tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69085421021552108682024-03-05T16:40:53.152-08:00Mile PainterI am beginning to learn oil painting at the age of 49.
I know who my heroes are, I know what I want to paint.
I think that gives me a good head start.
Follow me and watch my progress.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-90885489748779265432016-05-09T21:33:00.002-07:002016-05-09T21:33:42.455-07:00Perspective and compositionThis is a new take on a picture I painted before. I decided to do it again and try to improve the over all view and perspective.<br />
I'm happy with the over all view. I even like the sunset.<br />
The clouds and trees need work.<br />
But I'm happy with my progress.<br />
<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-36141789328601276982016-04-04T05:36:00.001-07:002016-04-04T05:36:29.912-07:00I can only see what's wrong.I'm working on sunsets again.<br />
After I finished this one, my family was very encouraging. They had a lot of nice things to say.<br />
But I look at this, and I can only see the mistakes I've made.<br />
I've heard that it's common to feel this way.<br />
I'm going to paint this one again, and see how much better it can be.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-31865792403644623722016-04-04T05:34:00.000-07:002016-04-04T05:34:00.486-07:00more mini paintingsThis has been a wonderful exercise for me.<br />
Painting an 8x10 canvas has very different challenges. I feel that it's improving my skills.<br />
I bought a dozen little 8x10 canvases, and we'll see how things turn out.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-81790230125331745992016-03-26T21:29:00.002-07:002016-03-26T21:29:46.826-07:00Working on sunsets tonightI feel like I'm on fire for painting again!<br />
I will be working on a lot of new paintings over the next few weeks. I'm even going to try figures and faces.<br />
Tonight it was sunsets.<br />
<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-77505145143116809772016-03-09T23:51:00.001-08:002016-03-09T23:51:17.593-08:00Here's something new!I've decided to paint a whole series of "studies", in 8 x 10.<br />
It's amazing to me how different this is from painting something "big".<br />
I'm having a great time, and I think I'm learning something important about composition.<br />
<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-6893293001093368032016-02-08T13:38:00.001-08:002016-02-08T13:38:52.227-08:00I haven't given up!I know it's been more than a year since I've posted.<br />
I've had major house remodeling projects,<br />
and some serious health issues that concerned several members of my family.<br />
My granddaughter is now two, almost three, and she has a little brother.<br />
But I have painted about a dozen times this year.<br />
Lately I've been experimenting with paper that can be painted on with oils.<br />
It's a challenge.<br />
The paint doesn't go on the same.<br />
But it's been fun, and the paintings don't take up as much space when I store them.<br />
I'm excited about my painting, and I have time to paint again, so be prepared to see some new work.<br />
I hope I will hear from many of you who are learning to paint like I am.<br />
<br />
Here's what I did today:<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-52233552401909637902014-07-09T21:48:00.002-07:002014-07-09T21:51:18.706-07:00It's been a year.Wow. <br />
This has been the greatest year of my life.<br />
I've loved it all.<br />
I always wanted to be an oil painter, now I am. <br />
And a year from now, I'll be so much better, today's painting will look like kindergarten finger painting.<br />
This past month has been a little difficult. We've been helping our kids, visiting with family, and doing family vacation. <br />
Then I had a mini stroke, and I've been visiting doctors and doing the HORRIBLE MRI thing. <br />
But I keep painting.<br />
And I'll paint again soon.<br />
I want to enter something into the State Fair. I really need to get busy to do that. <br />
I'm also going to be taking my easel out and trying some Plein Aire Painting experiences. <br />
I've just got to let the weather cool off a little first. <br />
Stay tuned.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, here's a seascape I tried today.<br />
I really need to work at this. It's harder for me than I thought it would be. <br />
<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-35429539487481514862014-05-30T23:27:00.001-07:002014-05-30T23:30:21.888-07:00I’ve reached a plateau.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s not that there’s any trouble or anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m just not seeing the huge improvement that I used to see
each time I painted. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But that’s okay. I knew I would reach a plateau. The trick
is not to stop. I have to keep painting. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I still love it with all my heart. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They say that we can’t see improvement in our lives until
time passes, and we stop and look back on what we have done.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hope that’s true for my painting. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, I’ve now painted 50 canvases. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’m succeeding at being regular and
diligent with my practice.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also recently turned 50. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of my goals is to become a really competent painter
during my 50<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> year. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hope I’m accomplishing that.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, here’s a couple of my latest paintings. Let me know if
you have any suggestions.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ll keep going. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In fact, I have to scenes that I’m painting tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe one will be a miracle. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-65355195825500511312014-04-17T03:40:00.000-07:002014-04-17T03:40:02.050-07:00Somebody took one of my paintings!<div class="MsoNormal">
Actually I’ve placed five.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first two went at the same time. And who took those
first two paintings? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Art connoisseurs? Dealers? Wealthy people?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nope. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My mom and my sister. I gave each of them a painting for a
