Shady Characters
While drawing these figs, I immediately thought of the words “shady characters.” You may think that the figs are the shady characters, right? After all, the figs are casting shadows and they look ‘shady.’ But the truth is I am the one who is the ‘shady character.’ On two separate morning walks this week, I […]
Life after art school in 3 words
How is life after art school? I’ll share three words with you. Well, OK, I’ll share 3 words in 2 different ways and reveal my MA roots, too. Wicked awesome exciting Wicked awesome scary Why is life after art school wicked awesome exciting? As one classmate described it, “I feel as if I am free!” […]
Developing a critical eye
Artists of any medium who develop a critical eye are sure to refine and improve their work. The ability to objectively look at what you are creating and assess it is 1) not for the faint of heart and 2) an essential skill to acquire. Here are a few things I am doing to help […]
Learning to Problem Solve on your own
Learning to problem solve may not seem consistent with being an artist. But, in fact, problem solving is exactly what being an artist is. Here I am writing again about characteristics of my teachers and classmates and many successful artists I have met. I shared other virtues of artists in recent posts on commitment, punctuality and […]
Endurance and punctuality
Endurance and punctuality are words you hear and associate with sporting events or maybe the military. Right? But when you think “artist” or “art school” do you think of the words endurance or punctuality? Probably not and that’s OK. Punctuality Before I wax on about the virtues of endurance, I need to come clean on […]
Commitment: a new perspective
Commitment may not seem to be a word associated with oil painting or artists or even art school. In fact, these days there are many other words associated with artists which I will not repeat here. Instead, I will write about some of the commitments people are making to attend this school. I suspect there […]
How can self-awareness help your craft?
Self awareness as a technique for learning What does self-awareness have to do with art school? Consider this, Studio Incamminati Instructor and painter JaFang Lu said the following to me and my classmates (more than once) this year (and last), “I can share my knowledge with you but I cannot tell you how to manage your […]
Magnificent Materials
When I started oil studies two years ago, I used the most inexpensive canvas paper I could find. Fast forward to today and teachers are telling us to try the finest, most magnificent canvasses and paint. What does this mean? Instead of Titanium white oil paint, use lead white paint. Instead of cotton duck canvas, […]
In search of form and color in north light
When we moved into an apartment with north light in 2015, I felt sooo incredibly lucky. Why? Painting in north light is an artist’s dream because it offers such consistent light during the day. In classes at school, I have been painting most of the past two years or so in artificial light. Now, I […]
My Dream Week Painting a Master Copy
Imagine having the opportunity to paint a Master Copy of painting by an accomplished painter. What does this mean? You visit a museum, see a painting that moves you and learn that you have 4 full days to attempt to recreate that painting. I had this opportunity last week in Philadelphia. My school has an […]