’t know about everyone else, but art is my passion. I love to lose myself for hours while creating something different and original. The desire to draw and paint started when I was very young with coloring books and crayons. It wasn’t long until I was begging for paints and sketchpads.

If you want to know more about my life as a young artist, I wrote a whole post about how the 60's, 70's, and 80's, influenced me and my style.

People don’t become artists for the money, that’s for sure. It is hard to make a living with art and many artists have to take jobs in other professions to make ends meet.

Do artists see things differently?

I think so. When it comes to art, everything I do has to be balanced a certain way. You can hang one of my abstracts with any side facing up and it will look right. Balance is the key to how I feel about any piece of art, whether it is one of mine or someone else's. If it’s not balanced, the work seems unfinished. I think artists do see things a little differently but I also believe we are all artists!

How do you choose a medium?

Try everything that you can get your hands on! Pastels, charcoal, colored pencils, markers, ink, spray paint, watercolors, acrylics, oils, wood, canvas, paper, brushes and pens are all possibilities.

I like to work with color! Ultramarine Blue, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Red, Hookers Green, Dioxazine Purple, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Mars Black and Titanium white all deserve a shout-out. WIth those colors, you can mix up just about any shade or hue you want to use.

Acrylic paints in tubes are my go to medium because the colors are so rich, the texture is just right, and they are quick drying. I usually buy Utrecht paints because they are made in America, they have good coverage, and are a great buy for the money. I also like to work with plain old pencil and paper. Once you gain some experience, you will have favorite mediums, too.

How do you come up with something original?

Ask yourself questions. Am I high on life or down in the dumps? Do I feel sad, depressed, or joyful and full of life? Use emotions to create art! Maybe browns and grays will do for a sad day. On joyful days, work with bright colors. You will figure it out once you get some practice.

Keep asking questions as you set up to work. What color fits my mood? What shapes do my emotions take? Are they soft and curvy or spiked and jagged?

On a sunny day with spring in the air, I might paint a field of daisies with bright colors and blue skies. During a time of grief or misfortune, that same view of the meadow might become a dark, scary place full of black shadows. Let your emotions come to the surface. Let art flow from your heart to your fingertips and soon original art, in your very own style, will break through. You will end up with a nice piece of artwork and a feeling of accomplishment. Creating emotional art is therapeutic and original.

Do artists ever feel like giving up?

Of course we do! During times of frustration, I take a step back. I don’t fret or worry about not painting or getting things done in the studio. Instead, I find other things to do. Gardening, cooking, baking, cleaning, writing, surfing the internet... I can always keep busy. I also turn to meditation, prayer, and Bible study. A walk with Jesus really puts things back into perspective.

I can’t stay away from art for long. Suddenly the urge to paint can become overpowering. It's like a drug and blank canvas is the fix. I can go from having one project in the works, to ten projects going at once in just a few days. I am amazed that it all comes together on schedule. When I step back and look at a finished piece, the high is very satisfying.

Even if our canvases never sell, if they pile up in every corner, we continue to produce. Somehow we find money for supplies. Sometimes we think about giving up, but in the end we pick up a brush and push on.

Thanks for reading my post, Jan.

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