This weekend I thought about Art style – I don’t seem to have a particular style. I just paint what inspires or touches me in some way and I approach every subject differently – is that a bad thing? For me it is quite important to be sensitive to the subject – if the face that you are painting is a sad one should you not try and capture that – ie. if your palette is a hot one, using “hot” colours perhaps for that painting you could consider using a “cooler” palette and adapting your style to suit the subject – wild brushstrokes and a frenzied approach would be inappropriate. In this case perhaps a gentler, smoother hand would produce a truer reflection of the subject matter.
By the same token, too-gentle brushwork applied to a wild seascape would not be the correct style either- here one can be “angrier” – a bit wilder in applying the paint perhaps.
I did get rejected from a gallery a while back because ” you have not reached your mature style yet” – I must say that gave me a laugh – at 53 years I am still regarded as “not mature!!” Oh well it made me feel a lot younger if nothing else.

Churning out the same old, same old paintings seems like a sorry state to be in and a very limited one. I suppose if I was suprememly successful and selling a painting a day I wouldn’t be posting these thoughts. What do you think.

Rejected Artwork

Hi all – I am devastated – I have just had my first image Rejected by a site which I have been a member of for some time now – about a year- I feel like a dog with its tail between its legs – I dont know what to do – I obeyed all the rules – it is 6000 x 8000 px and is 3.52Mb – it is clear and bright and focused as day and I employed the same techniques as I have always done with success and now this!! Please tell me – do you find this image offensive or objectionable. I would appreciate your comments, peeps!
http://www.artistrising.com/galleries/vivienneking

The image is called “Angels of Jazz” and is part of my series “Artangels” – this image here is smaller than the one I submitted but you get the picture!

Use Colour as a key to unlock yourself!

Colour as an “opening” Key.

If you have “artist block” why not try this for fun. I have discovered this method after a few years of experience and it really works for me. It is really simple – almost childishly so, but nevertheless quite powerful.

Ask yourself “What color makes me really happy when I look at it?”

Take that colour and squeeze a GENEROUS (don’t be mean now, that energy will go against the spirit of the exercise!)amount of it onto your palette.

Take a blank sheet of paper, canvas, board or whatever and spread your “opening” color around liberally- don’t be shy, now – imagine it is honey on bread or butter on a scone or chocolate on your squeeze or whatever turns you on! Now GO FOR IT!! Don’t think “Result” – THINK PROCESS- think MMMMM think OOOOOOOOH YUM YUM YUMMMMMM….take your time, enjoy the feelings it gives, those warm, happy feelings. This is the color you really love, right – it makes you SO HAPPY!! It’s your warm-puppy color, your sweet-cookie color your hubbly bubbly color, Whatever!!
Try it – it really works

My portrait, “The Old Man of the Sea” has made it to a poster – he was chosen by the South African Society of Artists as an advertisement to put in Kirstenbosch gardens for their Member’s exhibition from June 2 – June 15th. Visit him again – he is lovely. Otherwise take tea in Kirstenbosch and go and see him for yourself.