What is Important to Me as an Artist
I've been thinking a lot about what is important to me as an artist.
A little background, I never had the confidence to study art at the University level. I studied education and then nursing but married young, help put my husband through medical school and stayed home to raise six babies. I went back to finish my nursing when our youngest boys were in High School and Jr. High and then worked in a busy NICU. But at every turn in my life, I had my hands in art.
-In undergrad, I took a drawing class, telling myself that if I got an A and the professor encouraged me, I would study art. I got the A+, but the professor could care less. (haha) After our first little boy came, (yes, in undergrad) I took an oil painting class along with my nursing classes...but I had to withdraw because I found myself expecting again and the odor of the paint only exasperated my morning/day and evening sickness. We added a sweet little girl to our family.
-I taught 5 Tole painting classes (folk art acrylic) a week in a shop for five years to help make ends meet when my husband was in Med school and interned at USC. I also subbed for PE at the elementary school and babysat a few kids after school. We had two more little girls during those years. After dinner and a wagon ride to the park, I would put my little ones to bed at 7pm and paint samples all evening on the nights I didn't teach. Mike was never home, so the routine saved me.
-When he was in his residency in NY, I worked in colored pencil and graphite honing my drawing skills, studying from any art book I could find.
-When our fifth child was finally in pre school, I took a weekly local class painting in acrylics.
-When our 6th child was in pre school, I studied with Nicora Gangi privately in pastel. I fell in love with the rich pigment! She had me study and copy the masters. The experience was eye opening and exposed me to favorite master artists that still fill my heart. I also traveled to study with Daniel Green in pastel portraiture during this time...another pivotal moment for me.
"Jessica" Pastel on Paper
-When we just had the last two boys home, we made the move to Cleveland. Mike joined the cardiac anesthesia team and I decided to finish my education. I took some classes in art composition...but returned to the practicalities of nursing. The irony of it all is that my husband insisted on building an art studio above the garage of our new home (maybe because I kept taking over kids rooms when they went to college for makeshift studios.) The beautiful studio was unused as I dove into my nursing studies. Finally after working in the NICU for two years, and feeling more comfortable with my nursing practice, I took the plunge into oils with private instruction with Larry Churski. I still hear Larry in my head when I paint. "Design is everything...values next." The studio was then in full use when I wasn't working.
Painting En Plein Air with Larry Churski
-Over the years I've studied with MANY great artists, but the ones who have strongly influenced my practice are Scott Christensen, and Colley Whisson.
-This year I have added Randy Sexton, Anne Blair Brown and private mentoring with Dawn Whitelaw as I'm seeking more abstraction in my work.
The point of all of this is that I can't say that I am self taught. I am anything but. I continually turn to Edgar Payne, John Carlsen, and Juliet Aristides for amazing instruction in all of the elements of art. And I return to the practice ethics and patterns of those I have studied with in person. It took me years to refer to myself as an artist because I never went to art school. But I have been schooled by some of the best and I no longer feel that way.
So, back to the things that matter to me now.
1. Growth is more important than selling. Critical growth time can be lost if you're constantly distracted with selling. I've learned that a practice in quick studies and copying the masters creates vertical growth. I'm not afraid to pour out large amounts of paint, wear out brush after brush and go through miles of linen if it means I am growing as an artist. Carolyn Anderson shared during a workshop that she would state a purpose at the beginning of a painting...like, "how many edges can I possibly lose"...and work to do that. Scott Christensen taught me perfect practice exercises in studying the masters in one hour segments. Practice with a purpose to see growth.
"Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do."
-Edgar Degas
"Paintings are not finished, only abandoned."
-Leonardo Da Vinci
"It's so fine and yet so terrible to stand in front of a blank canvas."
-Paul Cezanne
Perfect Practice Studies
2. Social Media can suck the life out of you. I've found that comparison and distraction are the downfalls of Instagram. If it is harmful to the young as studies show...it can also be harmful to the artist. Uninterrupted time at the easel is crucial to growing. Scott Christensen taught me that you need to take a 15 minute break every hour to be able to see mistakes and the direction you need to go next...but I find that doing mindless household chores, exercising or taking a walk outdoors, during that break allows me to stay in the groove still thinking of my work whereas, turning to social media disrupts and distracts. My creativity is enhanced by nature. If you want to seek inspiration, take a walk, or scroll through your art library of the masters, not instagram. One might think that studying the masters may hurt your own creativity but as Robert Henri said:
“Don't worry about your originality. You couldn't get rid of it even if you wanted to. It will stick with you and show up for better or worse in spite of all you or anyone else can do.”
"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together."
-Vincent Van Gogh
3. Workshop hopping can create confusion. I'm very particular about who I will study with at this point in my journey. The artist has to be a great teacher. Mentors are difficult to find, but a great teacher/mentor can give you a big push on your swing of progress. You can spend years making the same mistakes over and over or you can get good instruction that will move you forward. Being open to critique, not crushed by it...will open doors for you. There are so many well written books, instructional videos and youtube segments you can find to see if an instructor will be a good fit for you. You will also learn from those around you in a workshop if you are there to learn, not compete with the artist next to you.
4. Lastly, a word of advice... my husband has always said, "Alice, enjoy the journey." Fine art is not an end point. It is a journey. Whether you are pursuing it for personal growth, competitions, to teach, and or to make a living doing some or all of that, realize it is a well traveled road. Larry Churski always said..."Alice paint with confidence." That confidence grows with the constant study of the elements of composition or design, value, line, color, edges and texture. Accept that you are not as good right now, as you will be. There is no end point of perfection. Master artists are continually growing.
Regrets?
We now have 21 grandchildren from those six babies. I don't regret my decision to be a mother in any way or to stay at home when I did. I don't regret pursuing my RN education even though I'm not practicing as a nurse right now. I learned many life lessons working with colleagues in the NICU and have so many treasured memories of those sweet babies. I learned difficult skills and gained confidence in my ability to do hard things. My husband has always been my biggest advocate in nursing and art and when I would come home later than him from work, he would have my dinner warming just as I did for him all those years when he was in school and working.
My only regret is not discovering my confidence in art earlier so that I could have pursued more educational experiences and growth at a younger age. But we all have seasons of our own making and I am at peace with mine.
We've added five grandkids to this crew!
Art is vital to society.
Connecting to fine art soothes the soul.
Happy Painting
Alice
