If you are not out doing a Plein Air painting, how do you decide what to paint next? I keep file drawers with lots of ideas. I collect work from other artists for inspiration. I add anything that looks good to me from an ad or magazine at the moment. I look for great photos on Facebook and ask permission to use. When I travel I take lots of photos that “might” make good paintings.
Read my blog. You will see I just did a series of pen & ink drawings of Vacaville, California, where I currently live. I completed a few more drawings for the series I did for Winters, California. This was relaxation time in the evening, as I could watch a movie, draw and use watercolor in my home.
I did a series of animals for fundraiser for a local animal shelter named Funky Chicken. My pieces are selling very quickly as they are posted on “Shine A Light – on those that Inspire“. Each day a different artist’s work of animals from the shelter is put on Facebook for sale.
Right now I am working on a fun piece. It’s from a photo my daughter-in-law took. The photo features her two daughters and niece. They are at the beach in almost matching purple swimsuits. I wanted you to see them, not the water. Hope you like it.
So, now that this is done, what is next?
Many artists stay with one theme. They paint landscapes or portraits. They paint only still lives or fruit. I get “bored” with always painting the same theme, so like to try different things. Maybe I will paint flowers next?
If you are an artist, how do you decide what you want to paint?
I have always felt if I learn one new thing from a painting class, then it was worth the money. I took one last weekend at Folsom college, which is about an hour away from where I currently live. Setting up my easel, I realized my tripod was broken. I leveled my pochade box and just set it up on the table. That being solved I looked around the classroom and learned my first new idea. The man setting up next to me had put masking tape where his canvas sat. I thought this was so clever. I often put my finished painting in a frame. I set it on the easel to see what the finished project looked like.
Within the first five minutes I had at least one “ah ha”, and will do that going forward. Once the class began as I watched the demo, I was happy to see that the artist used many of the things I have been taught in other classes. What I loved was that he broke many of the “rules” from classes and teachers in the past.
He blocked out the design of the painting using Alizarin Crimson. He then used a roller or a large brush to indicate simple areas. It was a much faster way to begin a painting. He went on to share that every painting needs a story. He often writes a poem about his painting. I love that Idea! It is something I have started adding to all my work.
The story/poem for this first painting:
Being on a bus ~ not my favorite. Being on a tour bus going to a wine tasting ~ getting better. Being on the same bus ~ passing beautiful hay fields. Now, this is good! Hey! Let’s have a glass of wine.
My first painting was from a photograph I took out of a bus ride in Hungary to go to a wine tasting at a well-know winery in the area. It was a beautiful day, and we kept passing hay fields with rolled bales. Having grown up on a farm, where we raised wheat and barley I love being out in the country. We were asked to bring our own photographs. The first day was to be a landscape. He had photographs, but if we used his photographs we could not sell our piece. I painted from a photo on my phone. It was a small photograph to work from. I promised myself I would learn how to move my photos to my Amazon Fire when I had time.
I started the painting by placing the trees and the bales. It was a fairly quick study, which I completed in a couple of hours.
Our teacher made only two suggestions. One was to darken the base of the trees. The other was to add a little green to the sky. I did both and was pleased with the result. One thing I have learned about photographing your work, is that it always views better in person and in a frame.
The next day he was going to be doing a demo on an ocean scene. I had several photos from Puerto Vallarta. I selected one off my phone because I forgot to bring photos to use as a reference. When I got home I printed a couple of photographs to take the next day. You can enlarge the photos to see a certain part. However, having a larger photo as a reference is easier.
My husband and I travel to Puerto Vallarta every year. I always enjoy the beach as it is shallow and you walk out a ways. It is also quite beautiful. I selected this photo as my second to paint.
Bringing the painting to life and wanting to draw you into the scene, I changed the colors a little. I wanted the focus to be more in the middle, where the waves are crashing. I wanted you to know the mountains are there, but not the place your eyes goes first. There were a couple of areas that drew attention to the wrong place. The instructor helped me decide what to simplify.