Christmas present. I was very touched that they actually requested a painting
as a gift. The support I’ve received in my family has been very inspirational. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then my dad had a neighbor notice their new painting and say
really nice things about it. Dad said that he was sure that I would give him a
painting as well, and he asked for two! One for his office, one for the lobby
of his office. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How about that?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The fifth went to a dear friend, Guillermo Zelaya. Guillermo
works for a bank, and I actually called him and asked if he would hang a
painting in his office. He was delighted! We had a great lunch together that
day. So this whole thing about placing paintings hasn’t been as hard as I
thought it would be. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think I expected family and friends to mock and laugh at
me when I first started painting. No one has. Everyone has seemed very sincere
when they’ve made a fuss over my latest painting. So I’m happy that those two
paintings have found homes. That’s what I want. I want my paintings to wind up
somewhere where they’ll be loved. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also need to get rid of them so that they don’t pile up
and take over my house. I guess they’re kind of like puppies in that sense. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I’m going to be a little bit assertive about finding
places to hang my artwork. This will be a little challenging for me, because
being timid is one of my most annoying faults.</div>
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Oh, and here's my lasted painting:</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-76291994032868616902014-04-01T13:27:00.000-07:002014-04-01T13:31:59.360-07:00I’m going through changes<div class="MsoNormal">
My set up for painting has been cumbersome up till now. I’ve
been using a ceramic tile covered in wax paper for a palette. I’ve been laying
out a big piece of board on the kitchen table where I arrange all my tools. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now I’ve gone out and purchased an actual, Plexiglas,
artist’s palette. It’s made a change immediately. I like using the palette, but
I will admit that I have lifted my palette vertically a couple of times and
stained my shirt with paint.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I bought a folding table at the Desert Industries thrift
shop. I can organize my paints, supplies and tools in a more compact manner.
The result so far has been that I have achieved a new concentration on my work.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the reasons that I’m so happy with my changes is that
I understand that it’s important that I avoid getting too deeply entrenched in
bad habits. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t even want bad habits in my style of painting. No
ruts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s one of the reasons that I’m taking different kinds of
instruction, and trying to fix paintings after I have finish and when I’m not satisfied
with the final result.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Below is one if the paintings I fixed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I loved it after I finished it. Great story: I called my
good friend Memo after I finished this one, and I asked him if he would like to
have it. He said he would love to have it, and so I took it to him and had a
lovely lunch with him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s what my painting is all about. That’s why I’m doing
this. I want to see what new directions painting will bring to my life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-40453276921763239772014-03-22T18:27:00.002-07:002014-03-22T18:27:51.954-07:00Fixing paintings
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve been looking at canvases I’ve already painted. We
talked before about paintings that turned out badly. Sometime I look at them
and see that there is nothing that could be done to save them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But others I look at and I see that I could do something now
to save them that maybe I didn’t know how to do back then.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I’ve been fixing my bad paintings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s easy to do now, because the paint has dried. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The only challenge I’ve faced is when the dried paint has
texture, and I want to smooth something over the top of it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But overall it has become another exercise in the process of
learning that I have more than one chance to get things right. And I’ve been
really thrilled because some of the “bad” paintings I’ve done have turned out
to be my favorites after I’ve fixed them. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And I must say that the difference is very encouraging when
I see it. That goes for paintings that I try a second time. I like to see the
progress I’m making. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m learning many new things about painting. Because I
started with Bob Ross, the style of painting I’ve learned is basically “alla
prima” which means painting a picture start to finish in one sitting. The way
Bob Ross paints, with his “liquid white” base coat, means that when I go back
to fix something, I don’t have that “wet” sense to the painting, and that has
been one aspect of fixing a painting that has been challenging.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But “alla prima” isn’t the only way I want to paint. I’m
learning every way I can. I am still working on my self-portrait, and I hope to
have that up soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the meantime, here’s a painting that I did before, and
took another shot at:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8fj90cx_OtBw1_DgK_7NbylqF0hlNLu3kC7PKD-rpH9oD5fI50zHJPqsHfdPwqi5hjsy0zCvG4fQDLYfPvjKozWg9n8JhguQjiON49AqffBxrOi4csYFxCcuVcxT0iAJ8a6y3b3bxCg/s1600/2nd+snowy+mtn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8fj90cx_OtBw1_DgK_7NbylqF0hlNLu3kC7PKD-rpH9oD5fI50zHJPqsHfdPwqi5hjsy0zCvG4fQDLYfPvjKozWg9n8JhguQjiON49AqffBxrOi4csYFxCcuVcxT0iAJ8a6y3b3bxCg/s1600/2nd+snowy+mtn.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-9522578816782412042014-03-20T22:19:00.001-07:002014-03-20T22:19:26.122-07:00I don’t want to have to throw these away!
