Hi There Reader... I've spent much of this week in the studio experimenting with new (and old!) ideas. Funny how some techniques quietly find their way back into your toolbox, while other realizations seem to appear out of nowhere... even though they've probably been there all along. I hope this week's stories give you something to think about... and perhaps inspire you to look at your own creative journey a little differently. Happy exploring,

Rediscovering the Mother Color

Years ago, I learned about the concept of a "mother color." Like so many things we learn (as artists and otherwise), it made perfect sense at the time... but then I promptly forgot about it. Recently, though, I found myself looking at a few paintings and wondering why the colors didn't quite feel like they belonged together. Individually they were fine, but collectively they seemed to be speaking different languages. Then I remembered The Mother Color.

The idea is surprisingly simple. Before you begin painting, choose a color (your "mother color") and mix a small amount into every color on your palette. It might be a warm earth tone like Transparent Red Oxide, a cool blue-gray or even a neutral mixture you've created yourself. Because every mixture contains a little of the same parent color, the finished painting naturally feels more harmonious. Think of it as giving every color a shared family resemblance (no more red-headed stepchildren).

Artists use a mother color in several ways. Some pre-mix the designated mother color into every pile of paint before they begin. Others create a mother color by mixing each color on their palette and then mixing that mother color mix back into each individual color. You can also achieve a similar effect by toning the entire canvas with a single wash and allow bits of that color to peek through the finished painting. There isn't one "right" method.

I've been experimenting with mother colors again over the past few weeks, and I'm amazed by how much difference such a simple concept can make. As you would imagine, the colors simply seem to belong together. Huh. Needless to say, mother colors are back in my toolbox.

The Power of Story

Lately, it seems like everywhere I turn, someone is talking about storytelling. A friend recently attended a storytelling conference (!) and came back full of ideas. I've also been taking a few online classes (probably too many!), and regardless of whether the topic is art, marketing or business, the message is remarkably consistent: people connect with stories.

That got me thinking about my own work. I realized that nearly everything I've been creating (not just art) has a story at its core. The funny thing is, that wasn't the intent - it's been more about memories for me. But I suppose, great memories always have great stories attached to them. My 50 States linocut series isn't really about state outlines, it's about the stories and history from each state. Dad Jobs isn't about ladders and jumper cables, it started as an article (really, more like a story) I wrote about how my dad's teaching methods influenced how I learn. My new stewardess series tells my mother's story, while my recent North Muskegon pieces explore the memories of growing up in a small lakeshore town. All those memories have great stories attached to them.

Turns out, having a story makes the creative process even more enjoyable. Every photograph, every old magazine and every piece of ephemera becomes something worth exploring, worth remembering. Rather than searching for the "perfect" composition, I'm piecing together a story. And perhaps that's why I've been enjoying mixed media and collage so much lately. They seem perfectly suited for telling stories.

Explore the new Artful Traveler and learn more about my latest explorations. You can follow along for free, join as an Atelier Insider, or join for full access to everything inside the Atelier.