As I worked on this our instructor said: “When you think it’s done it’s already over-worked.” He came and said: “Leave it where it is, so you don’t lose the spontaneity of it.”
Poem/Story: Does being at the sea bring you joy? Does it bring peace?Does it make you calm? What does? Does anything?
For my last painting of the class, I had about two hours remaining. I zeroed in on part of this photo. This allowed me to do a simple and fast painting. I finished the following painting in about twenty minutes. One of my good artist friends once pointed out: “When someone asks you how long it took to paint this piece, respond with how many years you have been studying. This indicates the effort you’ve put in to reach this point.” I have been painting about thirty years (off and on), so it really took more than twenty minutes to complete the painting.
This class was very successful for me, as I learned several new ideas. I will add them to the way I paint.
Poem/Story:
Let’s walk to the beach. I just walked down to the beach. The Light danced on the water. The surf sang songs of joy. And I knew the day was mine.
Enjoy your next class. Don’t expect to totally change the way you paint or think. Concentrate on learning something new and add it to what you already know and use. One new idea is better than none! I learned many other things in this class that I did not share, but totally enjoyed.
Kevin McPherson painted the pond out his back window, everyday for a year. I tried to paint the scene from my home on the beach everyday, but gave up after about six weeks. I tried taking photos and painting from the photos so I would have a painting from every day. I realized quickly that this was quite the undertaking.
I was lucky to live on the waterfront for fifteen years and every day was a miracle to view. I often painted the different views from my home, but 365 days in a row was just too much. Even though Kevin McPherson’s paintings were only six by eight, he did one every day for a year.
As you can see it was an amazing place to live, especially if you are an artist. I miss it every day. But, I don’t live there anymore. I may paint a few of these for old times sake.
One my friends from my home town recently took a class from Kevin McPherson at his home. She posted a photo of his pond on Facebook. I thought it would be fun to paint my version of his pond. I have a couple copies of his book: “Reflections on a Pond”. I actually have two copies, if anyone wants to buy one. Ha Ha
I decided to leave out the tree and the painter in the photo. First, I put in the small tree at the front of the painting. I moved it over to the left, then I left it out totally.
Looking through his book, I enjoyed many of his interpretations of the pond. I wish I had had the resolve to paint the my view every day. I should have created a different version of it each day. I had the good fortune of living there for fifteen years. It would have been amazing to have had the free time to do that.
I look back at this wonderful time. I am reminded of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote. He said, “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us”. It is much easier to look back and wonder why you made a decision at a point in time. At the time, it seemed like the right choice. As time moved forward, I often wondered why I did not rent it out. The rent from the two separate spaces would more than cover the mortgage and taxes. It would still have made a profit. Now I have to take Emerson’s advice. I need to look within. I must find what makes me as happy as enjoying my former view.
Many of us have lived many lives or lifestyles. I grew up on a farm and always worked. Now I am retired and really don’t need to work. Within me are many more paintings to be painted. I try to have my time painting, fill me with the same joy I gained by waking up early and taking photos of my past view.
Over the years I have taken lessons from some well-known artists and some not so well-know. I’ve always believed that if I learned something new in my art. It was worth the money if I put it into practice. Sometimes when taking classes, you realize that the painter is successful with their art. However, they may not be successful in their teaching. I took a portraiture class last year. The artist was very precise in how she taught us the art of portraiture. These are a couple of portraits that I painted after the class was complete.
During the course of the class we had models that sat for us. It was so interesting to see the end result using the same model. The two on the right are the same model, painted on different days. The artist that taught the class painted beautiful portraits. I noticed that her female portraits might have all been sisters. She made every one of them look like a classic beauty. I loved that she can do that, but I wanted try to paint them in a more personal manner. I learned and practiced all the proportions and elements of portraiture from her. I tried to add my style to what I learned. I was actively engaged in the class. This involvement allowed me to discover my own approach to creating a portrait.
