Mask

I've had this piece mostly done for a while now. I painted the background before I even started this blog. I had sketched out a simple line drawing of a raccoon with a conical hat and a scarf/bandana obscuring its face. I guess it was just too intimidating to finish; until last night, anyway.

I got out a basic set of watercolor pencils, my trusty water brush, and a white paint pen before setting out to complete this painting. I really like the end result. Watercolor pencils create intense hues when "activated" with water and brush. These pencils create different effects and behave differently from the paint I have been working with. I am becoming more aware that my ability to draw actually goes hand-in-hand with my ability to paint - I have a lot to learn from/about both.

I find pieces like this to be very difficult to follow-through on. As someone who is still learning to see and develop ideas, I find myself getting caught up in a lot of excess research. As a person perpetually seeking to improve and master artistic concepts and techniques, I am sometimes too afraid of messing up on a piece to actually finish it. I understand that mistakes are the key to learning. I know that it is much worse to create nothing than to create something you dislike. I struggle, I fight it, and sometimes I can overcome it. Sometimes.