Getting Outdoors, Finally!

Tree Dancer, 9x12

We are now in week 11 of Stay At Home orders, and it seems as though I have been "stuck" at home forever. Probably it doesn't help that the weather here has not been great. We've not had many beautiful spring days this year and that lack of sunshine hurts my spirit too. Finally, last week we got a nice day, partly sunny 70s, time to get my plein air gear and get outside.

I went to a very unpopulated park, where I did not see many people--a historic old farm with many outbuildings. I found a nice spot on the grass (an acre to myself) and set up my gear. Man, it was so good to be outside with my paints, it has been way too long!

I was initially excited by all of the old white buildings which were being hit with sunlight. White in sunlight was exciting to me. And, soon I narrowed it down to this little house and the interesting tree behind it. I thought I could get both the house and tree onto the canvas--yes I was quite a distance away.

The beautiful dancing tree shape came easily to me while the house ended up being a challenge. Structures I think are their own beasts. The issue that I had with the house was that there were so many lines and it was hard to get straight lines outside. I ended up going back over the house at home, using a hard edge to get the house roof line and sides and window lines that I needed.

Recently and to my benefit I just finished an art (Zoom) tree painting class which was amazing. That really helped me to look at the tree and get the character down quickly. Now I need to find a sunlit structure painting class. There has got to be an easier way to get down a house on the canvas.

It felt great to be outside, to see the sun and to plein air paint. It was great to study the tree and the house structure. Perhaps one con was that there were no restrooms in the park;conversely it could be a positive--this limits the amount of time you can paint. After two hours, I had to pack it up and head home!

This week has been incredibly hot and humid, threatening rain so I have not plein air painted--but next week--well let's just say there are a few days that I am hoping to paint outside. Fingers crossed!

In An Art Slump

Week 7 of staying at home & I am unmotivated

Butter Sky, a tree class painting.

A few weeks before the stay at home order, I noticed that I was not producing good art. And in spite of my best efforts, making art in quarantine has not led to improvement. This has definitely got me in a funk and I know that I am not alone in that.

Here's the thing, I am taking three online classes and each class has homework. I am fairly art busy in the day and in the afternoons with homework. I am painting and attempting to learn. Its the days when I paint for myself on my own that I struggle and end up with wiped out paintings. Seriously I just want one good painting, this is a bit frustrating!

As an analytical person, the hard thing is the art slump doesn't make sense, why suddenly can I not paint a portrait or a still life? Why is the struggle so hard when I have been painting for years?

This week I am going to make a plan of what to paint with hopes that something will turn out okay. I have done this before and feel that I must do this again. On non-class days I have to get into the studio to paint - which I am doing its just that the paintings are not successful. I have listened to art teacher advice and tried painting a black and white study from life. And then painting a color painting from that. My black and white painting was way better than the color painting. I tried painting still life, as that is 'from life' and that was unsatisfying as well... this is not working out for me...

Perhaps this should just be a time for learning for me. I am taking many classes and have much thinking to do (thanks Anatomy)--so maybe I should just use this time for learning? I get it but I am going crazy not having anything to post to my website as to what I have been doing these last 7 weeks. I've been painting and been busy and have no results to show for it!

So what else I can I do about this motivation issue? I am reaching out to other artists for advice. Today I plan to sit on the back deck in the sun to read in order to feel more positive. I am so very glad to see the sun today! And I've been thinking about what I should read.

My reading list: The War of Art, Foster Caddell's Keys to Successful Landscape Painting, Fill Your Paintings with Light and Color  by MacPherson.

What else are your thoughts for staying motivated? What are your suggestions for art reading materials? Please end me a note or post a comment!

Art and Online Learning

In trying times, I've found a new outlook & outlet

Eucalyptus, started in one of my online classes

Hey, I get it it, learning online has never appealed to me before but these are trying times. I need my social interactions plus I love learning opportunities. Yes, I have always resisted the online art classes and courses--until now. Currently I am taking 3 online courses and I have been pleasantly surprised by how great each class is going.

First and foremost I realized that a teacher is a teacher. What do I mean? I mean that a good 'in person' teacher is still a good teacher online--the love of teaching still comes through. If there is a national or local art teacher you have taken with before or wanted to take with, I recommend looking her up and taking a course online. Artists are, after all, "Gig Workers." Invest in your self if you can and pay it forward to the artist teacher, win/win.

I am taking an online self-paced class (lots of videos and note taking), but this artist has been teaching online for many years so there is lots of great material. I like it and there are over 60 modules so plenty of information. My next class is from a national artist whom I was supposed to go see for a workshop in May. The current class with her is 3 hours a week and starts with a demo that we watch online, then we turn our computers and she watches us paint! We email her our completed artworks after each class and it's working, I am enjoying it.

Lastly, I am supporting my local art teacher, whom I have always studied with in person. She is a good teacher, so it was easy for me to sign up with her. Once again we all log in online and chat and watch her teach, she sets up her ipad /computer so that we can see her images and drawings.