That said, it made me think about the part of the quote that says: “Involve me and I learn”. As I get a little older I find I have to write it down to remember it. Visually I will always remember, as I am a visual learner. When I travel, I have an easy time finding my way back to the hotel. I always remember what was in the display windows we passed on the way to our destination. Most artists are visual learners.
You can describe how to do something in a 1,000 words. In my case, one photo is enough and I get the idea. I love when artists show you specific techniques that work for them. It is fun to see if you can translate that into your personal style.
How often do you think you should take a new class from a different teacher? I took classes from the same teacher for twelve years. She painted beautiful paintings and I learned a lot about mixing color. I did not learn how to develop my own style. She and a couple other artists opened a small gallery. They would often paint there. They would try to sell their work. I was walking by the gallery one day with my youngest son. He asked me why I wanted to take classes from her. All the pieces in the gallery looked the same to him. That was the last time I took a class from her. It didn’t help that we did not agree politically. We were not allowed to disagree with her politics while in her class. I decided it was time to look for other art classes where politics were not part of the culture.
I went on to take art classes from many different artists. First I had to admire their work, to want to take a class from them. Second, they had to do something similar, but different than how I was painting at the time. I learned so many small tricks of the trade by taking classes from diverse artists. There were some classes I loved. There were some classes that I paid for, but did not go back for the second or third day. Some artists think they should discuss philosophy with you. If you do not agree with their view, then you are “wrong”. I think in any class, it is okay to agree to disagree.
I had a few favorite artists. I took several classes from them. I learned a little something new in each class. Some artists think it’s all in the detail, whereas other artists don’t believe in detail. Photorealism is something I appreciate, but not something I would ever attempt for my own art. I love the idea of something without the perfection of detail. I want more to capture a mood, than painting a perfect copy of a scene.
As I traveled more, I discovered something important. I studied the brushstrokes up close of the masters of the past. We can study them in Art History. However, you can’t really feel them until you are a foot from them in real life. Manet’s work comes to mind, as his brushwork is bold and intentional. You can’t see that in any photo. Going to art museums is a great way to get involved in how things are done. What captures your attention first in any piece you view? To my mind, each artist has a different way of representing his world.
The portrait classes were just a few of the classes that made me think. It is much easier to attend a class and try to mimic the artist/instructor. It is more challenging to take their ideas and make them your own. There have been classes that I have taken when I liked the work of the artist at that time in their lives. As their work changed, the end result was different. I had to think if I wanted to take any more classes from them.
My suggestion is to look at an artist’s work over time and think if you want to apply any of their style to your own art. If there is something that draws you to their art, then by all means get involved in a class or two they are teaching.
I think of Benjamin Franklin’s quote when it comes to cooking, another love in my life. I always loved the cooking classes that were “hands-on”. Once my fingers were in the dough, I would not forget how it felt. I feel designing wonderful food is another art form. It is presumably why I am drawn to it. If I am not painting or writing about art I am cooking. See you in the kitchen!
Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” ~Aristotle
I love this quote by Aristotle. It reminds me of what Malcolm Gladwell wrote in his book: “Outliars”. Ten thousand hours of deliberate practice are needed to achieve expert-level mastery in any field. While the 10,000-hour rule has become widely known, some argue it’s an oversimplification. They emphasize the importance of the quality of practice over just the quantity of hours. Regardless, the rule highlights the significant time investment required for true expertise.
As an artist I am often asked how long a certain piece takes to paint. Each individual piece may take a day or two or more depending on the actual size and complexity of the painting. It is not the time that an artist takes to make the one painting. It is the years and years of practice. time spent in classes, time spent reading articles about composition and color that need to added to the time spent. It is the time spent finding something interesting to paint. The time deciding the best composition and color combination add to the time over the years.
