Starving Artist tag – part two

Shh! Your Life is Beautiful 
boy portrait painting in oil

This is part 2 of the starving artist tag. If you haven’t read it yet, you can find part 1 here. Feel free to answer the questions on your own blog. 

11. What advice can you can give to people who want to be more artistic or creative?

Don’t let anything stop you. So many people complain about not having enough time to paint, and in the same breath they talk about binge watching a whole season of something on Netflix. There’s no easy way to say this. You have to get up off the couch, and get to work. If you keep making excuses, and finding other things to do, life will pass you by, and you’ll never live your dream of becoming an artist.

The reason you’re putting off painting is probably because you’re afraid. I remember what it’s like to be just starting out. I’ve had the butterflies in the pit of my stomach at the mere thought of picking up a knife or brush. I’ve been terrified of screwing up a painting, especially one I loved. Guess what? I have messed up many paintings that I loved, and I never was able to recover them. The latest one was about a month ago. It’s going to happen to you, also. You might as well accept it now. It comes with the whole learning process, and it’s hard to escape. 

 The way to get over your fear of painting is to paint every single day. It’s good to put it all in perspective. Remember, it’s only paint. Experiment with it. What’s the worst that can happen? You’re going to waste some paint, and maybe throw a few paintings in the trash? But, think about it for a second, how will you find your way if you don’t experiment, and see what works and doesn’t work for you? If you do throw a painting away (I rarely throw paintings away. Reuse/recycle the canvas), you have to chalk it up to a learning experience and move on. Your next painting will be better, and if it’s not, try again, and again, and again. 

If you’re worried about cost, buy cheap student grade paint to start. If/when you’re ready to sell your work, use only artist quality, but play with the cheapest stuff you can find at first. Here’s some tips I wrote about buying paint on a budget. 

Paint on cardboard, chipboard, paper bags, old receipts, teabags, paper you find in the trash at the office, anything! Buy a package of 50 or 100 paper plates, and paint every one of them. Hang them all over your studio to celebrate. Now you’re ready for 50 more! Go to the river and collect some stones. Paint them! There is a world of cheap or free art supplies out there. You just have to gather them, and bring them home. Look at this beautiful artwork by Alisa, and she painted on fallen leaves. Anything is possible when you’re an artist, and it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.

Get pushing, moving and sloshing the paint around until you’re no longer afraid of it. You’ll be besties in no time.

Blue Robe
Sold 
Prints are available here

12. Were you supported to pursue art as a child? 

I got paint by numbers for Christmas once or twice. Other than that, no. I wasn’t allowed to get messy when I was a kid. I’m making up for that now. 🙂 

13. Do you make money off your art?

Yes, I have to make money or I’d have to quit painting. Most artists aren’t born rich or with a magic wand in their hand to make the bills go away. We’re no different than anyone else. We have to eat, and live. Moral support is great, but we can’t sit down and eat social media comments and/or emails for dinner, no matter how sweet they might be. Reality is, I couldn’t continue to do this if I didn’t make money.

On that note, please consider supporting artists by buying their artwork..even if it’s just a print, it helps us keep doing what we do. I’ve seen several incredibly talented artists throw in the towel this past summer, and it’s a shame. It’s always the same story – they’re not making enough money to live. 

Artists love and appreciate those who support us sooooo very much because you keep us painting another day. Mwah!!   

14. What do you want to improve on/aspire to be with your future art?

Believe it or not, I don’t want to improve my painting skills, and here’s why. The thing about improving is this..it sends the message to your brain that you’re not good enough the way you are right now, today. When you’re constantly trying to improve, not only are you not good enough right now, but you’re not good enough ever. I got tired of constantly judging, and criticizing my work, and always thinking everyone is a better artist than me. I remember thinking, when will I ever be that good?? When will I ever be good enough? That’s when I realized what I was doing to myself.

If you’re constantly telling yourself you suck, how can you expect to get better? You can’t, and you get stuck in this never ending thought process in your mind. It starts small, and spirals out of control. Sorta like this..”This painting is so ugly. It’s getting uglier by the minute. I might as well quit. I can’t paint. Who do I think I am anyway? Look at this thing. Ugh. I REALLY CAN’T paint. OH, GAWD, I hate my work!! Everything is wrong. Remember that time that someone said they didn’t like a painting I did a year ago? And there’s this other person who has never liked my work. Can you blame her? But, WHYyy didn’t she ever like my work? Because it sucks. I suck. I’m not an artist. _____’s work is soooo much better than mine, especially the latest one. 

Repeat repeat repeat, and add more negative criticism in there for good measure until it drives you absolutely mad. A real good beat down is what I’d constantly give myself. I’d put everyone else’s work way up high on a pedestal. I never think of criticizing or pick apart any other artist’s work. Why was I doing it to my own? And how am I suppose to paint well with all this noise and negativity towards myself going on??? It happened to me every time I tried to “improve”. 

I’d much rather be raw, in the moment, and not trying to be something I’m not..because isn’t that what improving is all about? Changing yourself? I’d rather be happy with myself, and what I can accomplish today. Right here, now! Is my work perfect? Heck no, but it will never be perfect, and that’s another reason to stop chasing after making improvements. You’ll spend a lifetime doing it, and where will it get you? You’ll continue to up the bar, and never ever be happy in the now. I feel exhausted just thinking about it. No improving for me, thanks. I think you naturally improve every time you paint. You’re always learning something new, growing, and inching forward. That’s enough for me.  

Chasing the Sun
progress shot

15. What feelings do you try to express in your art?

Someone said once that my people paintings are full of melancholy, but are still hopeful at the same time. I’d say she nailed it! Those are my own feelings when I look out into the world. I see all the bad..the violence, unfairness, and unkindness, but I still have a glimmer of hope in my heart. I haven’t totally given up on people. I know we can be kind to each other because I look for the good happening in each and every day. There are always good things happening. I try to be a part of that goodness.  

I’m not sure if I intentionally express the melancholy/hopefulness in my art or if that’s what naturally comes out in me the most, but I do know it lives inside of me.

here comes Sweet Pea!! 

16. What is your favorite thing to paint and why?

I don’t think I have a favorite. Well, that’s a lie. At the moment I do have a favorite, but next week that will probably change, so I dare not say. (Oil portraits. Hush, now. I didn’t just write that) 

17. What’s the strangest thing you’ve painted?

I’ve painted some weird, ugly little characters in my time. I did a whole series of them back in 2010, and ended it at 200 pieces. Most of them sold, so that told me people like the weird little characters living in my head. 

messing around in my art journal

18. Have you ever been hung up after you started a commission, and how did you handle it?

No. I won’t take on a commission unless I know I’m the right artist for the job. I visualize the finished painting, usually before I even get started, and I work until it’s finished. I usually forget to eat, and sleep when I’m working on a commission. 

19. Do you admit that paint smells good? 

Nope..oil paint gives me a headache every time I use it. :/ It’s possible that I’m allergic to it, since I’m allergic to everything under the sun. It doesn’t stop me from painting, tho. Can’t stop. Won’t stop.   

art journal page

20. What would you tell your younger self?

Paint!! Don’t wait for the planets to align just right, the tide to change, a full moon or to be in just the right mood. You’re just sitting around wasting time. Get to work!