Many people believe that creativity is a gift bestowed upon individuals such as Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Frida Kahlo, Vincent Van Gogh, and a plethora of other well-known and unknown talented painters. Is this, however, true? Is it possible for some people to be creative but not others?
Certainly not. I am happy to inform you that this is not the case. There are a few facts that demonstrate the opposite. Before I share my 6 creative ways to inspire your inner artist using paintbrushes in different surfaces, and different media, I’d like to share some facts with you.
Fact No. 1: The brain’s architecture
The brain is our body’s most complex organ. It is in charge of not only all human organs and bodily functions but also of our minds and souls. Despite its complexity, the brain’s functions can be explained simply by dividing it into two halves, left and right.
Speech, comprehension, arithmetic, and writing are all controlled by the left side of the brain. The right side of the brain is in charge of creativity, spatial ability, artistic and musical abilities. In approximately 92 percent of people, the left side of the brain is dominant in hand use and language.
Isn’t it true that we all have left and right sides of our brains? As a result, we are all creative by default. The only difference between creative and “non-creative” people is that the “non-creative” ones simply ignore the right side of their brains by not engaging in activities that help them develop their strengths.
Fact No. 2: We can learn to be creative.
The brain does not function like a muscle. However, we can train our brains in the same way that we train our muscles. Repetitive activities that use the right side of the brain will help us to expand our brains and become more creative in the long run.
The best part is that as we practise, we become more creative.
Fact No. 3: Creativity and boundaries
We don’t have to be creative only when we’re painting or crafting. Creativity is essential in our daily lives because we frequently need to “think outside the box” to solve a problem or make an important decision.
The more you create artwork, the more experienced your creativity becomes, so when you need it, it will be much more productive. You can’t, however, engage in some creative activities and then say, “OK, I’m already creative enough, so I can stop now.” I don’t want to break your heart, but the harsh reality is that we will never be creative enough. Every new painting, every new craft project will test your creativity on a regular basis. As a result, being creative will never be easier. It’s a never-ending process.
https://thenextweb.com/news/11-brutal-truths-about-creativity-that-no-one-wants-to-talk-about
There are many more facts about creativity, but I found those three to be the most exciting and motivating to inspire someone to roll up their sleeves, grab their paintbrushes and canvas, and start creating beautiful paintings.
Let’s get to the point of this post: 6 fantastic ideas for using paintbrushes to be creative with various media and surfaces. Acrylics, watercolours, and oil paints are the most well-known media. I’ll begin with these.
Painting with acrylics on a different surface
Acrylic paints are an excellent medium for beginning artists because they do not necessitate the use of any special techniques or materials. Acrylic paints, brushes, and a standard surface, such as a canvas, are all required.
Acrylics are made from a material known as “polymer,” which is a type of plastic. This paint dries quickly and adheres well to the surface. This means you can paint over it as soon as it’s dry. This is why this medium is ideal for Paint & Sip parties, as it is very forgiving of mistakes. One thing you might not know about this medium is that you can paint with it on almost any surface: canvas, wood, stone, or glass.
You can attend our events on a regular basis and paint various beautiful paintings, but you can also try your hand at some home-based projects using the techniques we will teach you during our workshops.
Painting with acrylic in watercolour techniques
Watercolour is a unique medium that necessitates more practise and skill. Watercolour is a non-sealing medium. This makes it a little difficult for beginners or those who have never painted before.
However, combining acrylic paint with a little more water will produce the same result. You will need watercolour paper instead of canvas to create your masterpiece, as well as a primer to cover the canvas before you begin painting. You won’t need much paint for this technique because you’ll be mixing it with a lot of water. Underwater scenes, galaxies, abstracts, and flowers are all excellent subjects to paint
Acrylic pouring
Acrylic pouring is a fantastic way to use acrylic paints that is currently very popular. The beauty of this technique is that each painting is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that cannot be replicated.
