Guest Blog - ‘Changing Your Creative Direction’

Thinking of changing or developing your artistic practice? Artist and former Brushstrokes Courses’ student, Steven Trevillion shares his experience on changing his direction as an abstract painter to a portrait artist following on from our 2021 Beginners Portrait Course.

Written By: Steven Trevillion, March 2022.

It was just after Christmas 2020 that everything changed for me. Until then, if anyone had asked, I would have said that I was an abstract artist working mainly with collage and mixed media through processes dictated largely through random events.

Starting with large-scale abstract paintings I had spent the last ten years slowly developing my own vision and approach to art. Over that time there had been changes but they could all be seen as logical developments from what had gone before. While my art had never been wildly popular, I had had some modest success with group and solo exhibitions in both London and Cumbria (where I moved in 2016), and the work had sold steadily if not in any great quantity.

New Worlds Old News, Steven Trevillion, 2013, acrylic and collage on wood, 61 x 91cm.

Why things changed so suddenly I still do not know. What I do know is that the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated lockdowns caused my creative juices to dry up. I found I could not motivate myself to do any more of my mixed media work, even though I had just had a successful solo exhibition at a local gallery.

In order to make something (anything!) happen I decided to try something new. I thought that if I took myself completely out of my comfort zone, I might start to be able to work again. It was in this spirit that I decided to do Laura’s online portraiture course. But the whole experience did much more for me than that.

William Dafoe - Week 3, Vincent Van Gogh Task for Brushstrokes Courses ‘2021 Beginners Portrait Course’, Steven Trevillion, 2021, Watercolour Pencils on Paper.

Laura turned out to be an inspiring teacher. I enjoyed the whole process of starting again as a beginner, and to my surprise I discovered that I was starting to really enjoy both the online sessions and Laura’s ‘homework’. Soon I began to realise I was making significant progress in this new world of portrait painting.

I spent more and more time in the studio trying to put into practice what I had learnt and gradually began to find my own way of working. I followed up the ‘beginners’ course with a series of online tutorials which helped me to develop a specific oil portrait through the various stages that Laura helped me to identify.

Portrait, Steven Trevillion, 2021, Acrylic on board, 60 x 40 cm

After that, I began to work on my own across a range of different media and I have not looked back. I have just completed a large self-portrait which I think is my best work so far and I intend to go on to do more like this in the future.

What continues to fascinate me about portraiture is the possibility it offers of engaging in a prolonged meditation on what it means to be a unique human being, an experience which I try to communicate to anyone looking at the finished artwork.

Self-Portrait, Steven Trevillion, 2022, oil paint on canvas, 70 x 80 cm.

It is always hard to draw lessons from one person’s experience relevant to other people, but if I was going to draw one it would be that you can always change what you do. It is never too late.

Steven Trevillion

To find out more about Steven Trevillion, see more of his artwork or keep up-to-date with his work & exhibitions, use the link below to visit his website:

10 Fun Things To Draw In Your House - Our Favourite Pencil + Paper Exercises

Sometimes on our art journeys, the problem isn’t a willingness to practice - it’s not knowing what subjects to use for inspiration. Since you can’t always head to the mountains, set up a spot for drawing in the middle of the city, or get your siblings to sit still a while, we’ve prepared a list of subjects that can be found in your own home. These subjects each come with unique challenges, which will push your artistic skills a little further. For each, we’ve also included an artist who’s a great example, and some tips to really help you hone your craft.

So get out your paper, find a nice spot to work from, and challenge yourself with these 10 ideas that most of us can practice drawing without even leaving our homes.

Oh, and if you draw something from this list, we’d LOVE if you shared with us! We can be found on Facebook at this link, and on Instagram at this link.

Looking to improve your art skills? Join our mailing list! We love helping artists grow and create their own masterpieces.

Scroll Down For These 10 Fun Things You Can Draw At Home:

1. A Reflective Surface

2. A Natural Form

3. Something Fluffy

4. A Texture You Find Interesting

5. Your Lovely Self

6. Liquid In A Glass Container

7. A Favourite Fruit or Vegetable

8. A Repeated Pattern

9. Your Favourite Corner

10. Someone Else's Art You Love

Drawing Idea 1: A Reflective Surface.

Dig out your Christmas Baubles, or examine your bathroom taps! Reflective surfaces are a fantastic way to practise capturing how light hits and reflects off a surface. It forces your eye to look at those areas of different tones as shapes. 

Example of reflective surfaces art: 

Artist Jeff Koons has made his living out of playing with reflective surfaces and engaging the viewer in public spaces with the mirror-like sheen to encourage social interaction around his work.

