Day One: Practicing Artist and Non-Practicing Artist

I have been an artist all of my life. As I look at all the work around me, (and I mean, all around me. We just shut down my studio so I am in the process of organizing everything and integrating it into our home) I realize I have been creating art all of my life, although it been in fits and starts and many fizzle outs.

I have used every excuse in the book:

1. I don't have time. I'm a single mother raising two kids (they're grown and gone now)
2. I don't have a place to work.
3. I don't have enough light.
4. I can't work at night.
5. I work full time. I have to wait till I can retire.

These are  the excuses just off the top of my head. 

Someday, some day some day. But as I get older I'm getting scared to think in terms of someday.

Recently, I've been in getting ready and planning mode. I read a lot about art, artists, art marketing, how to make it, how to survive, etc. etc. etc. All in the name of preparing for some day.  

Well today is some day. Beginning today, I will commit time. Starting with 6 hours a week, I will commit 2 hours Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings to making some kind of art. I am going to create an art practice habit. I just read, it takes 66 days to create a change in the brain called a habit. I will begin today, day one, to committing to 66  days. Wish me luck and courage.

These are details from the last Painting.

And I swear, after this, this old thing will be in the attic. I can't bear to throw away any art. My kids will have to deal with that. I hope they enjoy looking through everything

Putting the Old Painting to Rest

This is the whole old oil painting I did when I was a kid. You can see where the paint is chipping away. I plan to pack this up and put it up in the attic where I'm sure is will sustain more damage. But before I do I want to learn some things about myself by reviewing my past style of painting.

I remember doing this painting.I would come home every night after an evening of hanging out with my friends, and sit and paint until I was tired enough to go to sleep. I had a much better work habit back then then I do now. In fact I was obsessive. But I had very little other responsibilities as well.

I spent a lot of time looking at art. I made regular trips to the Philadelphia Art Museum and also took out every book our small town library had on art. I can see the influence of  Henri Rousseau in this painting (partly because I remember discovering him at this time) in the figure. I also recognize my present day fascination with clouds, trees and plant life. The only image absent is a rock. But I do know my obsession with rocks was in full gear back then as well.

Stepping Back

So yesterday, taking advantage of the sunny conditions, I spent the day photographing a bunch of paintings for my website. One of the painting was an old oil painting I started when I was 18 or 19 years old. Typical "me" fashion, I never finished it. I remember feeling stuck at the time.

I've learned a few interesting things about myself and the importance of understanding preservation methods. (This old painting is chipping a peeling like crazy) Now, my only hope of preserving this painting is a digital photo.

From old oil painting

From Yupo Series 2009

From Yupo Series 2009

One of the things that struck me the most when I saw this old painting again is the similarity between the plant life that I painted then to what I paint/draw today.

Hummm! Maybe I'm onto discovering something about my style.

What is Art? Who is an Artist?

These are questions I've struggled with all of my life. (They come under the big question category–who am I?)  I've always known I wanted to be an artist. I thought of "being an artist " as if it was a career choice.  I thought getting a degree, or painting and selling a certain number of paintings, or being recognized by the press at some level, or winning awards would finally allow me to achieve the status of artist. But then I realized, through all this searching and the passing of many many years, that I am, and always have been, an artist. Being an artist for most people is not a career. (that is most of us cannot support ourselves through art making alone) It is a type. I've now become comfortable calling myself, as well as most of the people I know (I am drawn mostly to other creative types) "artist". But I still ask questions. (it's a part of being creative)Today I ask, "What kind of an Artist am I?"

A big part of the art world is linking individual artists to their niches or style. Galleries count on the artist to produce something "in their style" so they know how to market the art. Collectors too want to know and recognize their favorite artist by their style. So us artists are all drawn into this goal of coming up with "our style".

I had a little show in a church, when I got out of school (of mostly my school work) and during the reception a woman came up to me and said, "This work looks like a group show of many artists." That was a real eye opener for me. I began to try to work more in series after that. i was, and am today, in search of my style. My Niche. As an artist, who am I?

As I meet more and more artists–creative types–I realize that the types of artists are as diverse as the types of people. We all have our own goals and challenges and reasons for doing what we do. I am hoping, through the use of this blog, to figure out what is it about me that makes me create the type of art I create. I also hope to influence how I work and what kind of work I do so I, as well as others, can find something cohesive about it.

Final Experiment

The last thing I experimented with for the detail was the inktense pencils. Not sure how I feel about them. Jet Black is definitely too intense when you add water. But, that's the great part about experimenting. Nothing is "wrong." This experiment is over.

Experiment becomes habit

I become more at ease with blogging. I was able to find the link in 3 clicks. I also am getting better taking perpendicular pictures of my images. My painting is coming along too. All is good. I've created a horizon line and added more detail to the gazebo. Next I think I will tun to my watercolor pencils for even more detail. Most importantly, I've been working on art, thinking about art and planning art, all the while I get ready for my "day job."

Experimentation (continued)

Since I already broke convention, I added in the gazebo with white gouache. I like how it has that plastered on look.

Experimentation

Today is a day of experimentation for me with many things. First, there is this painting that I've been working on for three years now. It doesn't represent three years of work, but three years of starts and stops. Mostly  stops. But on my artist date last weekend I brought the painting, that consisted of  wash of blue, and sketch a gazebo on it. (Salem Commons) Then I brought it home and have been working on it all week. This is the progress I made so far. I generally don't add a non-transparent color (white) to watercolor...being a purest, but I'm in an experimental mood.

Also, experimenting with my new camera to take pictures as well.