Paint like a child

How painting big has changed the way I work.

Hello Friends,

I’ve been painting BIG.

A2 and bigger, and that’s big for me. I’m usually no more than an a3 kinda girl for double-page book spreads.

And I’ve been standing up, moving my whole body in a painting technique that includes, splashing down paint, and scribbling with markers, sticks, crayons and anything I can get my hands on. It’s frantic but it is freeing.

I have never painted this big before, except for when I was a child. When the act of creating itself was more joyful than the finished painting.

When there were no expectations or pressure to produce ‘Good work’.

Those were the days!

I remember when I discovered the addictive feeling of expressing myself on paper.

And until now, I had forgotten it.

A reminder of my childhood self.And the joys of making a mess.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my sketchbook for observational drawing and moments of play. But I am a recovering perfectionist, unlearning all the technical drawing skills I have been taught. Painting bigger means less control, and who am I to confine the boundaries of art?

Recently I have been working on a picture book project that involved me drawing dogs. I drew them so many times. Getting tighter and tighter with each drawing. so I decided to stand up at my desk and use bigger paper and bigger brushes and other drawing implements I don’t usually use.

Big dogs and cats

I loved the results but I enjoyed the process more. So much so, that I decided to open up some slots for Pet portraits.

I’ve still got a few available here in my Etsy Shop

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like everything I make in this way. That’s not really the point. Doing this helps you loosen up to create work you love. It can be a frantic warm-up or an unwinding zen experience. It doesn’t have to be anything, just making marks on paper, Move your body, dance and feel the joy.

For these large pear paintings, I made marks and had fun and then painted the negative space white. I didn’t know what this painting would be until it started to take shape on the page.

My tips for painting like a child are:

• Use big sheets of inexpensive paper. I use Seawhites of Brighton.

• Use drawing and painting equipment that gives you very little control. I love printing rollers, broken crayons and large dry damaged brushes.

• You don’t need to use art materials. Try sticks, feathers, toothbrushes, home decorating rollers and brushes even emulsion is great. Bubble wrap is fantastic for printing, and large pieces of card are great for scraping through paint.

• Keep your subject simple. Have very little idea about what you are painting. If you are using a reference photo maybe just glances. It’s important to go with the flow and trust your creative instincts.

Working this way has helped me develop new and exciting characters. And try out different materials and techniques to create dynamic environments for my picture book work.

let go of any expectations and feel the joyous freedom of creating art like a child.

If you try it. Then please let me know.

Things I am grateful for: (Linked for your ease)

• I’ve been listening to the new series of Studio Mate Steve podcast with Steve Lenton with special guest Jarvis.

• Last week I had a fabulous portfolio review with Maisie Paradise at Orange Beak Studio. Only Good things will come from this.

• Meeting up with other local artists and doing observational drawing. If you live local to Kent then please get in touch.

• I love historical fiction and I have been engrossed in Elodie Harper’s The Wolf Den trilogy.

• Charity shops. Always loving charity shops for Old frames and clothes and old books. Just everything.

• Loads of lovely reviews coming in for my new book out on the 18th of May.

  ‘A Treasury of Tales for 5-year-olds’ Written by Gabby Dawney and out with Francis Lincoln. You can pre-order it here.

• Taking sneaky photos of interesting people, buildings and dogs to draw when I’m out with the family. Oh and just being out with the family making the most of this glorious weather.

• Gardening. I’ve never been that interested but I feel the tide changing. Is this mid-life? I have enjoyed the physical element of just doing without too much thinking.

That’s it for now.

Thanks so much for reading friends, if you like it then please share.

Until Next time,

Heidi x