Acrylic Inks and Experimentation in the Studio

Two small paintings of whimsical, dark-haired women with wings. Surrounding the paintings on the desktop are several scattered art supplies such as acrylic inks, pens, pencils and erasers.
Two experimental paintings, untitled, © Lea K. Tawd. NFS

What do you think is the opposite of experimentation?

 

The first word that came to my mind was stagnancy. Without experimentation, there is no innovation, no change. The second word that came to me was very different: mastery. When one has mastered something, is there still room for experimentation? Or do they already know all there is to know in that area?

 

I do not actually think that mastery is the opposite of experimentation. With mastery comes a desire to know even more, to continue to push the boundaries of discovery and play. And with the word play comes the connotation of childlike curiosity. Something that seems very different from mastery. But I think they go hand in hand.

 

At least, that’s what it can sometimes feel like in the studio. There are times when I take my work too seriously and get myself caught up in the results. During those times, the best thing I can do is let go of the results and allow myself to play. Play brings out curiosity and experimentation. The results don’t matter as much as the process.

 

There are some mediums that have unexpected results and these invite play for me. When I took Tracy Verdugo’s acrylic ink class awhile back, I discovered one of them! (Full transparency, I only did the 1st module where she explains different techniques. I got so excited about playing with them that I immersed myself in my own projects rather than follow along with hers…yet).

 

I have a long way to go to fully push this new (to me) medium. It interacts with water and with rubbing alcohol in unpredictable and fun ways. I would like to try it out on lots of different surfaces and see if I like it as much as watercolor for certain techniques. For now I’ve been creating little figures on watercolor paper. It’s become a little ritual as I get into my studio each morning.

 

These little ladies are not for sale right now—they are just for me.  I just want to stay in the mode of experimentation and play so that I don’t have to worry about the results.

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.