"Creativity lies not in the done, but the doing.”
- Julia Cameron
Included in Art Sparks
The Art Sparks deck contains 82 inspiration cards, separated into four color-coded categories. Each subdeck represents a different aspect of painting decisions and is illustrated with original artwork by the authors:
Subject Cards: 21 subject ideas for your paintings
Design Cards: 19 suggested composition ideas
Technique Cards: 24 techniques for experimentation
Color Cards: 18 palette options to explore
How Art Sparks Works
To get unstuck and start painting again:
Pick one card from each deck randomly, or intentionally select specific cards.
First, pick a Subject card.
Then select one or more Design cards to organize your composition.
Choose one or more Technique cards for your painting process.
Draw a Color card to determine your palette.
Or simply pick a Subject card and a Technique card to explore.
For a warmup or loosening exercise:
Choose a Technique card to try before you begin to work on a new painting.
Select a Color card to try a new color palette combination and make a color chart.
To experiment on an unfinished/unloved painting:
Choose a Technique card like T-19 Rice Paper Collage. You can cover up an unsuccessful part of the painting with rice paper and paint over it.
Or choose a Technique card like T-7 Glazing and selectively glaze to change the value or color contrasts in your painting.
To play with different techniques and materials:
Pick a Technique card at random and try it.
Or sort through the Technique deck to find a new technique you would like to explore in your painting.
To paint a series on the same subject:
Select a different Design card for each painting.
Choose a different Technique card or a few techniques to create a new version of your series subject.
Explore different Color card choices, for example, make a warm or cool dominance version or choose a palette triad you don’t normally use.
To plan a new painting:
Review each deck and pick at least one card from each deck: your Subject, Design, Technique, and Color palette.
