Finding Your Artistic Voice

[@juliapace2845]

I can't tear myself away from your videos. Eventually, I'd better get started on a painting.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

That's why I keep them to 5 minutes or so! You can't blame me!

[@miafarone68]

Me too!

[@hopelesslytrying1007]

Lol,i thought i was the only one...

[@ChooseTruthAlways]

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition 😅

[@RobinSealark]

thank you for your perspectives! I really enjoy the way you break down the moving parts you can align to express with authenticity. That's motivating in art!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I'm delighted you found it helpful. Thanks so much.

[@loisruane2636]

I was Watching art videos and I stumbled into you. How lucky I was this evening. Subscribed!

[@graceg5999]

You describe the creative process of finding your voice in any creative field so well... I think we all inherently know there is a voice within us but it just takes time to clarify it. We do so by discovering the aspects of art we are attracted to and then assembling these characteristics in line with our own authentic point of view. Great video!

[@stephaniecarrow4898]

That Fairfield Porter painting is amazing. It has such emotional impact. It's a perfect example of "less is more." Thank you!

[@LaurieSequana]

I love these short, focused videos

[@paintlady2268]

Oh, I'm so glad I saw this. . . Thank you! This resonates with me. My style is what it is. My voice changes and is somewhat fluid depending on subject and, more importantly, my mood or the mood I'm conveying on paper or canvas. Yet there's is ALWAYS a recognizable 'me' in my work.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Well said

[@marc-artwork]

Skills craft : it's important to learn at school, university or other so as not to reinvent the wheel... personally, that's what helped me to put the pieces together (medium, subject and composition ). Alone ? Well i dont know, cant imagine/see... As you explain so well in another of your videos, orchestrating it all and finally finding your voice, that require a lot of practice, passion, self-confidence? Creative, authenticity: many to call, few chosen? It doesn't matter, practicing a discipline, working alone in a workshop or in a group, it is so rewarding, healing. Our journey, the road or your path taken is all that matters in the end, and it is personal, to each one. Many thx, have a great day.

[@miafarone68]

Love your Channel! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and talent!

[@kevinmortimer5681]

I'm an amateur painter in mainly watercolour and have only recently found and subscribed to your channel. I have to say that what you're producing is the best I've seen. So much of what you say transfers into watercolour, and the way you deliver is not only incredibly informative, but also intriguing and engaging. I love this kind of post where you provide analysis and break things down, it's an education in art that I sadly missed out on when I was younger, and you're teaching me to appreciate elements that I wasn't aware of before. Thank you so much for selflessly and generously sharing your vast knowledge, I've found it encouraging and inspiring. Art is not my day job, and often I need some fresh air to lift me out of tiredness. Thank you!!!!!!

[@PatMcDonald41]

Thank you, Ian. The example you used was simply brilliant. So simple, yet everything was there. I agree about the trousers - great use of values.

[@aparimitus11]

You make more sense than multitudes of other videos on painting....

[@beebee4095]

Thank you Robert. Sometimes it just takes someone else to open ones eyes to show you what is already there. I see that I already have my style but I am not satisfied with it. Viewers like my paintings and ‘my style’ so What do I do? 😔 What is more important, is it that I keep on painting pictures that others like? Or do I continue to try and find ‘the’ style which will make me happiest with my work? Thank you for your classes, you are so clear and precise; Plus ! You Do Not Have any Clap Happy Music in the background; YAY! and yours classes are Free! Much appreciated. 🎨 Happy painting Robert 🙋‍♀️

[@rodannnkekw2866]

It’s better to do art that you like, even though people don’t like it. But if u depend on your buyers and viewers financially, you could have a style that is for your viewers to see, and aside from that, have an art style of yours that you like.

[@fatoomgierdien2181]

Wow!!! I appreciate your help.

[@michelewoodford2504]

I am now obsessed with Fairfield Porter! After some quick research I discovered the large scale he often painted in which adds such surprise and strength to the seemingly simple daily scenes!

[@aletha16]

Great advice. Skill building is the essential thing. Personality (style) arises naturally from choices and attractions. Porter is a wonderful artist to study. He's probably one of America's most underrated artists (at present), so much evident simplicity combined to great subtlety. He was an amazing colorist too.

[@gaylemartin6498]

Thank you, Ian. This is a very important subject that impacts every one of us. I so appreciate your videos. Gayle

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you for letting me know you are enjoying the videos. I really appreciate it.

[@adventuresofdar4155]

you are such an inspiration, Ian. I could listen to you give instructions all day long :)

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you!

[@elizabethclaire7916]

re: vision-- "it may not be very clear, but we know that it's there and we're striving towards it" beautifully said, and a heartening sentiment. thanks for the encouragement.

[@pameciauknyga157]

Natural, true Teacher!

