Keep it real (Paint what you know)

My sister is a singer. And when she started looking for songs to sing my mom gave her some good advice. She said “sing what you know.” What my mom meant by this was for my sister to sings songs that were testimonies from her own life. I am not a singer. However, I apply that same advice to my art. When I paint, I paint what I know. Experience is a good teacher. It is hard for me to paint what I haven’t lived. I am not an actor. I admire actors because it must be difficult to become someone you are not. I am LaShonda to the tenth power. I can’t be anyone else nor do I want to be anyone else. I am content painting my truth.

Disappointments, lust, love, anger, depression, shame; these are feelings I have possessed in my life. I am not proud of some of these things however, it is my truth. When I paint, I don’t play myself. I tell it like it is. My goal as an artist is to stay true to myself. In doing so, I believe I will connect to others and help them find their truth.

Truth is a powerful thing. Most people hate it. However, I find it liberating. When I empty my emotions onto a canvas, I feel free. Freedom is a precious gift many of use deny ourselves. Who wants to be locked in a cell of denial? Keep it real... and free yourself.

Technique vs. Emotion (What makes a painting great?)

Technique vs. Emotion. What makes a painting great. I think emotion drives technique. What I mean by this is that your feelings about a subject are reflected in the way you paint it. For example, I have many paintings inspired by my relationship with my husband. In some paintings the strokes are delicate and soft because I am capturing a tender moment in our relationship. In other paintings, the strokes are bold and forceful. The details are more vivid. You can feel the passion I felt as poured my emotions onto the canvas.

So, what is my technique? I would say it depends on my mood. If you read my blogs, you know that I paint through inspiration. My technique varies depending on my emotions.

Some might say you can develop a style and have no emotional connection to this style. I disagree. Why would any creative person create something they care absolutely nothing about? The only way I can see a create person doing this is if they are just doing a creative job for the money and just doing what the client asks. But if you are creating for yourself or if you want personal satisfaction in the work that you do, there must be some emotional connection to the work you produce.

So, technique vs. emotion? My answer is that in good art emotion drives technique.

The freedom of being a self-taught artist

What is freedom? I believe freedom is not being afraid to be who you really are. Freedom means taking risks and thinking outside of the box. Freedom is being a unique individual. When I paint, I do not follow the rules. As a matter of fact, I don’t even know the rules. I am self-taught. I paint what I feel. My technique is a result of what I am feeling at that moment. Sometimes I show lots of details..sometimes I don’t. I usually uses dark colors. But there have been many times when I have used pastels. I do what feels right at the moment. My moods are constantly changing and so is my art. I have no idea what I will paint or sketch next. I just play it by ear. And to me, that is freedom.

Buy art that you like

Art is a personal decision. I believe you should only buy what you like. I love watching design shows and the one thing they usually stress is for you to have an inspiration piece. My paintings are my inspiration pieces. You know how sometimes you will see a piece of art that you just love but it does not go with the scheme of your home? I say buy it anyway and use it as a conversation piece. I have many art pieces in my home that may not fit my home’s decor but I feel a sentimental attachment to the piece. In order for the painting to flow with the scheme of the room, I make it a focal point and purposely give it prominence. As a result, I am acknowledging that the piece is important to me.

So the next time you see a piece of art that just tugs at your soul, BUY IT! It will give you joy every time you look a it. And that is a purchase worth the investment.

Art is my sanctuary

There is nothing like being alone with your thoughts. Whether they are good or bad, sometimes you have to deal with yourself on the for real tip. Have you ever asked yourself, “How do I REALLY feel?” and gave yourself an honest answer? This is what I do when I paint. I get real with myself.

I love sitting down to paint. There is no one there but me, God and a blank piece of paper. I don’t have to front nor apologize for how I am feeling. I can just be real and express myself without fear of criticism. Sometimes, when I am not feeling strong enough, God will guide my hands and allow me to speak. It is such an amazing experience. Then, when my painting is complete, I can step back and admire His work. And when I look at the canvas, I get to see the truth, my truth. And that my friend is the bomb.