I personally collect books by artists I love and read them often. I collect art magazines and scour them for paintings I enjoy and respect. I keep files with examples of ideas I want to incorporate into my artwork. I always have a folder on my computer of things I want to paint next.
When I lived in Washington State, I had a much larger art studio. I did big abstracts, which I sold via an interior design and decor store. I don’t have that connection where I now live. When you move to a new area I think it is hard to reinvent yourself for the area.
The painting at the top of the page is 10″ x 20″ which I completed in two days. I think painting vineyards is a challenge. Trying to make rows of growing grapes interesting and colorful is not easy. I must have repainted the rows several times before I was content with the result. When I looked back, I realized the tree was fading into the background. It did not stand out the way I wanted. At that point in time, I lightened the rows, so the tree would stand more as a focal point.
I have a T-Shirt that says: ” Art is intelligence gone creative”. It is a compelling statement that highlights the connection between intellect and artistic expression.
Here’s how intelligence and creativity intertwine to create art:
Intelligence is the ability to learn and understand, providing artists with the knowledge and skills necessary to create. This includes understanding artistic principles, techniques, and historical context.
Creativity is the ability to generate original and unusual ideas. It allows artists to transcend mere technical proficiency.
Artistic talent emerges from a synthesis of creativity and intelligence. Imagination is combined with an understanding of various factors. These factors include culture, emotion, and technical aspects.
Art serves as a channel for artists to communicate ideas, evoke emotions, and tell stories. This requires a level of intelligence to effectively convey meaning through chosen mediums.
AI tools can help in artistic creation. However, they presently lack the emotional and conscious elements. These elements drive true human creativity. AI can analyze and mimic patterns, but human artists infuse their work with personal experiences, intuition, and unique perspectives.
In essence, art is more than just raw creativity or intelligence alone. It is the intelligent application of creative thought and skill. This application produces something meaningful and impactful.
Every artist I know wants to create something beautiful or thought-provoking. They make you look at things in a different manner. This all takes time, merged with intellect and creativity.
Next time you want to ask an artist how long a piece took to paint, stop to consider asking a different question. Maybe ask how long they have been studying art. Ask how long they have actually been applying paint to canvas.
When asked: “Why do you make art” what do you say? I think all artists wrestle with the why of it? I, myself know I have to do it to be happy. Working on a painting or a pen and ink drawing in my studio makes me happy.
The making of art is a tradition that has spanned the entirety of human history. I’m always interested to know what is art’s purpose, if it has one! When asked, what do artist’s say about their compulsion to create? Camille Henrot said: “I don’t think art has any inherent duty; its not “good” for anything innately.” What best describes an artist? Is too much expected of art? She went on to say: “Art is good for representing and defending a space for complexity, nuance and exception. I love this explanation.
Rose B Simpson stated: ” So much art caters to the intellect, tickles the wit and hold the key to an inside joke.” The cost of art is know what you paid to go to art school, and what you owe. What we need to remember is that art ventures in the magical, driven by a deep desire to know something beside disconnection as to become fluent in the poetry of the supernatural. Art is about findg our way home to our humanity. As we take many wrong turns each one is a teacher.
What I often wonder, is the question of why people question why we have to make art. Why is art a part of our soul? Why do we wake up thinking about what we can create next? Is it because we are creative souls, or are we artists just a little crazy! I don’t have an answer to this yet.
I know I love to paint and draw. I love the companionship of artistic people. I painted this years ago, and it sold right away. It is 2′ x 4′ and happily installed in a happy client’s home. Think about why you enjoy art, be it contemporary or old world, flowers or landscape or a million other venues. I hope you are enjoying it in your life!
I often have ideas for projects, that sound so great when I start them, but become tedious as I start working on them. I thought it might be a fun idea to do sketches in a notebook on all the different flowers in our yard. I quickly realized that we have a lot of different flowers!