Tip for drawing reflective surfaces: 

Start off by outlining the shape of the object that you are drawing. Before you apply tone, mark out where the light reflects off the surface to help remind you to leave these white, or as your lightest value. Mark in the darkest areas of tone and the mid-range to guide you then shade in your tonal values.

Jeff Koons, http://www.jeffkoons.com/

Drawing Idea 2: Any Natural Form.

Which is your favourite houseplant? Is there a flower in your garden that you particularly love? Is there a bouquet you treat yourself too in your home?

Try a close-up study of a flower or leaf to observe how nature creates patterns, textures and colour pairings. With a natural form you play more with the contrast of tone, as no outline on any plant will ever be ‘perfect.’

Example of natural forms in art:

Georgia O’Keeffe spent her career painting close-up images of flowers. Her aim was to stop people from running around in their busy lives and get the viewer to be able to examine the beauty of the natural world around them.

 Tip for drawing natural forms: 

Don’t get too hung up on the ‘perfect’ outline, as none exists in the natural world. Sketch out the basic shapes and then apply a full range of tonal values. Experiment with mark-making to create texture to give your work greater depth.

Georgia O’Keeffe, https://www.georgiaokeeffe.net/

Drawing Idea 3: Something Fluffy.

Do you own a fluffy coat, a floofy pet, a furry cushion or toy? Practicing drawing fur helps you learn how to clump together fur or hair.

Example of furry texture in art:

Celebrity Portrait and Animal Portrait Artist, Ben Jeffery is an expert at clumping fur together and using both highlights and shadows to create realistic floof.

Tip for drawing fur: 

Try shading in an area and using your eraser follow the direction of the hair to create realistic highlights. Then add tone to the top or bottom of the clump to create realistic furry form.

Ben Jeffery, http://www.benfjeffery.com/

Drawing Idea 4: A Texture You Find Interesting.

Pick out something knitted, the bark of a tree, or wood grain to experiment with how to use mark-making to create a textured surface.

Example of texture in art:

Artist Richard Long is known for his outdoor sculptures using natural forms, but he has also created a series of drawings by layering paper over textures and rubbing with a crayon or pencil to create these richly textured drawings.

Tip for drawing texture:

Place your paper over textured surfaces to create a rubbing and then draw on top to further accentuate the grain, or play with mark-making.

Richard Long, http://www.richardlong.org/

Drawing Idea 5: Your Lovely Self!

Working from a photograph or a mirror, have a go at a self-portrait! If you’re nervous about this, then start off by drawing your eye, nose or lips first to practice first. Artists throughout the centuries have used self-portraits as a way to practice and home in their technique.

Example of self-portraits in art:

Artist Frida Kahlo, created around 55 self-portraits as a way to express the internal physical and mental suffering she experienced throughout her life.

Tip for self-portraits:

Use a mirror or print out a photograph of yourself looking straight on to the camera. If using a print-out use the grid method to help you plot our your proportions. Always start with drawing out the feature SUPER LIGHTLY with a pencil so you can easily erase mistakes, before starting on building up tonal values.

Frida Kahlo, https://www.fridakahlo.org/

Drawing Idea 6: Liquid in a Glass Container

This is another great way to practice drawing reflective surfaces. Select your favourite cocktail, bottle of booze, or even a bottle of olive oil to practice capturing light hitting the surface of something liquid.

Example of liquid in art:

Check out contemporary artist Muhammed Arslan’s sketch of liquid being poured into a glass and how he captures the bubbles. Recreate this by taking a photograph of someone pouring out liquid and work from the photograph.

Tip for drawing liquid in a glass:

As with the reflective surface, start by very lightly sketching out the outline of the glass and the water. If working from a photograph use the grid method to plot out the proportions. Then mark out the different areas and shapes of the different tonal values to use as a guide before you start shading in.

Muhammed Arslan, https://www.saatchiart.com/arrssllaann2601

Drawing Idea 7: Your Favourite Fruit or Veg.

Avocados, Aubergines (oi oi), Apples, Peppers, you name it, it has been drawn! Drawing fruit is a fab way to practice your tone, whether in coloured pencil, or sketching pencil.

Example of fruit and vegetables in art:

Artist, Giuseppe Arcimboldo used the studies he made of fruit and veg to create surrealist portraits.

Tip for fruit and vegetables:

As the shapes are relatively easy to be able to form your outlines, you can focus on blending your tones. Try using colouring pencils and start by marking out where the light hits the surface to remind you to keep it light. Lay down small amounts blues in the darkest areas to create shadow before shading and blending pencil on top.

