Working in a Sequence – Unlocking Inventive Potential for Creative Development

Have you ever ever discovered your self caught within the limbo of inventive indecision, uncertain of what to color subsequent? Or maybe you’ve grappled with the concern of constructing errors and find yourself not portray in any respect?? If these challenges resonate with you, then diving into the world of working in a sequence may simply be the method your inventive soul wants.

Because the theme for June in my IGNITE! Membership, it was aaaamazing how this concept of working in a sequence introduced forth a mass of effort and fabulous work from members! 

So let’s take a look at what this all means. (You’ll see work from my Scissors sequence scattered by the submit, illustrating the thought of working in a sequence.)

Working in a series: Gail Sibley, "Scissors 1 - Splayed, "Unison Colour pastels on UART 400, 6 x 11 in.
Gail Sibley, “Scissors 1 – Splayed,” Unison Color pastels on UART 400, 6 x 11 in.

Exploring the Artwork of Working in a Sequence

The idea of working in a sequence entails a profound inventive journey—a voyage that transcends the creation of standalone artworks. It revolves across the growth of a group of work that share a standard thematic thread and that construct one on prime of the opposite, shifting from one to the following inside an undefined timeframe. 

In essence, it’s a pilgrimage of discovery that unfolds over time. In contrast to the fleeting exploration of a single piece, working in a sequence permits you to delve deeper into your chosen subject, exploring its aspects and nuances comprehensively.

Working in a series: Gail Sibley, "Scissors 2 - Wide Open," Unison Colour pastels on UART 280, 6 x 11 in.
Gail Sibley, “Scissors 2 – Huge Open,” Unison Color pastels on UART 280, 6 x 11 in.

Crucially, there’s no predetermined amount of items, nor a inflexible timetable to information the method. And the choice to conclude a sequence is rooted in your intuitive sense of completeness—a end result of exploration, power, and keenness. 

A sequence, basically, ought to kind a visible narrative when seen collectively, with each bit complementing the others. This cohesiveness will allow you to articulate and convey the essence of your exploration with readability and conviction.

It’s important, nonetheless, to make clear misconceptions. A sequence shouldn’t be confused with recurring themes inside an artist’s physique of labor. Themes like my Gallery Goers and Canine Walkers are distinct from a sequence in that they don’t coexist inside a singular timeframe nor do they construct on one another. A sequence thrives on continuity and development, with every portray constructing upon its predecessor, even when subtly.

Gail Sibley, "Facing Fragonard (Gallery Goers series)," Unison Colour pastels on UART 500, 10 x 10 in. Available. $625.
Gail Sibley, “Going through Fragonard (Gallery Goers sequence),” Unison Color pastels on UART 500, 10 x 10 in. Available at Peninsula Gallery.
Paint Anything With This Set of Soft Pastels: Gail Sibley, "In Unison" (Dog Walker series), Unison Colour pastels on UART 400, 7 x 7 in.
Gail Sibley, “In Unison” (Canine Walker sequence), Unison Color pastels on UART 400, 7 x 7 in. Available at Peninsula Galleryhttps://www.pengal.com/artists/gail-sibley/artwork/view/5136/in-unison

Lastly, it’s essential to emphasise that working in a sequence shouldn’t be synonymous with production-driven work. Whereas it could yield a list of artworks, the first focus stays on experimentation and the inventive course of. The eventual final result could certainly yield items appropriate on the market, however this isn’t the principal intent of embarking on a sequence—it’s all about nurturing inventive development and exploration. And getting you portray!

Working in a series: Gail Sibley, "Scissors 3 - At the Ready," Unison Colour pastels on UART 600, 8 3/4 x 6 in.
Gail Sibley, “Scissors 3 – On the Prepared,” Unison Color pastels on UART 600, 8 3/4 x 6 in.

