Monday, June 5, 2017

Art Lessons Ahead

I will start two new art classes this week.  Each one is 6-weeks long - one class a week.  Tuesday afternoons I'll be attending Kevin Menck's "Fundamentals of Landscape Painting" at Warehouse 521 in Nashville.  Then on Thursday mornings, I will be attending "The art of Landscapes" by Rachael McCampbell at Owl's Hill Nature Center.  Should be interesting.

Mostly I'm a little nervous - like I'm going to be revealed as a major novice painter and will be so far behind everyone else in the classes.  However, one of the benefits of being older is that I really don't care that much about what other people think.  I AM a novice, and I'm there to learn.  I know I'm not a great painter - I don't have what some call a "talent" for it.  However, I can learn - and I get a lot of satisfaction from it.  So I will continue.

I'm glad both classes are on landscapes.  That something I'd really like to get better at - both en plein air - and alla prima.  I want to get to the point that I can see values more easily.

Onward and Upward.  LOL!

Update:  I discovered that I actually DO care what other people think - especially when the other person is someone who teaches art and described my art as "naive."  I cancelled my participation in all the classes I listed above.  I need to work on my art for my own enjoyment.  I can take online classes and lessons.  And I KNOW that "naive art" is an actual thing - and that some artists aspire to paint naive art.  However, when you AREN'T aspiring to paint naive art (art that looks like a beginner/child did it), then calling it naive is definitely not a compliment.

However, with that said, I have to work on not being so sensitive about my art.  I certainly don’t want insincere compliments.  I see people online post some truly dreadful (to me) art, and people praise it and go on and on.  I also see art that simply doesn’t appeal to me, regardless of how well it is painted.  I’ve had to “eat crow” a little after my flare-up of insecurity when the art teacher called my art naive. You’d think at the ripe old age of 67 (at the time) I would know to wait out knee jerk reactions a day or two before taking actions or responding.  But no - I had to respond while I was highly emotional.  LOL!  Age doesn’t necessarily bring wisdom!  I’m human - and that’s life.  No biggie.  Moving on . . . . 

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Another try at a turtle


Since I started Weight Watchers about six weeks ago, my mantra has been that I am a turtle. Because of my age and other factors, my weight loss will be slow.  I won't get discouraged and give up with small losses, extremely slow losses, plateaus or even gains. SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE!  I wanted a drawing of a turtle that I'd see often to remind myself to persevere. 

This is done in oils - a Sharpie used first to do the wording and outlines.  Then filled in with transparent colors and then opaque colors - with plenty of transparent colors showing through.  It's a quick and easy painting - a fun piece.

"Persevere!"  Oil on 6x6 gessoboard

NOAPS 2021 Associate Member Online Exhibition

I'm happy to say that my painting, "Bear Creek Road Reflections" was chosen to be in the 2021 NOAPS (National Oil and Acrylic ...