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I try to paint at least twice a week, and I have to admit
that the canvases are starting to stack up. So I want to find good homes for my
paintings so that I’ll never have to throw one away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve been worried about this. When most people start
something new, they are very self-deprecating. They recognize that their first
efforts aren’t very good. That’s just the way it is. As a painter I understood
that it would be a while before anyone wanted my paintings, if at all.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But then my family and friends started to express genuine
appreciation of my paintings. And I started thinking. If those who know and
care about me like my paintings, could other people like them too?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I need the courage to show my paintings to people who are
NOT close family and friends, and ask them to hang my paintings in their places
of business.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why not in their homes? Okay. I guess they could hang in
homes. But I want them in high traffic areas where lots of people can see them.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, I’ve been in sales most of my life. I understand how to
get out and pound the pavement and sell a product. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I’m finding places to hang my paintings. I want to find
people who might want to hang one of my pictures in their businesses.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would you like one of my pictures?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d love to give you one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s one based on a picture I saw recently<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmQwDfliOb8GiwffhNXdW8ia4WMQiaF1VoKNv8AP5B9J71zuOVSrPJSEu-E51JZtRIrVd4-vfY4luPRhZLJ8cElAV-gcU267wDHNqILoqgEmfdIO2Y9a2YsGI12lyweYe7Epf3ktiRPU/s1600/bridge+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmQwDfliOb8GiwffhNXdW8ia4WMQiaF1VoKNv8AP5B9J71zuOVSrPJSEu-E51JZtRIrVd4-vfY4luPRhZLJ8cElAV-gcU267wDHNqILoqgEmfdIO2Y9a2YsGI12lyweYe7Epf3ktiRPU/s1600/bridge+2.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-55992870135271168032014-03-11T10:28:00.001-07:002014-03-11T10:28:36.071-07:00Don’t paint in stone.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve noticed that spending a considerable amount of time at
a painting, and having it turn out bad, is an agonizing experience. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I stand there helplessly and watch as my creation DOESN’T
turn out the way I had hoped. I watch in HORROR as paint turns to mud, or
perspective turns flat, or images look amateurish. What I had hoped would be a
vision of glory turns into a nightmare. When happens, I feel like I’ve failed,
and my chance to put that image on canvas is lost. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But it doesn’t have to be that way.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It occurred to me after a few months of painting that I
could paint the same picture or idea another time! There wasn’t any rule that
said that I could only paint each picture one time.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What a revelation! I get more than one shot at any picture I
want to produce.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All the great painters paint studies and draw sketches of
their ideas before they settle down with their palette and canvas. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You and I can do that too. We can sketch, we can make
preliminary studies, and we can paint more than one attempt at anything we want
to paint. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So don’t think of your paintings as etched in stone. Think
of them as first, second, or third attempts. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Should you throw some of them away?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t know what to tell you there. Some painters,
including myself, don’t want to throw any of them away, and I’ll talk more
about that later. It’s a good thing to keep them, because of what we’re talking
about right now. Keeping your bad paintings give you a reference to see how far
you’ve come. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t carve your paintings in stone. Give yourself a
fighting chance to get it right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So set a goal, and try your paintings over and over again
until you get them right.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s one I painted a second time. You can go back and
compare it with a painting just like it that I painted months ago. It’s here on
the blog somewhere:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXJJ0rnQTbW4KX0367ij5o0sfvXV_iewIGQRPerwM-KElorvjef7M2-RDDYvdetqNmSf8M7Uy_5iAegeoWlqnEq-8CQKJH3nI7H9LKQT26xMCNqeuLFCCx-r5HU4l0zXrcUBjCV6WZq0/s1600/2nd+snowy+sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXJJ0rnQTbW4KX0367ij5o0sfvXV_iewIGQRPerwM-KElorvjef7M2-RDDYvdetqNmSf8M7Uy_5iAegeoWlqnEq-8CQKJH3nI7H9LKQT26xMCNqeuLFCCx-r5HU4l0zXrcUBjCV6WZq0/s1600/2nd+snowy+sunset.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-79109049589296006462014-02-14T11:32:00.002-08:002014-02-14T11:34:01.850-08:00Criticism<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You’re never going to improve unless someone tells you what
you’re doing wrong. But hearing someone tell you how bad your work is can be
very difficult. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So the world tells us about the critique. If it comes from
the heart, and if it’s not contrived, a critique is a wonderful thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everyone in my family has been very, very supportive of my
painting. Every time I paint, my daughter and my wife run with excitement to my
easel after I’m finished to see what I’ve painted. They’re always happy. They
tell me how wonderful the new painting is. If I’m not happy with my work, they
point out things about the painting that are really good and showing
improvement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then, just as I am starting to glow with pride, my daughter
will quickly point as something in the painting. For example, she might say: “I
don’t like those trees. What happened there?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love when she does that. Her enthusiasm about my painting
is sincere, so I pay close attention to the criticisms she has. When she points
out something she doesn’t like about my paintings, instead of feeling
defensive, I look at the offending part of my painting and immediately I’m