[@karenmaymclelland-lafferty1868]

Thankyou for 'ironing out the wrinkles' & 'opening the window or the door or something..' its really taken the pressure off, thanks for teaching the whole person.

[@robingrant1965]

Thank you for such an informative video! I am an self -taught artist since 2015! I started later in life at 55 years old! I m still painting and learning!!!!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾😍

[@maryspires2166]

Thank you thank you! Your channel is like going to art school….. except it’s better than any art school I ever heard of !

[@terrycardinaldesigns]

Thank you. I love listening and learning. It’s all,so important.

[@JohnMarchan]

You’re such a fantastic teacher and painter. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos.

[@monamiroy9125]

Thank you, I like how informative yet uplifting your videos are.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Monami, well thank you for saying you find them both informative and uplifting. Appreciate your telling me.

[@rubiao85]

Thanks for sharing! Really hope to see more about the creative voice in painting

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I will do more.

[@susiepattinson3031]

Thankyou Ian, right on point as usual. Love your teaching, thankyou ❤️

[@alanarmbruster2701]

Thanks for sharing your artistic perspective! It has positively changed mine.

[@abirwmd4u]

Contents are all indepth and educational.. such a blessing this channel is. Thank you sir.👍kudos!

[@nurymo-simf9347]

Thanks for this explanation!

[@maryclarenolan4560]

Hi Ean, l just found you on KZbin, l have seen a few videos. Thank you, you are an excellent teacher.

[@juliegriffiths4272]

Thank you for explaining these so clearly I've been trying to work this out for a long time.

[@santone1849]

Brilliant thank you Ian excellent videos

[@curtriceennis2924]

Thank You So Much for this video. It has helped me realize that my paintings are gonna likely get better with developing my skills. I had gotten discouraged about painting because it seemed like all my work would always turn out looking quite cartoonish. But, with what you've explained in this video, I now have more hope that my paintings will eventually at least start looking more realistic. TY for sharing this video with us.

[@candacetroystudios]

Thank you Ian. Such good advice!

[@TattoodSpirit]

Just starting my artistic journey...this info was VERY interesting & exceptionally helpful. THX

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hey Jeff, go to talk with you today. Good luck with the whole artistic endeavour.

[@maryannesiewert5166]

I'm taking notes!

[@maxlinesartist]

Love the videos you do

[@johnritter5951]

Great point: art includes learned skill. A pet peeve of mine derives from watching a host of personages over the past 40 years or more equate "expressing myself" with being therefore and artist, whether in the music industry or painting or what-have-you. And, no, I am not an artist, but I oppose making the term pedestrian. I can play "Chopsticks," but am not therefore a pianist. Many years ago a friend of mine bought a Minolta camera, took some nice photos, had them developed, slapped one in a frame, gave it to me as a gift ... and proclaimed himself--not merely a photographer ... that would have been bad enough--but an artist. He reminded me of the old Smothers Brothers song from the '60s, "The Streets of Laredo," which concludes with, "If you get an outfit, you can be a cowboy too." Getting an outfit and declaring one's self a cowboy is tantamount to skipping the medium, subject, technique, and composition factors herein described, and merely doing the creative/authenticity.

[@LeoGang89]

Finally found mine after a decade of struggling to do so.

[@pmhart2188]

Excellent presentation of a difficult and oftentimes overlooked idea and concept.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

It is a topic close to my heart. I wrote a book, Creative Authenticity, on it. It's so each to get caught up in technique and mediums (a). Just found your comment today. Sorry not to have replied earlier. Best wishes, ian

[@jytte47]

I was stunned when I saw this painting. The atmosphere made me sad. The guy seams to think "I don't care anymore"

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I'm not sure I put him in such a deep state of despair. Maybe a bit melancholy, certainly thoughtful.

[@davideatwell6577]

Funny really, I always tell people the same thing with regard to composition

[@driesketels]

lovely video Ian!

[@glennmoonpatrol8676]

I found my voice or ability to express with drawing and painting. It took some time but these abilities rise on their own.

[@theeaselrider4032]

It is well-painted. But to me it looks like the perspective is a bit off on the white desk behind him. Maybe not, but my eyes were drawn to that spot when you first put the picture up.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I have to say that Fairfield Porter does not worry himself with getting everything "right". Sometimes for me it really distracts from the image. And sometimes it doesn't. I've never noticed it on this one. Just really like it.

[@susannewindhausen7542]

Would you say its mostly the drawing skills that one must improve together with managing value and composition?

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Drawing skills, as an actual skill, seems pretty foundational since when you paint you're drawing with a brush. Thinking in terms of values masses and shapes is the other one. That's why spending some time just drawing, pencil and paper, force a simple relationship with the fundamentals.

