Perhaps all artists like to work within their comfort zone, repeatedly painting familiar subjects they have become good at. I don’t mean to imply that you shouldn’t paint what inspires you; in choosing to specialise in one area there is no doubt that you will improve your expertise and develop your artistic style. However, it can be worth questioning how and why we opt for a particular artistic path: because of a conscious choice, because of other’s expectations, or perhaps because it’s the safest option. It can be scary tackling a subject you are unfamiliar with and that you feel is perhaps beyond your capabilities, but always playing it safe can limit your progress as an artist. If you have found yourself shying away from complicated subject matter, then following these simple steps might help.
1: Consider the proportions of your surface
As the well-known saying goes ‘by failing to prepare you are preparing to fail’, which is especially the case when dealing with complicated subjects. When time is in short supply and inspiration takes us, we could be forgiven for wanting to capture that subject or scene as quickly as possible on whatever surface is to hand. However, taking a few moments to check