thinking of how I could have done it better. That’s worth its weight in gold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging, but the response to
my painting has been overwhelmingly positive. People have gushed over my
paintings. I’m sure that some people are just being polite. But the times when
my daughter or my wife point out things about my paintings that they don’t
like, well, those times have launched me forward by leaps and bounds. I always
start immediately to fix and improve what they’ve pointed out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The worst kind of comment I’ve received?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will willingly admit that there have been a few times when
my family has rushed to my easel to see what I’ve painted, and after looking
for a few moments, they’ve said:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“OOOOHHHHHH! Well. Just keep trying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That hurts so much. It really does.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here's the latest:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjXxwj1tVfEW4tkJtWcXbxqYVGYFwe_iR_OoXug2xsGaxqlVIwkVBml_wRdcZ-zpkJ2hmgRxBMEfbSUQKqQE8Mv3nXx0cNq3oEA34FvAzqWr2EHiWjPrLQKXfNSImAZd9hmB2fc5qc9k/s1600/autumn+stream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjXxwj1tVfEW4tkJtWcXbxqYVGYFwe_iR_OoXug2xsGaxqlVIwkVBml_wRdcZ-zpkJ2hmgRxBMEfbSUQKqQE8Mv3nXx0cNq3oEA34FvAzqWr2EHiWjPrLQKXfNSImAZd9hmB2fc5qc9k/s1600/autumn+stream.jpg" height="259" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-31161437314249053302014-02-08T01:40:00.000-08:002014-02-08T01:44:31.011-08:00Who I am<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been trying to define that for fifty years. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Did you ever think about that? Who are you? Are you more
than your name? Okay, maybe that’s a little bit of a hippie question. So let’s
ask it another way. <o:p></o:p></div>
What am I?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m a lot of things, I guess.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I play the guitar. People say that about me. He plays the
guitar. But I’ve never really felt comfortable calling myself a guitar player.
I’ve always been disappointed with my guitar playing abilities. I keep playing
the guitar though, and I’m always working on a new guitar project, so I guess
I’m a guitar player. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What else? Nothing really. I mean, I tell a good joke, I
enjoy public speaking.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, and I’m a father. My wife says that’s important. It says
a lot about me. I’m not negating the importance of fatherhood, and I’ve loved
every second of being a father. I have a wonderful family. But all kinds of men
are fathers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I remember when my father felt this way. My mother pointed
out to him that being a father was a good thing. I can’t forget what he said at
that time. He said that he felt like a large dog on a short chain, pacing
around in his own excrement. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve tried hard not to feel that way in my life. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now I am a painter. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve always known I was a painter. I knew when I saw great
works of art. I knew when I went to see the LeConte Stewart prints at the
county courthouse with my mother. I knew that if I ever picked up a brush, I’d
be able to paint. I didn’t want to draw or do anything else, I just wanted to
oil paint. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being a painter is starting to have an effect on everything
I do. When I buy clothes, I consider options keeping in mind that I’m a painter
now. When I plan time off, I’m thinking of things I can do that will further my
new painting hobby. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I waited till I was 49 years old for a variety of reasons,
but I always felt like I was a painter. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And even more important than that, I knew what I wanted to
paint. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’d like to be able to paint people, but what I really want
is to paint landscapes. I want to paint places that I love the way I see them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So for the rest I my life, I’m going to be a painter. I’m
thankful for this new life category.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here's one of my own:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pRUrsAVDe4w1qlNe9TwM97-zdJLtmg1uBIr7-xuabtR7tFt4LOvwsZqnkyXtnsVSyMuf-4fxv8RUA4qg8ridaqTMtttUdBrmxAtFxjeXC86RaGqH4PkkO8_btsjKVoj_vHvEsh9ZCm4/s1600/winter+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pRUrsAVDe4w1qlNe9TwM97-zdJLtmg1uBIr7-xuabtR7tFt4LOvwsZqnkyXtnsVSyMuf-4fxv8RUA4qg8ridaqTMtttUdBrmxAtFxjeXC86RaGqH4PkkO8_btsjKVoj_vHvEsh9ZCm4/s1600/winter+trees.jpg" height="249" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-39668216979539858622014-02-06T01:50:00.002-08:002014-02-06T01:50:52.730-08:00Today is a special day.<div class="MsoNormal">
Today I reached one one hundredth of a mile. I’ve painted 39
canvases, and that’s a milestone that means a lot to me. 17 yards. 53 feet. I’m amazed at the
difference between today’s paintings, and the first ones I did. I hope I feel
that way in July, when I will mark one year of painting. How many yards and
feet will it be then? I don’t know. How long is it going to take to paint a
mile? Maybe the rest of my life. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it was very satisfying to reach that 1 one hundredth of
a mile point. It was especially satisfying to have one of the pictures I
painted today come from my own ideas. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So today I am feeling great motivation to continue on to my
goal. And I’d like to say that the
quality of my work is also telling me that moving forward to my goal is going
to be very exciting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyueSgvCffV-LFcMSaLBPqX_IVizJJ-5F8IWVVBRGBg-PHQEPYAbBF7T61NiffT2tRAeMXngeGlhyphenhyphenA9q8Yu0Eo7WL1kiv0maH-8HqFCPJKDMG1H5fp0JZ8xnIIhkSMVYtBlkdwAjl9swc/s1600/20140205_152039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyueSgvCffV-LFcMSaLBPqX_IVizJJ-5F8IWVVBRGBg-PHQEPYAbBF7T61NiffT2tRAeMXngeGlhyphenhyphenA9q8Yu0Eo7WL1kiv0maH-8HqFCPJKDMG1H5fp0JZ8xnIIhkSMVYtBlkdwAjl9swc/s1600/20140205_152039.jpg" height="257" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-31665177614301753032014-02-01T14:21:00.001-08:002014-02-05T14:21:30.597-08:00My new invention<div class="MsoNormal">
So, we've talked a little about Bob Ross here. Because I’ve
learned a little bit about his method, I’ve learned to use a 2 inch brush.