[@Pneumanon]

Good videos, but this doesn’t seem to say much about “finding your voice”, only that we use painting to express it, and that we need skill to be articulate in that expression. Skill is not actually that necessary to finding one’s voice at all, there are many who work very successfully in a ‘naive’ style and express themselves. Banksy has apparently very little skill, but a very clear artistic voice for example. On the flip side, there seem to be many atelier trained artists who have high levels of technical skill but apparently nothing personal to say. To really find your voice as an artist you have to discover what you believe about the world in general (and about art) and have the courage to express it. That can take many, many years to really discover for anyone, artist or otherwise. But the good news is you can use your art as one of the ways to do that discovery , just like a scientist testing their hypotheses through research, experimentation and feedback (peer review). If you treat your art as a process of discovery then you become free of needing to make definitive statements as an artist and there is less pressure on you in the short term to find your voice.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Well said. I agree with you. Making short videos each week sort of forces a condensed need to state something. I don't think what I'm saying is wrong just not complete. You have made a number of great points.

[@Pneumanon]

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Yes- it's one of the big questions in art making I think. Very difficult to cover in a brief video and in a sense it can't be taught directly, a person has to learn it for themselves through their own work. Thanks for the videos, they are a wealth of great information.

[@billrogers5219]

That was a beautiful portrait. Loved it. What do you think the bits of bright, saturated yellow were for, compositionally? They certainly jump out, but they're not meant to be the center of interest. Maybe just something to keep the eye moving around the picture a bit more than it might otherwise? I'm not sure.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Not sure either really. They work. I think also the figure is so central and convincing that he can get away with those hits of color and we obviously aren't going to get hung up there because we get drawn back to the figure. I love the way that figure is painted.

[@YenShing]

Hi Ian, i always felt a calling to work on fashion design, paint and write. I don't know which is the path i should follow. It's tormenting and overwhelming when i can't achieve either. There are days that i don't know what to do next. I can't seem to abandon anyone of them. I was wondering if you could give me some advice. Thank you for your videos and book!

[@airfransa]

Fairfield Porter reminds me Azeri (CCCP) artist Tahir Salahov.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I'll have to look up Salahov. Thanks.

[@duckbill_]

So what's the artistic voice of the painitng in the end of this video? It's still very vague to me. I only know how he use the colors and shapes but don't know his artistic voice.

[@javanthisingaram4843]

Thank you. What a great example you chose to illustrate all the points that go into creating a unique artistic style,

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you liked it Javanthi.

[@robertakleiman1651]

I love this project and have found it so inspirational! Thanks! I've been wondering your thinking about why you say not to look back at the previous entries of the scroll while you are working on it?

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Roberta, I'm delighted you are enjoying the videos. I did that scroll on the recommendation of an art coach. There were really only 3 "rules". 1 do it every day for a month. 2. some little piece of the last day needed to just creep into the next day and 3 not to look back until the end of the month. I would say the important one was #1. The other two, she said so I did it but I'm not sure how important they are.

[@mbegonasastre6938]

Thank you

[@rhondamann3616]

Hi Ian. What is your color pallet. I have all your dvds however I confess I haven’t gone through them I am very much enjoying your clips on your tube. I have been painting on and off for about 7 years (more off). I long to paint but cant seem to put brush to canvas. I beet myself up for not painting to the point where my husband has told me to get rid of everything which I understand however I cant seem to give it up or do it. Please lend your voice to my dilemma????

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Rhonda, in 25 words or less? Can I make a suggestion? I have a book Creative Authenticity. It addresses this pretty much head on I think. Why don't you order a copy on Amazon. Read it. It is pretty short. Series of short essays. And then get back to me and we can talk, or email, or something. But what you are experiencing in terms of having trouble getting started, everyone deals with that. And it doesn't go away. You just learn to navigate your own what I call Dance of Avoidance. Best wishes, Ian.

[@rhondamann3616]

I will do that. Thank you. Talk soon

[@HelenRietz]

The idea of finding your unique artistic voice is one of the most challenging ideas I found in your book Creative Authenticity. I find myself, now, always asking myself why I want to paint something and what i want to say about it .... what is uniquely me in the image I have in my mind. I'd be interested at some point if you address the titles for paintings. Personally, what I call a painting is the clue to what I'm trying to say about it ... and it usually comes to me as I start work, and often when I first see the image. I'm always puzzled when another artist finishes a painting and asks someone else what it should be called. Or calls it something like "Work #42".

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Titles are interesting. It engages narrative obviously. And I think some people come to painting without much narrative. I did for years. Now that interests me a lot more.

[@rudolfo9361]

Found this channel today, re composition, and subscribed for the newsletter. Then watched "Finding your artistic voice". A true and huge problem for artists-to-be, no matter how long they already have worked as artists. Unfortunately you do not really say how to find one's artistic voice. Voice, vision, creative authenticity, one's own style or signature... remain abstract words.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Rudolf, I don't think anyone can help you find your voice. It is a question of working on what attracts you, what pulls you and just keeping at it. But I think someone esle can give their experience and insight and it MIGHT help another person.