Rule of 1/3rds

Hey everyone and welcome to the mid-week of September. Before I get into what the post title is all about, this week's tutorial will be released this Saturday simply due to my Games Workshop Embargo date. Sadly I can't show you what I've been working on just yet, but I can say it's all about a team set in the 41st millennium that kills... if you can put that all together. Oh, and they fly lol. So that should give you a few ideas on the subject, and the tutorial is more suited for the tabletop!

So what am I talking about regarding the Rule of 1/3rds? Well for starters, I'm not talking about anything composition-wise as I would typically do with painting. This refers to how we as artists and hobbyists feel about ourselves toward the work we create. There is throughout our painting journey moments of doubt, frustration, and judgment of ourselves. Comparing ourselves to what is out there and how we fit into the bigger community. On the opposite side, we also have periods of power, fulfillment, progression and even pride in what we've accomplished or currently experiencing. Our friends and peers give us congratulatory praises and encouragement through direct feedback or a simple "thumbs up" like on Facebook. If you've ever felt this way before, this is just to let you know that it's perfectly normal to have both these highs and lows in our journey, and multiple laps of each. Dipping in and out from periods of positivity, neutrality, and negativity toward our art/hobby. Even with myself, as I'm no stranger to self-critique in periods of low. It's partially the reason why I write this now to share with you readers the reality of being creative. And you don't need to be some professional painter, or full-time artist to experience this. Everyone at one time or another goes through these transitions. Sometimes they last a day, a week, a month, or heck a few hours.

Why I bring this up is to let you know that these revolving feelings are normal. This rule of 1/3rds refers to how we typically cycle through these divisions of self-reflection. 1/3 of the time we will feel great about our art, 1/3 feel neutral about our work, and the dreaded 1/3 feel like we can't stand the sight of our work (Ok that last one is a bit dramatic, but I think you get the point). This past month has been a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions for me in both my reflections on my work, and pairing that with a knee injury from running which has punished me psychologically. No matter how many times in my career I've dipped into that dreadful feeling, I always have to take a step back, look in the mirror and remind myself that these feelings are normal. Our art form is directly visual, and many of us choose to put our works out there for others to view. That in itself is a form of being vulnerable. And with that nature will open us up to all the varied emotions that come with it. Sadly, there isn't a single cure or remedy that will fix that feeling, it's just something we need to ride that process through. Sometimes it's stepping away to let those feelings run their course. Changing the model or the entire medium; try drawing, or going out and taking some photographs to feed your creativity. Just remind yourself it's all part of the rule of 1/3rds, and that good art contains contrasts of all degrees, even from such places as ourselves. Everything comes full circle and I did end up making it about composition!

As for Iron Man WiP above, that's just something I wanted to share as a commission piece I've been working on the side. When I'm feeling a bit down about my work, I get closed off and want to work in silence, away from all the eyes to take the pressure off. After looking further into this WIP, I'm not feeling so critical anymore and I wish in retrospect that I'd shared this process more with you all from the start. If there is interest in a tutorial or even just a colour recipe guide for this project when it's finished, I'd love to hear from you in the comments. And on the main topic of our rules of 1/3rds, you're always welcome to reach out to me if you need an ear to listen as I'm always happy to help both on the brush and in your mindset.

Thanks for reading and always, Happy Painting

Bb