Cleaning those larger brushes is a challenge. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now Bob always cleans his brushes by dipping them in mineral
spirits, and then beating them vigorously across the leg of his easel. He always points out the cleaning his brush
that way is a lot of fun. He also points out that if we clean our brushes at home
that way, we’ll get paint and mineral spirits all over the walls. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I tried Bob’s brush cleaning method on the shower curtain
bar in our downstairs bathroom. Bob was right, my wife was very unhappy with
the results. But it worked, just like Bob says it does in his programs. The
brush came away clean and dry after beating it furiously in the bar. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since that experiment, I’ve given the whole brush cleaning
problem a lot of thought. So recently I went to Deseret Industries, (a thrift
store in Utah) and I bought an old plastic storage container for 2 dollars.
Then I bought a wooden dowel at a hardware store. I cut the dowel to the width
of the container, and I fastened the dowel about two thirds of the way down
into the container, using screws through the outside. Can you picture that?
Horrible description. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, the next time I painted, I cleaned my brushes the
way Bob Ross does on his show. I dipped them generously in the mineral spirits,
brushing them against the rack in the jar. Then I beat those brushes furiously
against the dowel near the bottom of my plastic container. It worked PERFECTLY!
The brushes came out dry and clean. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is the first in a line of things that I hope will make
my painting cleaner, faster, and easier.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll upload a picture of my container, or bucket, as soon as
I can.<br />
<br />
Here it is:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3nOvf7xiJwjiaBmnTyspx3spmejeNfDMsc4NrSfLFbtpxRtb84_antq-aq7zKoGND8gUPzK9l8iGA5CI9u-zgBKPo6n3vKjp1eObJ8jPd7yUkZo6bNDdl1_vzMvVEDV77DYGXmoK4VA/s1600/WP_20140205_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3nOvf7xiJwjiaBmnTyspx3spmejeNfDMsc4NrSfLFbtpxRtb84_antq-aq7zKoGND8gUPzK9l8iGA5CI9u-zgBKPo6n3vKjp1eObJ8jPd7yUkZo6bNDdl1_vzMvVEDV77DYGXmoK4VA/s1600/WP_20140205_001.jpg" height="286" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-35461736447495095992014-01-21T15:52:00.000-08:002014-01-21T15:52:05.180-08:00Discipline<div class="MsoNormal">
Talent requires practice. I am totally willing to practice. I love to
paint. I want to paint every chance I get. So required practice is not a
problem for me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Usually I am able to do at least two canvases a week. But I
admit that sometimes something happens that keeps me from painting. Work
commitments and family commitments sometimes demand my time. So yes, there have been occasions when I have
not be able to paint for a week or two. But my resolve is to paint a couple of
canvases a week. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope to see a time when I will be able to paint every day.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am very lucky to have a family that is supportive of my
painting like my family is. My wife and children have never complained about my
painting. In fact, my wife will often ask me: “Are you going to paint tonight?”
When she is making evening plans. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am usually disappointed with the paintings I do. Sometimes
I am so worked up after painting that I can’t sleep. But I have to be patient.