The painting itself resembles marble, and during the creative process, you can add metallic colors such as gold or silver, as well as glitter and other embellishments.
For pouring, you’ll need either ready-to-use acrylic paint or a 50/50 mix of acrylic paint and “Pouring fluid.” You’ll need a surface to pour on, such as canvas, a wooden board, or anything else you can think of. Remember that this is still an acrylic medium, so it can be used on almost any surface.
There are several interesting techniques, but if you’re just starting out, try “dirty pouring” or “puddle pouring.” Both techniques are suitable for beginners.
To create your own piece of dirty pouring, combine all of the paints in one cup, pour over the canvas, and move the canvas.
Before you begin moving the canvas for puddle pouring, you must first mix the colors on it.
Both techniques are a lot of fun, and the results are stunning.
Painting with wine
I adore wine, so when I discovered this amazing technique, I was astounded by how much can be accomplished with just wine and paintbrushes.
Take a look at the work of Marina Ren Taotao, an incredible artist who works with wine.
I’m a huge wine fan, so I can tell you that painting with wine is a really fun and interesting experience.
We have a few workshops with painting with wine at Merriment Atelier, including a virtual workshop, painting with wine in-person private parties, and team bonding workshops with wine tasting.
Check out our virtual workshops or request a private party if you want to give it a shot.
Attempting to paint with wine at home can also be enjoyable. What you should know is that different wines produce different colors, so if you want to try something new, try painting with merlot, cabaret, or rioja for lighter shades, and Malbec or pinot noir for darker shades.
Depending on the project, I may reduce the wine to achieve darker colors, or I may add wine dye to achieve the same effect.
Painting with wine is similar to painting in black and white. The good news is that you can layer the color and make it more intense. You must primarily use watercolour painting techniques – wet on wet or wet on dry – for this technique.
Painting with coffee
I adore coffee as much as I adore wine, so discovering that coffee can be used as a medium for painting was an incredible experience for me. We hold the same workshops for coffee as we do for wine.
Painting with coffee, on the other hand, necessitates a different set of techniques. The coffee has more intensity and a darker colour, especially if you use instant coffee instead of brewed coffee.
If you want to try it at home, start with instant coffee. This will result in more vibrant and bold colours. After you’ve mastered the techniques for instant coffee, you can try americano, espresso, and brewed coffee. Similarly to wine, different methods of preparing coffee will result in different shades.
To make different shades of coffee, simply combine one teaspoon of coffee with a small amount of water, another with a medium amount of water, and another with more water. You can easily create a variety of shades by varying the amount of water you add to the coffee.
Painting with tea
Tea is another natural painting medium. Different teas, both loose and in bags, produce not only different shades but also different colours.
Tea, unlike wine and coffee, can provide you with more creative options.
The more you brew the tea, the more intense the colour becomes, just like coffee. To achieve red and orange-brown tones, start with English breakfast teas, particularly Tetley and Yorkshire teas. Rooibos tea from South Africa will give you a more reddish colour. Macha will turn a nice green colour, but green tea will turn a little browner.
Herbal teas are lighter in colour and fade quickly, so don’t expect them to provide you with vibrant hues.
Definitely try as many different teas as you can to broaden your horizons.
One more thing: surprisingly, adding a small amount of alcohol, such as brandy, rum, or whisky, causes the tea to change colour.
My favourite aspect of the last three mediums is that you can sip and paint with the same material; isn’t that fantastic?
Final thoughts?
Final thoughts?
Being creative is simple, but it can be intimidating at first. The reason for this is that we have been telling ourselves for many years that we are not creative, that we have two left hands when it comes to painting, and that we cannot do this.
However, as Kurt Vonnegut once said, “practising any art, no matter how well or poorly, is a way to make your soul grow.” “Go ahead and do it.”
So, which of those painting ideas do you like the best?
Please leave a comment and share it with me.
Warm hugs,
Mariella ❤️