Ultimately the online classes are working. The biggest thing is that I am enjoying having a schedule. Because I will be on video, I have to comb my hair and dress and prep for class. Plus classes give me some normalcy in my day. Also the classes fill the day, meaning that I am not sitting at home thinking about painting, I am actually doing. I highly recommend that you look up an art teacher --local or national and see what classes they are offering, and then sign up. What a great way to support the arts and truly, I found that it works.

I still prefer to meet in person, but who knows when that will happen again? Right now I think we should take the online art opportunities, I encourage you to sign up for an online art class today!

Staying Positive in Trying Times

My Fellow Artists,

We Have Got This, We are Prepared for This, We can do This

A 5x7 Quick Study, Sunset

My thoughts are these:

1. We have the perfect job for times like these. 
2. We have all of our work materials at home/studio (and I know you have a plethora of materials). We have or can make studio spaces in our homes. I have much of my art stuff in our sun-room and paint and work there. Your art space can be your kitchen table (that was my place for a long time), the point is that you can work from home. And my hope is that you pull out your supplies and start making art.
3. Technology is Our Friend (OK typically I would not say this, but please read on):

Art Supplies: Right now, Jerrys and Dick Blick continue to fill and mail online art supply orders. We can get supplies shipped to us if need be (however I suspect you may have enough supplies to sustain you a few weeks).
FaceTime/GroupFaceTime: We can use our phones to call our friends and see their faces, schedule some virtual time with friends! Also, you can now add a person and have 3 people on a FaceTime chat! Did you know that? I am not sure how many people can be added, but Group FaceTime is easy. Also, I did a FaceTime this week with an art friend and we showed each other our work. Do not isolate yourself from conversations. Phone Calls are fine, but try a FaceTime to see each other (messy hair and old tee shirts and all), it just feels good to see another face--even virtually.
FaceBook: Not my favorite venue, I get it. However as Artists this is a good way to stay in touch with friends. Post your artworks -what you are working on, what you need critique on. Post art challenges and interesting art articles.
The Internet: Want to try out something new artistically? Most likely you can find an online resource. Today I Googled 'Setting Up Still Life' and found a great article. Use technology to your ART Advantage.

There is much talk about regarding what we can control. I am not saying don't watch the news-- I am saying limit the amount of news you watch, don't do it all day. Try to get into the studio. Even sadness can be channeled into artwork.

What have you been meaning to do? Make a list and start checking it off! Ideas: Clean and organize your studio, set up and paint still lifes, organize your reference pics, plan what you are going to paint, finish old studies or unfinished works, start that big painting project, make a studio schedule.

I have friends who are not artists who are restless and struggling right now, being at home on Day Five of the "Stay Home" recommendation. I am not restless, I am not struggling because I have a schedule and have been turning off the TV, turning on the music and heading into the studio, I can work from home.

One last recommendation: Make A Schedule. Write down a simple daily schedule for the day by hour.
Sample: 8-9 Breakfast, 9-10 News/Shower, 10-12 Paint, 12-1 House Chores & Lunch, 1-3 Paint, 3-4 FaceTime Friends, 4-6 Paint, 7 Dinner. Simple! But it gives you something to do each day. I review and expound my schedule in the morning. For example, Paint then gets details of "finish still life painting on easel" and House Chores get specific like 'do laundry', etc.

Art Friends I encourage you to stay strong. I truly believe that artists can use this time to create, please consider turning off the news and getting into the studio. Play some fun music and paint!

Much love to all, I am thinking of you and sending positive vibes your way,
Sara

Let Me Think About It

Grey day painting, loved this shack!

As you know I have just returned from a week long art business trip. Yep, I am tired and still doing laundry and unpacking. I went right back to the studio yesterday to paint a portrait from life. My artist friends all asked for the best takeaway and lesson from my portrait art workshop--hmm...I need to think about it. I am analytical and in my workshop I listened, took many notes, and did much painting. I do need to think on the key takeaways. Let me think about it, let me process it all and write it up in a bit.


THE WET PAINT OUT in TX:

First I flew into town, then drove out to meet my friend. We scouted locations together, which was great, I loved every view. As you can imagine Texas landscape is much different from Michigan landscape. I loved all the brush, the terrain, and the animals. I live in the burbs and this was definitely the country, I saw potential paintings everywhere.

Gorgeous Hill Country, grey rain day

The first day of the paint out, we got up early, gathered our canvases and went to get them stamped. The weather was cool and rainy (such a bummer). We quickly reviewed the painting location list, but learned that we could go anywhere, yahoo. So my friend had a few places in mind, and yep I could work with that. One place was downtown where there were these seemingly abandoned buildings. Of course I loved the green trim around the door and window of the shack. We got lucky as while the skies were grey the rain stopped for the few hours we painted. Just as I finished my first painting, it starting raining hard.

We then chose to take cover near my friends house - which also had terrific views. I really loved the dark clouds that moved in. I was painting on the back patio and was fine painting in the rain until the wind shifted and the rain came at me sideways. I stopped painting for a bit, moved my easel and then went back to painting between rain bursts. Despite the rain, a good painting day, 2 paintings done.