Giuseppe Arcimboldo, https://www.giuseppe-arcimboldo.org/

Drawing Idea 8: A Repeated Pattern.

What repeated patterns have you got kicking around your home? Bed sheets, Clothing, Curtains, or wrapping paper can all contain repeated patterns.

Example of repeated pattern in art:

William Morris used pattern and natural forms to inspire his work and is now recognised as one of the world’s most iconic designers.

Tip for repeated patterns:

Use a viewfinder to isolate a section of pattern and have a go at drawing it to practice your observational skills. Outline first lightly and then either shade in with sketching pencils, or with colouring pencils.

William Morris, https://williammorrissociety.org/

Drawing Idea 9: Your Favourite Corner.

We all have them. That corner on your desk with your favourite houseplant or ornament, your record player, where you like to curl up and read, or perhaps even where you lie your head down to sleep! This is a fab way to practice perspective drawing whilst capturing that corner which makes you feel most at home.

Example of interiors in art:

Van Gogh drew inspiration from his everyday views and produced at least a painting a day in the ten years he practiced art. His ‘Bedroom in Arles’ is one of the most famous paintings ever.

Tip for drawing interiors:

 With perspective drawings, start off by plotting out horizon lines and vanishing points to help you work out the angles. Use the negative space as well as the positive objects to help you get the proportions and the outlines correct. Start off by drawing very very lightly, so you can correct your angles and proportions as much as needed without damaging or staining the paper.

Vincent Van Gogh, https://www.vangoghgallery.com/

Drawing Idea 10: Someone Else’s Art You Love.

Do you have a favourite painting or print hanging on your wall? A favourite album cover, or that beloved Vinyl Cover you have stored away? Artists throughout time have practised and learnt by re-creating the masters that came before them. It’s a great way to be able to refine your technique by working out how those who have come before managed to create those pieces which inspire you.

Example of appropriation art:

Andy Warhol used appropriated photographs of celebrities and drew influence from companies advertising products to create his iconic style.

Tip for appropriation:

When creating an Artist Study, take the time to really look at the image. If a painting or drawing, work out what media was used and how the artist layered the colours and textures. If working from a print or photograph use the grid method to help you get the outlines and proportions in first before applying tonal values.

Andy Warhol, https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/andy-warhol-2121

Conclusion:

Basically, these are all different examples to get you drawing! The only way to improve your skill set and build your confidence is just to have a go and study different objects. I promise you that after drawing these 10 things you will notice a visible improvement in your skills and as a result, benefit your mental approach to just ‘giving it a go,’ Please don’t forget to email me your drawings, or tag Brushstrokes Courses via Facebook or Instagram.

Happy drawing, and I look forward to seeing what you create!

- Laura

Why I Chose Art.

I was lucky to be told to ‘choose what you enjoy’ in life and before I knew it, I found myself in Art school. In this blog post, I want to discuss why it is important to maintain skills and practice art.

At 15 years of age, when I did my art homework, I found that I would lose all track of time. Minutes became hours and hours became full days sat in front of a piece of artwork, My breathing would become slower, my mind cleared and I would enter into a calm state of being. I assumed that this time void must mean that I was fully immersed and enjoying what I was doing.

Ever since then, I have witnessed how art has had the same impact on other people, no matter their age, gender, or personal histories, I have worked in rehabilitation services, charities, state schools, Barnardos’ run schools, local franchises, studios and I have run my own course in the local community. I have witnessed first hand how art has a unique ability to bring people: joy, clarity of mind and an immense sense of peace. When students are given a space to switch off from the outside the world, they are able to draw their attention to a skill they enjoy learning,

During the last 10 years I have taught art to both school students and adults alike and I have heard many different reasons as to why someone felt drawn to creating artwork. Some want to turn a hobby into something more, where as some feel they have a creative project to share with the world, but just don’t know where to begin. Whatever the reason we first felt drawn towards that creative calling, or found that pathway to return to art, the first step, is as always, back to the drawing board.

I have set up Brushstrokes.Courses to give students a space to develop key artistic skills, which will feed into their own art practice well after the course finishes. I get great joy from being able to draw from my varied experiences of teaching all ages and all abilities, in order to give others space in which to learn, create and explore. All skill levels are welcome, whether you are new to art, or are already an established artist looking to brush up on your skills. We will all go back to the drawing board and practice art skills and technique together,

I look forward to seeing your work and seeing you on a course. In the meantime, please feel free to contact myself with any questions or queries,

Laura