By Guest Contributor Richard McKinley
Reprising an article that first appeared in Outdoor Painter, landsape artist Richard McKinley gives us 7 tips for ways to express ourselves more creatively. They are practical and doable.
Seven Tips for Greater Creative Expression
- Learn the rules and then forget them. The rules in the traditional painting are there to stop us from making innocent mistakes (never put anything in the center, never use pure black, never lead the viewer out of the painting). If artists didn’t break them, we would all paint alike. The key is to break the rules on purpose and make the painting work.
- Experiment with techniques. As an early mentor of mine said, “As long as you are not breaking any archival procedure, put together whatever mediums you need for the effect you desire: Be a bit of the educated mad scientist when it comes to painting.
Richard McKinely, Cascades Aglow, Oil ‐ 12 x 16
- When painting en plein air, first and foremost, make yourself comfortable. Inspiration will come if you can relax and paint, without fighting the elements. Far too much time is lost in the pursuit of the perfect subject matter.
- Remember that you’re making a painting, not a picture. Getting it right doesn’t always produce an artistic statement. No one receives an award for getting it right, and we shouldn’t need to title our paintings “That Is the Way It Was.”
Richard McKinley, Hillside Jazz, oil, 9 x 12 in.
5. Stop your internal critic from only finding the mistakes. Instead, focus on what you think is working. Let that guide what needs to be altered.
6. Remind yourself that with pastel, you don’t have to be in a hurry. Wherever you stop, the painting will be quietly waiting there for your return.
7. Play! It is just a piece of paper or canvas. Take a chance, make a mess, experiment. More will be gained from a failed attempt than a predictable outcome.
Richard McKinley, A Place of Reflection, pastel, 12 x 18 in.
Attention plein air artists! Accelerate your art skills in only three days by attending PleinAir LIVE online, March 6-8, 2024.
From How to Why to YES:
Michael Chesley Johnson on Becoming an Artist
Michael Chesley Johnson paints primarily outdoors in pastel, oil, or gouache, choosing locations from the American Southwest, Downeast Maine, and the Canadian Maritimes. He’s frequently invited to participate in national plein air events. He has been on the faculty of the annual Plein Air Convention & Expo in Santa Fe and PastelLive!
Michael Chesley Johnson, Barrier Beach Grasses, pastel.
“My purpose in painting has changed over the years. In the beginning, it was all about the how. I worked hard at learning the craft. Even as a child, I loved looking at paintings and felt a thrill when I saw a particularly beautiful landscape. I wanted to create something like that myself.
Then it became about trying to understand the why. I realized I was a sort of steward of the land, preserving on canvas places likely to disappear under the heavy foot of civilization and, hopefully, raising awareness.
Finally, it became all about the experience. For me, the experience is everything. I now know enough about “how” that I don’t have to think about it much. I now understand “why” so I don’t have to think about that much, either. Instead, today is no longer about the product—not the picture in a frame hung on the wall—but about the experience, the act of responding to the landscape in a personal way.”
Michael Chesley Johnson, Autumn Splendour, pastel.
Michael is a Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society and the Pastel Society of America. Michael is a nationally known teacher, giving workshops across the U.S.
A frequent writer for The Artist’s Magazine, Pastel Journal, Watercolor Artist, and PleinAir Magazine, he is also the author of several books, including Beautiful Landscape Painting Outdoors: Mastering Plein Air.
Michael maintains a summer studio on Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada, and a winter studio in northern New Mexico.