Let It Rain, and it did! 9x12 available

The next day was clear sunny and beautiful. We had decided a location the night before and went directly there to set up. I loved a little shack that had lovely tree shadows on the roof. I enjoyed the sunshine but struggled with the painting, it proved to be complex and I did not capture the light. We moved to a new beautiful location in the afternoon, again so lovely. However, once again, I did not get a good painting--such a beautiful spot but I did not get a good painting. It sometimes goes that way. That evening I framed my painting and then packed up to head off to my workshop.

My friend took our paintings over to the event (one each) for display and show opening. We each felt we had created 2 good paintings over two days. Go us! Sadly I don't think either of us sold our paintings - although my friend knew someone who liked my painting but claimed she had no wall space. What? Go look in the gallery bathroom where art is stacked on the walls gallery style, make room!

I loved the wet paint out and painting possibilities, it was wonderful. And despite having a bad day with 2 not great paintings, it was a great experience. And I have many new landscape photo references and I was able to get outside and paint for 2 days.

Yes, I endorse the wet paint out experience, go for it. Meanwhile, I will think about and analyze my portrait workshop and get back to you soon with my thoughts.

Every Journey Starts with a First Step

ART-Ambitious?

One of my fave plein air paintings from last summer, 5x7

Planning makes me happy. Planning for an art trip and workshop makes me happy and a little anxious. Soon I embark on a week long art/work trip to Texas. As I start to think of all that I have to do to prepare for this trip, I also start to worry. What have I done, why did I sign myself up for this?

I would be thrilled if every master artist and workshop was within driving distance of my house (Oh Amazing Fantasy!). Reality is that I will have to travel if I want to study with my 'Aspire To' artists.

Initially, I had thought that the stars aligned so that I could participate in both a Paint Out AND then an art workshop (both about 900 miles from my house). I checked the dates and the Paint Out is a Weds/Thurs followed by the Workshop Fri through Sun. The paint out and workshop are 90 miles apart so there will be a bit of driving, but same state and good proximity to one another. As all of the events are 900 miles away, I will be flying--with my art supplies.

Now, as I start to go through logistics, I am thinking that I was a bit art ambitious. Did I take on too much? I am passionate about art and I love being with other artists. I am doing this because I think that both experiences will be beneficial to me but a part of me worries that I will be away from home too long. So why am I doing it? I am doing this because it is an art opportunity and I can do it.

I talked to my husband about my worry that perhaps I was too art ambitious. My calm and thoughtful husband said, "You enjoy socializing with other artists." He continued by saying, "Many believe that art is solitary, but you thrive around other artists"--and he is right. It is always good to have another perspective.

At the very least, I am taking that first step in the journey---making that effort and showing up. I have found that meeting and interacting with other artists is a wonderful way to grow. What have you been meaning and wanting to do as an artist? I encourage you to sign up, plan it and take that first step toward your journey.

An Uphill Battle - The Business of Art

Artist: That's My Job

What do you do for work? I'm an Artist.

My work is incredibly important to me. The other day, as I was painting in the studio with art friends, one artist asked what I did for work. "This this is what I do, I am an artist," I replied. I was, I confess, a little flummoxed and incredulous, how could an artist not understand? I am a Full-Time Professional Artist--that is my job. If an artist cannot understand my work/job how can I get others to understand?

What is my work?

Daily: painting/organizing/planning, sketching, reading art blogs or art books (trying to learn/to see to glean information from other artists), organizing my studio, washing brushes, and more. Painting could be starting a new studio painting or trying to finish a painting started from a model session. I have a large stack of unfinished paintings just waiting for me, these do take time to finish especially since finishing means often using a photo reference.
Weekly/Monthly: maintaining a studio, ordering art supplies, cataloging paintings, catalog/organizing photo references, maintaining a website and blog, entering local and national art shows, framing art, monthly art critique, promoting art business via Instagram & Social Media posts.
Yearly: Workshops, Conferences, museum visits, goal planning, show preparation, 1 time per year leading art critique discussions. I paint 75 portraits a year and about 50 plein air paintings, that is a ton of canvas and paint and a large volume of work!

Art is my business. My professional website is where I show and sell my work. My blog is where I talk about my work and art process. Images get uploaded to Instagram. Business cards and resumes are for networking and business purposes.

I relentlessly pursue self improvement to become a better artist. Acquiring art knowledge is never ending. Every year I take classes and workshops and paint 'from life' (3 days a week). I have mastered my color palette and know quite a bit about composition and design, proportions, Alla Prima portrait painting, figure painting, anatomy and plein air painting...In my mind, it is still not enough, there is more to learn. I have mastered painting trees and water reflections but still I struggle with sky-holes (those bits of sky that show through trees), paths, flowers, structures, cityscapes, hands. Truly there is so much to learn and absorb!

"You are Lucky to be an Artist" many have said to me. It's true, I love being an artist, but it is also hard and sometimes frustrating as there are show rejections (be strong) and things I haven't yet learned or mastered (painting urban landscapes). I dare and encourage you to take an art class --not only for your soul but also for a glimpse of how much there is to learn. 

Ultimately, I am serious and dedicated to my job. I'd love to hear how you've overcome art obstacles to be taken seriously in your art work and business... please share in comments below. 

Thank you,