Field of flowers near my home in Madison county, Virginia, mostly done with a palette knife. 24″x30″ on deep canvas.
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They say to be an artist, you must learn how to see. You may wonder what that means, since obviously we already know how to see. It is about observing relationships and nuances that might ordinarily escape you. For example, the relationship of light and shadow as discussed in this quick video.
People often ask me how I learned to paint. Some assume I went to art school and got a BFA– which I didn’t. I wasn’t born with a paint brush in my hand. In fact, I didn’t start painting until I was 44. So what was my strategy?
First, decide to learn from others. I enrolled at the local art school called Loudoun Academy of the Arts (now defunct). Sure, I could paint on my own and perhaps discover the principles of painting, but how much faster could I progress if the principles were explained to me? In addition to taking weekly classes, I read tons of instructional art books. My favorite was, and still is, called Oil Painting: The Workshop Experience
Second, resolve to paint every day. Whenever I asked an accomplished artist how long they had been painting, they would typically respond, “20 years.” Twenty years — oh my! Who has that kind of time? But then I wondered, how often did they paint during those 20 years? Maybe the first 12 years they were just taking a weekly class? How quickly could one accumulate the same experience as painting 3 hours once a week for 12 years? If one paints 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, it yields an equivalent amount of time behind a brush in just over 62 weeks or 1.25 years.
Third, be fearless. Take risks with your paintings. You will maximize learning. For example, there were times when I had a “good” painting, but it wasn’t “awesome.” The dilemma was, should I keep painting on it and run the risk of ruining it, just for the chance of improving it? I decided to keep going. I asked myself, “What kind of painter do I want to be, good or awesome?”
Get out of your comfort zone. After a while, you will become proficient at a certain type of painting. The temptation will be to stick with that. While a successful painting is gratifying, remember to stretch yourself. If you’re proficient at still life, try a portrait. If you can knock out a landscape, try a city scene. If you specialize in sunny days, try a nocturne. Learning is what makes painting fun and is why you can do it for a lifetime.
Good Luck in Your Painting Journey!
Sometimes you just click with a place. One of those places for me has been Beaufort, NC. This historic, coastal town is populated with the friendliest people. I was introduced to Beaufort in 2001 when I was the “Beaufort Wine & Food” featured artist and have been back every year since!
Things to do in Beaufort:
Have a great summer!
~ Trisha
Single Hay Roll, 30″x30″, is a slice of Virginia.
I taught a one-week workshop in Herndon, VA last week and this is one of the two demonstration paintings. The other was a landscape which I failed to photograph. This painting helped me talk about connecting the light and shadow shapes, choosing a focal point (the hydrangea on the left), how to make a focal point, how you use elements of the composition to direct the viewer to the focal point and, oh yeah, the color of the light. :^)
A cute little alley I pass each day here in San Miguel de Allende.
12″x9″ oil on canvas panel
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This sunny window was in the courtyard where my husband was studying Spanish in San Miguel de Allende.
Courtyard Window, 16″x12″, oil on canvas panel
See more paintings at www.TrishaAdams.com
Next week I am teaching plein air painting in the sunny streets of San Miguel de Allende. The past several days I have been scouting our painting spots and making note whether to paint them in the morning or the afternoon. Everywhere I look there is beauty!
2016 started with a bang at Chesapeake Fine Art Studio’s epic New Year’s Day party. Here’s the oil sketch I did of one of the four models. The party features models, demos, music, dancing and fireworks — and it’s free. If you are a painter and live in the greater DC area, put this event on your calendar for next year. Sign up for their newsletter so you’ll be sure to get an invite.
Trisha Adams 