tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post350130946039342288..comments2024-03-10T04:10:20.873-04:00Comments on The Rainforest Garden: Why Any Gardener Can Be An ArtistSteve Asbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-86997523896469047282014-05-31T15:47:13.084-04:002014-05-31T15:47:13.084-04:00I agree. Touchscreens are a bitch (believe me, I&...I agree. Touchscreens are a bitch (believe me, I've tried--the only thing that comes remotely close to working well is the Windows Surface tablet, with its stylus capabilities.) I'm an art student, so I feel experienced enough to say that art DOES require some talent. Art (the hoity-toity kind in galleries) is, for the most part, about composition (how things are arranged together.) Not everyone has a great composition sense.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08031072756383255982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-2154641241426372642013-08-12T03:18:38.767-04:002013-08-12T03:18:38.767-04:00In college I minored in art! I loved to draw and ...In college I minored in art! I loved to draw and had been doing so since a young child. I drew and drew. In college we learned many different techniques and used different drawing materials. I loved it. At the end of my second year of college I developed a tremor in my right hand. Freaking out I went to the Dr. who diagnosed early, early onset essential tremor. My Mother had a tremor but they didn't have a name for it. It's benign but progressive. My whole body is involved now. I take medication for it but I sometimes still cannot write my name. It took me until my early forties to find my art again through design of succulent containers and photography. Thank goodness for image stabilization and digital cameras.Candice Suter.....Sweetstuffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03439964856042558664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-69519893904581657932013-08-12T00:01:32.739-04:002013-08-12T00:01:32.739-04:00Steve...Right on! I wish people understood this t...Steve...Right on! I wish people understood this too. I love watching the process when people discover they can do things like art or gardening and it makes me a little crazy when they think they can't when we all started where they are at one time. The belief runs so deep they won't even try to learn which is really sad. (Oh to have a vaccine against self doubt.) <br /> <br />The posts you have done on FB have prodded me to get back into drawing again. The ones where you show the process made me realize how much I missed it and so I am getting back into art after years of it being set aside...I am wondering now why I ever laid it down. It is such a joy. I only have one question...Is there a way to be more left brained? I am pretty right brained...better with color and texture and weaker on spacial relationship. If there is a class I want to take it so I can learn to better determine those spacial relationships...beyond basic perspective drawing which I have had some training in. And here's something kind of funny...I'm so bad that finally decided to I let my husband arrange the furniture in our living room because I'll spend hours doing it and it never feels right...he comes in and POOF...gets it the first time!<br /><br />Thanks again for sharing the encouragement. I'll be sharing this post and I hope others will take the time to read it and be inspired. Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07622828533067905095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-71388844047363871602012-08-15T09:01:54.836-04:002012-08-15T09:01:54.836-04:00I love your prints! I wish I had the tools and ded...I love your prints! I wish I had the tools and dedication to do it myself, but I'll leave that one to the pros like yourself.Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-80341164753252953482012-08-15T09:00:38.028-04:002012-08-15T09:00:38.028-04:00I can't draw a straight line either! That'...I can't draw a straight line either! That's why we have rulers... and I also lightly plan my lines with a light 2H pencil before committing so that i know I'm safe. BTW, please take that art class! You'll be surprised at how much you'll develop in just one class.Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-79134436144552739262012-08-15T08:58:31.228-04:002012-08-15T08:58:31.228-04:00Thanks! You're right; just as a gardener devel...Thanks! You're right; just as a gardener develops good taste creating beauty in the garden, an artist develops a better eye with practice. Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-50053247408420772942012-08-10T10:35:55.538-04:002012-08-10T10:35:55.538-04:00Left brainers have a big advantage because the har...Left brainers have a big advantage because the hardest part of drawing for many people is triangulating between 'landmarks' in the drawing; estimating the degree of each angle, determining how far apart to draw lines by using fractions and keeping meticulous and accurate marks... you already have the intelligence and the creativity will follow. As you know, sketching helps you approach problems from different angles and develop unusual solutions!Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-25426571438643741862012-08-10T10:31:32.596-04:002012-08-10T10:31:32.596-04:00I would love to see your silk screening because yo...I would love to see your silk screening because you have impeccable taste and a good eye for detail. I would recommend sketching patterns in advance to get a feel for what you'll want to print! So exciting.Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-85713380251852721322012-08-10T10:29:58.340-04:002012-08-10T10:29:58.340-04:00If you can do good photography, you're halfway...If you can do good photography, you're halfway there! It means that you have a good grasp on composition and values, and you also have your own photography to work from. I don't know what I would do without my own photographs. BTW, I have a hard time staying focused on an art journal myself because it takes time away from my illustration and writing. Kudos to you for pulling it off! If you ever find you're in a rut, get some quality bristol board paper and work on something big!Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-88086954242309887532012-08-10T10:26:28.088-04:002012-08-10T10:26:28.088-04:00Drawsome is a BAD example because for one thing, I...Drawsome is a BAD example because for one thing, I suck at it; and another thing, drawing on a touch screen is considerably harder than drawing on paper. I usually work from photos, so I'm really going from 2d to 2d most of the time and it took a while for me to get used to drawing from life. Understanding the 3d form helps, but it takes time.Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-46254630564571823342012-08-10T10:21:45.855-04:002012-08-10T10:21:45.855-04:00There's nothing wrong with copying to become a...There's nothing wrong with copying to become a better artist, and many times you actually need photo references to accurately render the subject. If I don't have my own photo reference I'll often use several and do my drawing from that. Being a photographer helps a lot if you need material... If you want your art to be hung at the Louvre, then yes: Everything has to be original. If you're doing art for your own happiness, copy as much as you need and eventually you'll develop your own style.Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-16482003299526948722012-08-10T10:18:15.712-04:002012-08-10T10:18:15.712-04:00Thank you!Thank you!Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-55673301710105369602012-08-09T17:40:55.054-04:002012-08-09T17:40:55.054-04:00Thanks for your wonderful insight Steve. I will us...Thanks for your wonderful insight Steve. I will use more of my own drawings in the future as models for my silkscreening.Dan Arcoshttp://danarcosstudio.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-56620825369582488042012-08-08T09:12:59.969-04:002012-08-08T09:12:59.969-04:00Steve, I feel like you read my mind when you were ...Steve, I feel like you read my mind when you were writing this post. I fall under the 'I can even draw a straight line' category but I must admit I've been toying with the idea of taking a beginner's art class more for the fun of exploring color combos than actually creating the next great piece of art. Thanks for the inspiration.Debbie/GardenofPossibilitieshttp://gardenofpossibilities.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-74365192514878335952012-08-07T22:07:38.345-04:002012-08-07T22:07:38.345-04:00You gave a very good reference with gardening &...You gave a very good reference with gardening & being an artist in a same concept.<br />Just like any gardener - who paints the garden with living plants painted on the landscape.<br />Its all about patience, practice and perseverance - just as you had mention.<br />And I always enjoy your artwork - they really show a lot of dedication & details to be marvelled at.James Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01423981835876393119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-39212020177419663922012-08-07T19:51:12.385-04:002012-08-07T19:51:12.385-04:00As a left-brained person who went from getting a s...As a left-brained person who went from getting a science degree to graduating with a creative degree, it does take more effort. And 24 years after graduating, I am still having to work at it. But sketching, becoming unbridled by practice, is really quite the design tool. Funny, but I started sketching 1x a week, but missed this past week.<br /><br />That said, great variety of sketches and techniques, including not doing it from memory. But your last list of what's wrong, really hits it on the head. Perfect! Go for it, I say.Desert Dwellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00952727692048782529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-67042497267402243762012-08-07T19:39:49.525-04:002012-08-07T19:39:49.525-04:00Steve, you are so talented it seems daunting to cl...Steve, you are so talented it seems daunting to climb that creative mountain. I'm certainly inspired to try though. I don't draw much but I would like to try and create my own images for a silk screening course I'm taking in the fall. Thanks for sharing.Stephanie from GardenTherapy.cahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16662974571087448913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-42805509911718028872012-08-07T07:33:34.373-04:002012-08-07T07:33:34.373-04:00I am so glad you took the time to write this and t...I am so glad you took the time to write this and then post it. I don't consider myself an artistic type, although I love photography, but I have always wanted to create art through painting, or drawing. This summer I committed myself to this challenge and I have begun keeping an 'art journal'...it really is quite a journey but it allows me to dabble in all kinds of media...plus the one I am familiar with...photography. I have used all the excuses you listed here but have kept my inner artist tied up long enough! Thanks for the inspiration.Daniellehttp://danielle-batog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-31743114973623531702012-08-06T19:44:58.982-04:002012-08-06T19:44:58.982-04:00We're going to have to agree to disagree here,...We're going to have to agree to disagree here, Steve. Artistic talent IS innate in some people and not others. The ability to translate a 3D object into a 2D one is something I simply find next to impossible. Have you ever played me in Drawsome? Ask those who have and they'll tell you. We all have talent(s) that are unique to us. One of yours is definitely the ability to create amazing pieces of art!Kylee Baumlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04288354709094515651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-34669374379574066262012-08-06T18:51:59.968-04:002012-08-06T18:51:59.968-04:00I start out copying what I like and end up with my...I start out copying what I like and end up with my own thing. It's not art as per definition I was taught (free, true, innovative), but if I end up liking it, happy days! I certainly can't draw for toffee, but that doesn't stop me from doodling, and on the odd occasion something comes up that doesn't look too bad, so I work on that. Best thing that ever happened was when a friend went through my photos and found one of a watercolour I'd half- copied, half- made up and wanted it for herself. Best advice I have is to do what you actually like yourself and keep at it. If it is good enough for you to display on the mantelpiece, it's good enough full stop.lisbonlionesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14199372003999708772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4288778153586473465.post-88421704063315187072012-08-06T18:44:28.799-04:002012-08-06T18:44:28.799-04:00Fantastic pictures, you really do have an amazing ...Fantastic pictures, you really do have an amazing talent!Diligent Gardenerhttp://www.diligentgardener.co.uknoreply@blogger.com