Getting back into painting
December 22, 2019
A few years ago it had been about 20 years since I’d last painted. I jumped at the chance to take an oil painting class with a local, fantastic artist, whom I’d only just met at a local arts festival. Larry Smith’s work was the best in the show, by far. His color is rich, bright, vivid… incredible.
During his class it didn’t take long to be reminded how much I love painting. How much I love color. How much I love expressive and tactile arts. Paint feels real. It feels luscious. It feels connected to life and my soul.
Since then I’d painted in oils from time to time. Loving every minute of it, yet still prioritizing my never-ending household to-do list over my art. This month it changes. I take control of my time and expectations. I’m prioritizing painting!
I’ve been a graphic designer, now Creative Director, for the past 25 years. I’ve honed my skills over the years and realize now that it’s all prepared me for painting. I’ve laid the groundwork. I can build my painting career on the strong foundation of my graphic design career.
I didn’t realize how interconnected the two arts are until I started painting again. One informs the other. Honing one’s skills in graphic design (layout, communication, photography, balance, color, texture, space, shape, line, etc) informs my ability to paint, to see the world, to understand balance on a canvas, to understand color and contrast.
So, I’m now making a concerted effort to paint and develop my style and skills. When my daughter is in school, I work. It’s my sacred time. I either do paid art or fine art. All the household tasks will wait until it’s time to put my mommy hat on again when school is over. But my work is solidly art.
My plan is to spend a minimum of 10 hours a week on fine art—either doing research, planning works, writing or painting. I’ll keep a good balance between them all. I’m tracking my time, as I do with my paid work. I’m taking my fine art development seriously and treating it as a business. This will help me stay focused, disciplined and on task.
It’s thrilling to make this deliberate change in managing my time, efforts and studies. I’m excited to learn all that I can about fine art, my work and myself. I’m following my heart! I’m letting my artist’s voice guide me. I’m excited for the journey and can’t wait to see where it will lead me.
ABOUT THIS IMAGE: The oil painting I’ve featured here is one of the first paintings that I completed in 2015 — Waterlily.