It’s very important that I try to see the good in my paintings so that I can
build on the good things that I’m learning. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Really I can’t see that discipline is going to be a problem
for me. I am loving every second of this new activity in my life. I look for
every opportunity I can to paint and I absorb every drop of instruction I can
find. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So my message is this: You have to have discipline. If you
approach painting, or any other activity, from a stand point of casual
interest, you will almost certainly be frustrated with the result. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s a little result of my discipline:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZJhheDlDYeaOuvfF-v_aoKWZOchl_05h66hdbCQtimHh9S4639PNPiV8ey-vupabSaK38YulqOR9OZqju_P2d-Lj9H2oKPu-Br-6ueoDkf1K1REPc6X9QfjgqfHbrzxoo28wu2wTa84/s1600/mtn+falls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZJhheDlDYeaOuvfF-v_aoKWZOchl_05h66hdbCQtimHh9S4639PNPiV8ey-vupabSaK38YulqOR9OZqju_P2d-Lj9H2oKPu-Br-6ueoDkf1K1REPc6X9QfjgqfHbrzxoo28wu2wTa84/s1600/mtn+falls.jpg" height="259" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-37400306576136812642013-12-29T14:53:00.000-08:002013-12-29T15:05:40.118-08:00I painted with my son!<div class="MsoNormal">
This had been the most incredible experience I have had yet
with my painting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My son Acey came home from an LDS mission to Argentina in
November. I’ve missed him so much! Since my younger son Ethan challenged me to
learn to paint, I’ve dreamed of painting with Acey.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Acey is a talented artist. He works in many different
mediums, but he especially likes drawing in ink. But since I started painting
last summer, I’ve been looking forward to having Acey come home and paint with
me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Acey told me right as soon as he got home that he would love
to paint with me. Still, I worried that he would just be patronizing me because
of his superior artistic abilities. When the time came to actually set up my
easel, I was thrilled when my son was enthusiastic about setting up another
easel next to me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have to say right now that painting with Acey that night
was an experience that I’ll never forget. It was golden. Because of his
experience in the arts, he was already way ahead of me. I expected that, and I
hope Acey will have things to teach me as we go on. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For now I’ve got to say that having a partner to paint with
is pretty special for me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I actually hope to paint regularly with Acey. I have some
big plans that will be revealed soon here on this blog. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For now, I’m just going to enjoy painting side by side with
my son. He’s the first true artist who has worked with me, without looking down
on me. We just paint together. That’s a wonderful and amazing thing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just wait and see where this goes next!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
By the way.<br />
<br />
Here's what we painted:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMYP8Yrba2DN7nM50PuaSaXCv0IQNnP4_LLDIZ8MyYeJpFT2goEvCUgfNBrQxS7XgJLqmjSihydiXQtf_XZNfltepuJpb8dZDLRKq0iKDrvNGCPvH6TrvyOh5IY6B0F0jmXkT-KDW5Qc/s1600/oval+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMYP8Yrba2DN7nM50PuaSaXCv0IQNnP4_LLDIZ8MyYeJpFT2goEvCUgfNBrQxS7XgJLqmjSihydiXQtf_XZNfltepuJpb8dZDLRKq0iKDrvNGCPvH6TrvyOh5IY6B0F0jmXkT-KDW5Qc/s320/oval+pic.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-23565863715391412332013-12-04T12:27:00.000-08:002013-12-04T12:33:31.333-08:00What I have learned so far<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s more complicated than you might think. I thought oil
painting, and by association art itself, was free and accepting and open
minded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I first got started painting, I called a local art gallery,
looking for a teacher. I talked with a lady who taught the oil painting class
at the gallery, and she asked me to tell her what I had done up to that point.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I told her about the paints and brushes I had purchased at
walmart and about the Bob Ross videos I had found at the library. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I could hear this teacher starting to hyperventilate over
the phone, so I stopped talking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then she launched into her rebuke!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was doing myself more harm than good! There was nothing on
the internet or in videos that will teach me anything!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I needed live, personal instruction. I needed a good year of
training in sketching before I ever touched a painter’s brush!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, I respect this teacher and I understand her enthusiasm
about the importance of proper art instruction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But I don’t feel like I have a year to spend learning things
before I start to paint.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will say this though: I believe that I need to learn to
draw, so I will study drawing AT THE SAME TIME as I am painting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The main reason I didn’t decide to take lessons from this
teacher is that I am looking for instructors that are more easy-going. I’m not
young anymore. I can’t take the “drill sergeant” type who has very strong
feelings and beliefs about the right way and the wrong way to do things. I want
to explore and experiment. I don’t want to be indoctrinated into one particular
school of thought. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s funny to me because I’ve always been attracted to
hobbies and pursuits that cause people to disagree violently. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I golf, and golfers are cruel and critical of
one another. I play the guitar, and guitarists notoriously hate each other. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“You’re doing it wrong!” I knew I’d hear that. I’ve found
that artists have very definite ideas about the wrong way and the right way to
paint. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But isn’t art about expression?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What if I wanted to paint with different hues of mud, using
a toothbrush? Would that be okay?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I won’t even start naming famous artists who had different
styles, some even radical. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But there are still some hints I’m learning about successful
oil painting that I can share.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cleaning the brushes with dish soap and water is possible.