The Bounty of Advantages

  • Route Amidst Doubt: One of many quick advantages of working in a sequence is the eradication of the query, “What ought to I paint subsequent?” As a substitute, you’ll greet your self by the thrilling problem of “How am I going to color that?” This shift empowers you to get portray fairly than spending time wallowing in inventive uncertainty! 
  • Motivated Momentum: The anticipation of uncovering new prospects inside your sequence fuels your motivation to step into the studio every day. With a transparent sense of objective, distractions and procrastination fade into the background.
  • Escaping Inventive Stagnation: If you end up caught whereas engaged on a bit, transfer on to the following one within the sequence. Transitioning to the following paintings not solely renews your inventive circulation but additionally encourages you to dig deeper, exploring the emotional essence of your material.
  • Depth and Discovery: Whereas a single portray may seize preliminary impressions, working in a sequence lets you go deeper, unearthing layers of which means in addition to new visible prospects. Every bit builds upon the final, revealing new insights about your chosen theme. 
Working in a series: Gail Sibley, "Scissors 4 - Dressed in Yellow," Unison Colour pastels on UART 800, 6 x 10 in
Gail Sibley, “Scissors 4 – Wearing Yellow,” Unison Color pastels on UART 800, 6 x 10 in
  • Restriction Compels Exploration: Counterintuitively, the constraint of a sequence liberates your creativity. Targeted exploration permits you to experiment with completely different views, compositions, colors, mark-making, and interpretations, all of the whereas fostering inventive development.
  • A Approach for Development: The extra you paint, the extra you study. Each stroke provides to your inventive journey. The sequence turns into a fertile floor for breakthroughs, the place every paintings serves as a stepping stone in the direction of enchancment. As you have interaction within the course of, your abilities, confidence, and understanding of self evolve.
  • Energy in Numbers: When displayed collectively, the artworks inside a sequence amplify their collective affect. Every bit in a sequence informs the opposite and so provides extra which means to it. Principally what you could have is power in numbers – an unexpected profit to work in a sequence. The visible cohesion communicates dedication, self-discipline, and focus. This unity not solely enhances your inventive narrative and readability but additionally aids in presenting your work to galleries and committees.
Working in a series: Gail Sibley, "Scissors 5 - All in Red," Unison Colour pastels on UART 600, 6 x 10 in.
Gail Sibley, “Scissors 5 – All in Crimson,” Unison Color pastels on UART 600, 6 x 10 in.
  • Overcoming Perfectionism: Engaged on a single portray can typically overwhelm from self-imposed stress to realize perfection. This may occasionally result in concern and in the end, to avoidance of your studio! In distinction, portray in a sequence liberates us, providing the liberty to precise, make errors, experiment, and concentrate on the inventive course of fairly than the end result. It offers respite from the unrealistic expectation of making a masterpiece each time we go to the easel, acknowledging that disappointments are a part of the inventive journey.
  • Unveiling Your Distinctive Creative Voice: Working in a sequence engenders a profound self-discovery journey the place your distinctive inventive voice thrives and turns into extra pronounced.
Working in a series: Gail Sibley, "Scissors 6 - Green On Pink," Unison Colour pastels on UART 800, 5 1/4 x 10 in.
Gail Sibley, “Scissors 6 – Inexperienced On Pink,” Unison Color pastels on UART 800, 5 1/4 x 10 in.

Embrace Freedom, Embrace Development

In the end, working in a sequence is a testomony to your dedication to development and exploration. It’s an invite to immerse your self absolutely, to evolve alongside your creations, and to expertise the profound rewards of a creative journey properly and actually explored.

So, whether or not you’re looking for to flee the uncertainty of “what’s subsequent” or silence your interior critic, the observe of working in a sequence gives a transparent path towards inventive transformation. Working in a sequence is my favorite means of getting out of an artwork stoop!

Have you ever labored in a sequence? I’d like to know what your topic was and in addition, what was the principle factor you discovered from doing it.

And when you’ve by no means thought-about working in a sequence, are you impressed to start out a challenge? Do let me know!

Till subsequent time!

~ Gail

PS. You’ll see items from my Scissors sequence scattered all through the submit. They had been all painted from life. The primary three had been about altering the positioning of the pair of scissors in relation to me in addition to of their opening. The subsequent three are extra about how colors mirrored within the shiny metallic. Initially, I used to be impressed by a Diebenkorn painting of scissors that I’d come throughout.