Lessons on Redrawing Past Works

REDRAWING PAST WORKS AND WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR ME

Many times, I never truly settle with one painting of a subject and let that go forever. Just like how I did with Salvation, it was a remake of two other paintings that I first made when I was still starting out. To be honest, it was truly an ambitious concept. I wanted something that represented the place where souls will be judged first before they are accepted to heaven, or be thrown down in hell. I wanted a woman who either will be condemned, or if I was in a better mood, a woman who will be saved.

So, for the past years, drawing different subjects, with different themes and concepts, I have learned that redrawing isn’t as bad as I thought it sounded. I thought a drawn piece would stay that way, because it’s done, and I had already shown it to the world.

A redrawing of a portrait I did for my friend's daughter.

But it made me realize that redrawing past works also would allow me to track how I had improved, how my perspective about art, the world, and the subject had evolved.

I have also done that in my stories. I wrote a novelette many years ago, way back in 2015. Come 2022, I dug the story up and decided to reedit, revise, and add a lot of things not just to make it longer, but also better. The story now had more substance, and it wasn’t just a bunch of scenes that I put together to form a narrative.

Back to my paintings, I had countless of works I had stuffed away in boxes, cabinets and closets, that didn’t really serve as my portfolio. They were put away because as much as I was satisfied with them before, they were never the art I was proud enough to showcase in my website.

I had already planned on beginning an art business before, when the pandemic had started. Everyone seemed to be booming by then and having their big breaks. I admired them and was inspired to be the same, but I had to put my dream on hold, for personal reasons.

I’m glad I haven’t really started way back either, as I flip through my works these past few years. I realize that perhaps, my desire and urge to redraw them will only make me a better artist. That said, that would also mean I will only present a better set of work, and upload them on my portfolio.

So, to jump to the main point, here are the lessons I’ve learned as an artist who regularly redraws her works.

1. There is no need doubt yourself when redrawing past works.

a. It will only show how much you’ve improved, and your redrawn artwork will also reflect your current views about the world, the theme of your past drawing, and art, itself.

2. Our views about the world change.

a. I believe and I’ve experienced how my perspective about the world changes the way I paint. When I was younger, people knew I’d be better off as a landscapes artist. Right now, I mostly paint faces and figures. I still draw landscapes for my family, though.

3. Our views about the themes change too.

a. I’ve been drawing a lot that centers around magic, witchy stuff, and similar themes. Some of my paintings then had a lot of black, so I thought they were dark and spooky. Recently, as I saw my previous works, I wanted to repaint them again, with lighter colors. I currently want my witchy drawings to be colorful and cozy, just the way I have always viewed magic.

4. Finally, our perspective about art changes.

a. When I started painting during the start of the pandemic, I only wanted it to be a hobby I can return to from time to time. But that was because I was only a beginner. Now that I had began to take my art seriously, I want this not to be the main source of my income, but a part of it. I want it to be sustainable, so that I won’t be aimlessly making art.

b. I want to make art with a better and bigger purpose.

i. As I was just a beginner before, my purpose with art wasn’t as impressive as other artists. I knew my skill set before, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to compete. One more thing that I noticed before was that digital art and other cute artworks were the one whose sales mostly skyrocketed.

ii. That said, my art isn’t cute. While I also do digital art, I still have much more to learn with its techniques.

iii. Right now, my purpose is bigger and, maybe wider. I want to explore traditional art in some of its forms: watercolor and gouache, acrylic, and oil paintings. I feel like I can be more expressive with my art as I grow more attached to it, and I believe that I can connect more to my audience that way.

iv. I have my own style, and all artists do! With that thought, it inspires and encourages me to be true to my art style. If my expression and ‘voice’ will reach a person and make him say ‘this is beautiful’ or ‘I want this on my wall’, then surely, my art will have a place in other people’s worlds and hearts.