But it makes a huge mess in the sink. I’m always looking for the cleanest,
easiest way to go from set up, to painting, to clean up, as I can.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">People have told me not to use dish soap and water to clean
my brushes, but it seems to work fine, and after drying overnight, the brushes
seem great. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By the way, if you have strong feelings about what I should
or shouldn’t be doing, PLEASE leave a comment!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But right now I’m mostly cleaning my brushes with mineral
spirits. They do seem to build up a residue though. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I’m learning, finding my preferences, developing habits,
painting my mile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So here's another canvas so you can see my progress:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgQqRdv12oauNREasnCGu2IvZkS_2DUoW865LFcZPJlt9_BnnEyCQ8AaRAjCS9ajmCR6JkGhytmI9O16-UjGgT7d_e4HILBVB0ZCnXKLJlzycoZHUH4Rn3wMfFqMAcJhf9BZWgLuQTqU/s1600/winter+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgQqRdv12oauNREasnCGu2IvZkS_2DUoW865LFcZPJlt9_BnnEyCQ8AaRAjCS9ajmCR6JkGhytmI9O16-UjGgT7d_e4HILBVB0ZCnXKLJlzycoZHUH4Rn3wMfFqMAcJhf9BZWgLuQTqU/s320/winter+night.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-80938213545280129492013-11-11T15:28:00.001-08:002013-11-11T15:35:10.093-08:00The educated and the elite.<div class="MsoNormal">
When I started painting, I also started to seek out the
experiences of successful artists. I went to art exhibits and fairs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finding successful painters also meant searching online for
information about artists as I became aware of them, and also it meant attending
exhibitions and art fairs. I’ll talk about some of those fairs in just a
minute.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I heard the stories of these successful artists, in
person and online, I was struck by a fairly common element. I asked those I met
at fairs to tell me the story of their success as painters. Online I found
artists telling their stories in blogs and on youtube.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s the thing I heard over and over again. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wait: I will point out right here that not ALL artists
shared this common element in their story, but the number who did surprise me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Continue: Many of these successful painters said that the
beginning of their artistic journey began with a degree from a university with
a good fine arts department.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Seriously. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not criticizing this, I’m just pointing out that it
surprised me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I expected painters to tell stories of inspiration and
personal creative agony. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But again and again, artists told me that after feeling the
desire to paint, they felt that their first stop had to be to enroll in the university.
Some of them mentioned this as a great story, because many of them entered
their fine arts programs after the age of forty. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I questioned several of these artists and asked if a
university degree was very necessary to success as an artist, they all answered
the same way, saying that they couldn't imagine how someone could even consider
oneself a painter or have any level of success without a university degree in
fine arts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Again, I have no criticism for university educated painters,
I’m sure any university art class is an incredibly empowering experience. It’s
just that getting a degree in fine arts is not a possibility for me right now.
And I’m not willing to believe that I cannot learn to paint successfully on my
own. <o:p></o:p><br />
In that spirit, here's another one I've done while trying to learn to paint:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgu_LslRA4ivzlnUNiGrFC9Yw2YO-oi-XdjikQViaB5M1VLFH3Nzvb8SyJ6xL0bo2W_ClZSXchVACc_i4Bx-V4KpI9INPfijwz9ZZ3BWX2op-hYnnAiAkKEzmotPu33RFycS-W6MwXKU/s1600/fisherman+cove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgu_LslRA4ivzlnUNiGrFC9Yw2YO-oi-XdjikQViaB5M1VLFH3Nzvb8SyJ6xL0bo2W_ClZSXchVACc_i4Bx-V4KpI9INPfijwz9ZZ3BWX2op-hYnnAiAkKEzmotPu33RFycS-W6MwXKU/s320/fisherman+cove.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-40690834736325131762013-11-05T14:51:00.002-08:002013-11-05T14:51:45.905-08:00My first oil painting class.<div class="MsoNormal">
After striking out with my first attempt to find a local
teacher, I was reminded of our local Arts community organization. I went to their building to explore, and I was
thrilled. They were having an exhibit of the works of local artists. I lost
myself in the beautiful paintings.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After I looked over every piece in the exhibit, I went to
the office to find out about oil painting classes. There was a class in
progress. I had already missed two classes. But I signed up anyway.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The teacher was Diane Turner. She’s a great artist, and she
was a student of LeConte Stewart, a famous Utah painter, and a hero of mine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have to admit that I was EXTREMELY nervous when I entered
the classroom on the next Wednesday evening. All the students laughed at my new
easel, but they applauded that I was a very new oil painter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn't say anything to anyone about Bob Ross.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were painting sunflowers in a vase, which is significant
to oil painters because of Vincent Van Gogh.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wasn't sure I could do it. They weren't starting with a
thin coat of liquid white, like Bob Ross does.