Conversation Pieces (Buying unique art)

When my husband and I purchased our home, I knew I wanted a place where I could showcase my artwork. I wanted my paintings to be the first thing people noticed when they entered my home. I am a self taught artist, so my style is unique. I have never studied art and do not have the desire to do so. As a result, my style is all my own. When people look at my paintings, they are intrigued by the subject matter, the medium and the technique. My art is a conversation piece.

I never understood why people want to copy other people. Some people will buy art just because someone else said it is a master piece. The question is “How does it make you feel?’ Art should make you feel something. It is just like music. It should stimulate you. This is what makes art a conversation piece.

When people see my artwork and they feel a connection to it, I feel a sense of accomplishment. It is at that point that I know I have stimulated or inspired someone. By looking at my artwork, I have awakened their senses and stirred something in their souls. And that my friend is the bomb! Visit my web site at www.scottrdesigns.com. And get the conversations started.

Exlporing Dark Color Palettes

The main colors I like to paint with are black and brown. Most people shy away from these colors for whatever reason. But I for one must say they are my favorite! They are so moody and rich. My medium of choice is watercolor. However, I will paint with anything. I am not picky. If I am inspired, I’ll express my feeling with a box of crayons if they are available. I just think the darker color palettes express my feelings more accurately. Dark colors can also be used to express sensuality, happiness and joy. They are not just limited to pain and sadness. Visit my web site, www.scottrdesigns.com and see how I use dark colors. I hope it will give you a new appreciate for blacks and browns.

A great gift for a loving mother

When I sit down to paint, I have to be inspired by something or someone. When I painted "Mama's Love" I was inspired by my maternal instincts. Anyone who is a mother knows what I am talking about. It is that feeling you get the first time you find out you are pregnant, and you feel another human being growing inside your body. That feeling comes full circle the first time you hold your child in your arms. At that moment, I truly discovered the meaning of love.

"Mama's Love" is the perfect gift to give any woman who has raised or is raising a child. I hope you can feel the love that inspired me to paint this painting. My son is eleven years old now and still when I look at him, all I see is my baby boy.

I guess that's just the way it is...you give your kids the tools they need to survive and you let them go out and make their own way in the world. But as mothers, we are always there to shower our children with some of "Mama's Love". Whether they are newborns or senior citizens, your child will always be your baby.

Inspiring others through art

Painting has always been my sanctuary. I use art to express love, pain, happiness, and despair.

My life has been filled with ups and downs. I believe God equips us with everything we need to survive life’s journey. Art was given to me as child to help me survive life’s trials as an adult.

In 2002, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). I lost the ability to use my hands and I was paralyzed on my left side. Though I could not write my name nor button my shirt, my ability to paint was not affected. This simply amazed me. Then it occurred to me, painting was my survival tool. And at that moment, my childhood passion became my saving grace.

Though I am living with MS, I still have the ability to do what I love. I feel such a close connection to God when I paint. I am honored that He allows such beautiful work to flow through me. There have been times when I have sat down to paint and the painting flowed from my hands faster than my mind could conceive it. I know now that He was working through me. I became His vessel. And when the painting was complete, I could step back and admire His work.

My mom always told me; when you receive a blessing, pass it on. By sharing my artwork with the world, I am passing on my blessing. I hope my story inspires you and I hope my artwork captivates you.

Inspiration is anything that encourages your spirit to endure when your body implores you to surrender. I hope my story will be an inspiration to people who have been hit with a life-altering disease or personal tragedy. I encourage them to take a moment, open their hearts to God, acknowledge His power and ask Him, “What is Your plan for my life?” Then, when He reveals His plan, do it. No matter how scary or far fetched it may seem, simply do it. Remember, Father knows best. And when God is your guide, nothing is impossible.

Let your experiences guide your perception

The one question I get asked the most is why don’t I paint faces? When I paint I am trying to express a feeling; love, despair, happiness, etc. I use body language to tell my story. I also believe art is subjective. The meaning of a painting depends on who is looking at it. For example, take my painting, “The Morning After”. Though personal pain may have been my inspiration for painting this particular painting, when you look at this painting you may see something totally different. By adding facial expressions, it limits the scope and appeal of my work. I want you to look at my paintings and have your experiences guide your perception. What do you see when you look at one of my paintings...pain, passion, happiness? Perception is totally subjective. And I believe subjectivity is freedom! To see more of my artwork, visit my website at www.scottrdesigns.com.