Nita Leland - The New Creative Artist: A Guide to Developing Your Creative Spirit

NITA LELAND

artistsnetwork.com

Learn how to tap into the natural spontaneity and energy you enjoyed as a child, to identify the five steps in the creative process, and to use imagination and focused awareness to discover new subjects for your artwork.

Why stop at fine art when there are countless vehicles of creativity to explore? Stretch your skills and enhance your artistic life with decorative painting, printmaking, quilting, scrapbooking, weaving and more.

Drawing is the foundation of artthe more confidence you have in your drawing ability, the more individuality youll show in your artwork. Rediscover the fun of drawing.

You make design decisions every day, whether its choosing what to wear, setting the dinner table or moving furniture in your office. You can learn to use design just as easily and effectively in your artistic life to give your creative work the structure it needs.

By integrating your interpretation of a subject and your special touch with a medium, you can make realistic art that is more than just a record of what the subject looks like. Youll find new subjects to develop all around you.

An artist with an open mind will find that realism and abstraction have a lot in common. By moving between the two styles, you can tap into whole new aspects of your own creativity.

Experimenting brings your creative self to the surface. Try different mediums and methods to overcome obstacles to your creative growth.

A positive attitude and knowing how to critique your own work can give you the assurance needed to risk taking off in new directions. Trust yourself, and your own distinct style will develop.

In 1987 I searched in vain for creativity books in the art section of a bookstore. The owner directed me to three books on creative sales techniques. After haunting libraries for more than a year, I had found only a handful of psychology books and a smattering of references to creative artists. Yet when I searched my notes from fourteen years of teaching watercolor classes, I discoveredlike Dorothy in The Wizard of Ozthat I already had everything Id been searching for. From the very beginning, I had peppered my lessons with motivational material, sharing my own experiences as a workshop student and self-taught artist. My files bulged with useful raw material based on my theme.

I began writing The Creative Artist (published in 1990), which became an instant bestseller in the North Light Book Club. Eventually, the advent of the internet enabled me to expand and update the original book with new material. A revised and updated edition, The New Creative Artist, launched in 2006. Equally popular with beginners and artists at all skill levels, the book was also used by teachers to inspire and motivate their students.

With content that is still fresh and relevant in 2018, The New Creative Artist is making a comeback in paperback and ebook editions. All the good stuff inside is intactart by 103 fantastic artists and 111 doable activities throughout, along with practical suggestions on how you can become more creative in art and life. Ive also updated the bibliography to include some books that have been published since the last edition.

The activities and media in this book cover an endless range of creative possibilities. Add some exciting new trends to your creative practices. Doodling and coloring books are great fun and relieve stress. Paint-and-sip parties, approached with a playful attitude and a helpful instructor are a first creative step for many.

You can embellish your artwork using techniques found in this book. With videos, online art instruction books, tutorials and workshops, anyone with a computer or TV can enjoy private lessons at home. Download drawing and painting apps to your smartphone or iPad and use projects from this book as guides to expanding your drawing and design skills. You have more choices than ever for tools and materials alcohol inks, slow-drying acrylics, fast-drying oil paints, metallic watercolors, water-soluble pastels, Yupo supports, and more.

Challenge yourself with creative new ideas. You were born with creative potential. Dont wait to create. The New Creative Artist is jam-packed with ideas to get you started and help you on your journey. Henry Ford said, If you think you can or think you cant, youre right. Believe in yourself. I believe in you.

Photograph by Cynthia Fraley