And the teacher told me I could only use the three primary colors, red
yellow and blue. And white.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I picked Alizarin Crimson and tried to trowel it on with a
palette knife. Didn't look right. Then I
went after the vase. It looked like I was back in the eighth grade.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I enjoyed mixing my colors to get green for the stems. I was
feeling more confident. I did the petals on the flowers with a palette knife,
because I've seen Van Gogh’s sunflowers in person, and I believe he used a
knife. My painting looked childish and
crude, but I think it turned out okay. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The teacher said I shouldn't have centered my vase and
flowers. And she was confused about my odd looking background. I didn't
understand about her method of under painting, but I understand now, and I
think I’ll try another still life on my own. She covers her canvas in a thinned
down color of her choosing. I want to try that. But all in all it was a VERY
valuable experience, and I enjoyed the interaction with the other students.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhvjPcvhsdrWt-CE8ZAd_3W5mtLv7s2KUvIVmQhCT7GjS5rnXLCAQjoVIZheIqHoCwHSUfpmHPtmvFQrqBdqbygQGnhyphenhyphen4qHZSF3GYXDFnKksWjr-s5Rmi-4rAqwIJ5w0PjKDgl0x9nVo/s1600/sunflowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhvjPcvhsdrWt-CE8ZAd_3W5mtLv7s2KUvIVmQhCT7GjS5rnXLCAQjoVIZheIqHoCwHSUfpmHPtmvFQrqBdqbygQGnhyphenhyphen4qHZSF3GYXDFnKksWjr-s5Rmi-4rAqwIJ5w0PjKDgl0x9nVo/s320/sunflowers.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-84435404296017533092013-11-05T11:14:00.001-08:002013-11-05T11:15:29.554-08:00In Utah: 25th Street in OgdenThere are great art galleries here on 25th Street in Ogden Utah. Very much worth a visit.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BtrfwDf0t9h9rAQHQAozzoZ9xf26nDttumrK2yZVvnq0AKSyvfaNvYAYdmWMcOB__XvULniHxETjwyzoQVrR7mzgWP0aajCvsm1LjWAh5Dov8kXyzsV-mMbAZ8z4VemdEIS9ymbBSTw/s1600/first.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BtrfwDf0t9h9rAQHQAozzoZ9xf26nDttumrK2yZVvnq0AKSyvfaNvYAYdmWMcOB__XvULniHxETjwyzoQVrR7mzgWP0aajCvsm1LjWAh5Dov8kXyzsV-mMbAZ8z4VemdEIS9ymbBSTw/s1600/first.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://dinutah.blogspot.com/2012/06/25th-street-in-ogden.html?spref=bl">In Utah: 25th Street in Ogden</a>: Ogden has lots of history, and 25th street is a very interesting place. Lots of shops and restaurants. Lots of clubs and bars, too. That’s ...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-40462206790747267602013-11-03T23:16:00.001-08:002013-11-03T23:19:25.776-08:00My son in law is a great artist<a href="http://thedeepend-comic.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-case-of-mysterious-boomerang.html?spref=bl">The Deep End: The Case of the Mysterious Boomerang</a><br />
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Tyson Cole is a wonderful cartoonist, and one of my inspirations.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6EVmYnqpXR-Q_AbEtMd_z1GJHJs2YeVF1Xa2QibXhz7MDoE08NdQtmo4WcXQj1B-R93b0FO1CB2dn2cjMPDAPy0BME1uvlAfSrsxKD7ZeBpaT6M3b5-zqy3kOWvMs8z43URZJLer-yk/s1600/Boomerang+(final)2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6EVmYnqpXR-Q_AbEtMd_z1GJHJs2YeVF1Xa2QibXhz7MDoE08NdQtmo4WcXQj1B-R93b0FO1CB2dn2cjMPDAPy0BME1uvlAfSrsxKD7ZeBpaT6M3b5-zqy3kOWvMs8z43URZJLer-yk/s320/Boomerang+(final)2.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03750484630488516565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908542102155210868.post-79018850240703387842013-10-16T23:55:00.004-07:002013-10-16T23:57:19.516-07:00Ready set go.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I got home with my new twelve dollar oil painting kit
and two huge pieces of Masonite board, I was ready. My son had a drafting table
in his bedroom. I brought it out to the family room (where there was a
television).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I cut the Masonite board into 1 by 2 foot boards. Then I
went to the hardware store and bought a quart of white primer. On the way home
I stopped at the library. I looked through the books and videos on oil
painting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s the thing: The only videos on oil painting
instruction were Bob Ross vidoes. So I went home with Bob Ross videos. That was
what I could find. I didn’t choose him because I thought he had the “style” I
want to paint, I chose him because he was available.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, I’m not insulting Bob Ross. I have always enjoyed his
PBS shows, and I have the greatest respect for his abilities. And, I will always
consider Bob Ross my first teacher. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ll talk more about Bob Ross later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, at home, I primed all my pieces of board, and then
realized that I would have to wait for them to dry. It occurred to me that this
would be a pattern for me as a painter. There would be preparations that would
sometimes take days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next day I put a board on the drafting table and a Bob
Ross video on the television. My sons are artists, and I found a large, 2 by 5
foot board covered in canvas in my oldest son’s room. This board was clearly meant
for working on art projects. I put this board on the kitchen table to protect
it, and I was ready. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I started the video.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was so much that Bob Ross said that I didn’t
understand. I didn’t recognize the different colors he recommended so I tried
to find something similar in my oil painting kit. I didn’t know what “liquid
white” was, so I just skipped that part. I didn’t have the same kind of brushes
and palette knifes that he had, so I tried to use the brushes and plastic
knives that seemed appropriate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Best of all, my youngest daughter grabbed one of my primed
boards, and without a word, she joined me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The blue in our skies was much too dark, and our paintings
looked like night time paintings. But at the end, we had recognizable
landscaped. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was hooked. I knew I needed to go shopping for just a few
tools. There were just a couple of colors I really wanted to try, and I wanted
a metal palette knife and a brush like Bob Ross was using.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My non-stop art supply shopping had begun. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ll talk next about what I learned from the instruction I received,
and how my tools worked out for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First, here is one of the first paintings that drew
compliments from my family:</span></div>
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