Searching for Subjects

The quest for subject matter is often tough for artists of any kind. You hear quite often about writer's block and of course visual artists may go through a similar phase. When a person begins to make pictures the question of "what" may become enormous. When you're learning, the teacher sets the subject--figures, still life, portrait and so on. After that, unless artists are employed or commissioned, they're on their own. So, the question becomes "what on earth do I paint?" A better question might be how to jump-start the creative process. Here are things recommended by others that have been useful in my own art making.

Hoff, "NIfty '50," watercolor and ink on paper

Hoff, "Rambo," graphite on paper, 2007

• Try a different medium. Painting for me was always oils until about 25 years ago after a hiatus. Instead of picking up the same old palette I began using watercolor. The intense involvement in learning the medium meant producing many works. 
• Look in your sketchbooks. Granted, this idea presupposes that you've been a sketcher, so perhaps the idea should be to keep one. Nonetheless, if you've been a regular sketcher, it can be instructive to see what sorts of things have continually attracted attention. That level of interest can call for paintings, too. 
• Think about what kinds of paintings you enjoy. Do you like hyper-real images like those from photorealism, or do you prefer abstract works? Nothing prevents you giving each of your favorite forms of painting a try. 
• Adopt a regular painting (and drawing) habit. If possible, consider a daily routine of drawing and/or painting. When it becomes habit, stopping is much more difficult, for one thing. For another, daily work begits more work. 

Hoff, "Cubist Skull," oil on panel, 2010

These three images are examples of the results of strategies mentioned. "Nifty '50" was one of my early watercolors. As an incentive to keep going I participated in an online project to exchange watercolor postcards. The system was to send each other a postcard watercolor by mail so that in the end each participant received perhaps a half dozen tiny paintings. The car was one that I mailed.

The drawing of "Rambo," is a graphite rendering of a big, fluffy cat owned by a friend. She asked if I'd be interested in doing a painting of her kitty. I agreed but wanted a chance to draw the animal first.

Finally, "Cubist Skull" came out of a challenge to do something completely out of my comfort zone. Since abstraction is unknown territory, it seemed a stretch to produce a cubist piece. I used a previous drawing of a skull, employed the darker umber and sienna palette, and made this 9x12 oil.

Although none are posted here, those who have read the blog will remember many small oils called "Windowsill Works" that came about because I adopted a regular daily schedule for making them. And of course today my routine always includes a drawing or two, whether digital or otherwise.

In sum. finding subject matter is daunting sometimes, but doesn't have to be. Draw and paint on a regular schedule, try new media, break out of old routines and paint something new.

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Related:
Windowsill Works Once More
Sketchbook Searches
Abstraction Cubism and All That