How do I decide which colors to use?

Posted by OCDocdOCDocdOCDocd 44 days ago (Question)

For the last year, Iâ€™ve been trying to paint a picture. The problem is: there are so many colors in the art store, and I canâ€™t decide which ones should be in my painting. Also, when I go to the store, I notice other media, like charcoal, and wonder whether I shouldnâ€™t be doing that instead of paints. Additionally, I canâ€™t decide what the object of my art should beâ€”A house? A dog? Flowers? A vase? And what about style? Perspective? All of this has led me to buy all the art supplies I can find, and try them all, and learn everything about as much of the arts as I can, but I never seem to get a finished product. There are always doubts lurking in my mind. I have lost a lot of sleep over this. I stay up all night, painting and re-painting, thinking and over-thinking, trying this and that. Can someone help decide how to finally create one full painting? Tips?

5 Answers

Answers

Written by Clyde 43 days ago Rating: 0 | Rate Answer: + -

You definitely do sound like you have OCD. Is there any specific picture you would want to paint?

That might be the best place to start.

Or just start painting with out worrying about the color or matter, and go from there.

Best,

Clyde

Written by bellacutie 43 days ago Rating: 0 | Rate Answer: + -

LOL this all sounds very complicated. I sympathize that your OCD is in overdrive at the moment. Are you on medication and receiving therapy for the OCD? There is a good book called 'Life In Rewind' by Micheal Jenike and Edward Zines. It's the story of a famous football player who struggled with OCD. He always had to count to 1500 before ge could do any task - so he was basically not functioning at all. He got help from a psychiatrist who put him on medication and he started behavioral therapy. He now functions very well.

I admit myself that it is very confusing choosing the many colors available in the art store. I think you need to make a list of what kind of art are you best at - still life, abstract etc. What do you work best with oil, water color, charcoal. Is this for school - did they give you guidelines?? Then make a decision and STICK to it. Start your project with the intention of finishing it. Don't second guess yourself and just let the artist in you flow through. Remember it doesn't have to be perfect - right? Your goal is to finsh one painting. I used to love art and I could replicate famous paintings very well. Best of luck.

Written by menonin 43 days ago Rating: 0 | Rate Answer: + -

You are great. You worked so hard and thought a lot about it. But you missed finer points(small points) and steps. You can study about colors - Pictures and how to draw them. Can you imagine a life Full, Never, because it is an ever growing process. like that an imagination becomes a picture, You stop there. Compleate that as a picture. fine tune it and finish. Using basic colors you can have all colors. So sit, write down basic steps, complete the picture first in thought. Then start drawing and fine tune it and finish it.

Break you drawing into Small Complete steps, complete one by one and finish it. that is all.

Written by katrineme7 43 days ago Rating: 0 | Rate Answer: + -

You got great answers. Sometimes, it's really complicated when you have too many options?

When I draw and paint, I just let the subject of the painting/drawing, and the colors, chose me.

Best,

Katrin

PS: I think your issues with drawing/painting with you and all of us is reflective of our lives in general. For you it would then be finishing things, anxiety, colors..the experience itself?

Written by dreamgirlchristina 39 days ago Rating: 0 | Rate Answer: + -

Try conte crayon(soft pastels) its fun and blending colors is easy. try to make a personal rainbow to get your creative juices flowing pick a color make a line another color and line and so on and so on you make up the rules as to what your lines look like. Its liberating and very telling of your mood at the time.