Something new

Trying something new takes courage. It’s amazing how even small changes in your work routine can make a big difference.

This page from a sketchbook, for example, shows how I incorporated new materials. At the time, I had just discovered how to work with acrylic markers. The biggest challenge for me was opening myself up to using ready-made, bold colors in my paintings.

By confronting this challenge, which significantly limited my creative process, I discovered a whole new range of possibilities. In this case, I learned to harmonize unusual color combinations within a representational motif. Furthermore, the exercise allowed me to pursue one of my greatest interests — exploring the boundaries of abstract figuration.

It would have been easy for me to try this out in the privacy of my sketchbook. However, this work was created during a group painting class, where all participants presented their results at the end. My sketch received a great deal of attention and recognition.

Experiences like this give an artist an immense boost in growth.