So far I have completed these two and have started three others. I think I might have to take the time to count all the different flowers in our yard? Yikes! Humm, then do I include my herb garden. I started it as kind of a joke, as my husband can never remember the names of any of the flowers. I’m not sure on the other hand if he would ever look at this book? Ha Ha
I’ll keep you updated as I add more drawings, and see if I can complete this notebook this summer while all the flowers are blooming. It sounded like a good idea when I started.
Today I finished this 40 inch by 30 inch painting from a photo of the Berryessa Gap Vineyards. There is a wine stroll coming up in Winters on May 3rd and I was asked to have a booth. I will participating in the Plein Air get-together from May 1st to May 3rd. The third day I will be painting from my booth, probably from a photo I will have taken earlier.
When I was working on this, as it came to being close to being finished I felt it lacked the spark it needed. I decided to look online for ideas and was sadly disappointed. I could find no painting that really sang out to me. There were several YouTubes, but none of the finished work was inspiring. With that I realized that anyone can post a YouTube and it does not have to be that good to retain a pertinent number of followers.
Are there that many people that need help like that? I did not gain anything new from the ones I quickly viewed. Maybe I need to be more “gutsy” and do my own videos. I have looked online for recipes for several years and am amazed the long detailed “how to’s” that accompany most of the recipes. I skip to the recipe, read the ingredients and from that determine if it is worth cooking.
The problem with most videos, YouTubes and demos is that each shows one style or technique and in most cases it is no where near what you want to accomplish. It was pretty disappointing. I find the same with so many of the art how-to art books. I think why would you buy a book if you don’t like the art of the artist.
I’ve written a book on hand drafting that is still used in many schools throughout the world. Maybe it is time to do the same with an art book!
Since the last butterfly was fun, I decided to do another. This one is 8 x 8 inches and a little fun!
Last week I met up with a group of artists that do a variety of different things. We were inside, so no Urban Sketching. There was a lovely photograph right in front of me, so I decided to decided to use it for my sketching. I didn’t take a photo of the field of Sunflowers, so only have what I quickly drew while chatting with others in the group.
People often ask you: “Why do you paint”, or “Why do you want to make money selling your art”.
I paint because it makes me happy and brings joy to my life. It brings more joy when someone appreciates what I do, and even more when they like it enough to purchase it. I never understood why someone would ask an artist why they want to sell their work. Painting is an expensive hobby. It’s like owning a plane or a speedboat, but the supplies are not inexpensive.
People willingly (sort of) pay their doctor, lawyer and CPA, but come short on spending money on something they look at every day and should bring them joy. In my case I do have a Ph.D, but not in art. I have a Doctorate in Business Marketing, my MA in Art and my BA in Art. That’s a lot of education to be offering my services for free. Do you want your Latte with a free cookie? That’s rather like me giving my art away with a frame for free. How much did it cost to bake that cookie? What time and what ingredients are involved? Ah, how much was that frame and how long did it take me to paint that piece. People ask me that, and I laughingly say it has taken years and years! Years of practice and success and years of failure are all part of a successful painting or piece of art. It didn’t happen spontaneously. It took years of studying. Malcolm Gladwell in his well-know books, says it takes 10,000 hours to good at anything.
Practice, practice and more practice. Everything I paint is a new experience and many ways a new beginning.
One of my friends is an amazing photographer of birds and insects. She has been asking me to do a Monarch Butterfly for a while. This is only 8 x 8 inches and was fun to do. I am working on a second one, so this one is not alone.
I have artist friends that only paint landscapes, and some only paint seascapes. I am always looking for something to paint and love suggestions from friends. I think I have a rather bright / free style of painting. I can usually tell my mood, by the colors I select for my paintings. I do love the look of dark and moody paintings, but it is just not my personality.
It would be wonderful to find exactly what my style is, and stick to one look. There are so many different ways and things to paint, how do you settle on just one look? Maybe I would be more successful selling my work, if I stuck to one style. Oh well, not today!
