Tales from an Artist's Journal Part Four..Learning and Practice
Tales from an Artist’s Journal part 4
Tales from an Artist's Journal Part Four..Learning and Practice belongs to the following groups:
Complex Simplicity of Art, Art Inspired by Dreams, AW Welcome Center, Live, Love, Dream: , Safe Haven, The Patchwork and Water Media (Paintings by hand only)I remember an image in a chapter of a how-to paint book for watercolourists, and remarking how peaceful the image looked…from then on I was hooked on watercolour…
As a beginner I had no idea of what to paint, and felt that the exercises in these how-to books would be the best way to practice…the instructions varied from book to book…some were really clear and the writer would use demos from a number of artists, so you would be able to see a different treatment of the subject matter…others were pretty useless, but I still learned how not to do things from them…
Many of the books were from the library and were really old, so the images were black and white…not much help when learning to use colour, but the instructions were excellent…I learned much from these books and a few of them had photographs that were copyright free…a boon for the beginner like me.
I read them avidly and practiced much, painting only in winter…but the paintings were for me only…I had no intention of ever selling them…at the time, I was doing commissioned work in decorative painting because I could control the amount of work I did…I taught decorative painting in the home studio and part time at college, and also did features for magazines and television….
Soon I no longer needed the instruction books and I started to collect and amass a library of excellent books on art, visited many Galleries, which I still do every week, to see what contemporary artists were doing and where my work would fit in..it fit in nowhere…not a problem…I wasn’t selling anyway…I wanted to keep my work to myself…I did my commissions, and sold other work only under protest to friends or gave gifts of my paintings to others…
I was doing approximately 100 paintings each winter, of every kind of subject matter, from Still life to Landscape, summer, winter and everything in between, [some samples of the latter are shown here] and when finished I would either store them away or pulp them and make them into paper to use for new paintings…I had also amassed a large number of sketches which I keep in well organized files according to topic, so I can turn them into paintings very quickly…some of them date back to those copyright free pictures from the now defunct watercolour books, and I still use them from time to time..
I experienced a sea change in the winter of 2007… after years of persuasion by family and friends I was ready to part with my paintings…
I started a series of semi-abstract Still Life paintings in acrylic on canvas in November, and built a website around them….three galleries are now bidding for them…
Is there a moral to this story….no of course not….but I do want to say that if you avidly pursue success to the detriment of practice and learning, it may not happen, but if you do what you like and do it well for as long as it takes, success will follow…I never wanted what is ordinarily called success, [name in lights etc] but I did want to get really good at what I love most to do and that is paint…I’m still practicing and learning…so it’s bound to happen some day…Janis
webbie
It is great information…and love the painting great job:)
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Thelma…glad you like the article and the paintings…
Racheli
Dear Janis, very generous of you, with all information you share, after all i shall try watercolour, slowly but surely…...:))) it so different then oils/acrylics.
I like all your articles, and i thank you very much.
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you Rachel…I’m so pleased you’re enjoying this series
I know that oils feel so safe…I used oils in my decorative painting and the longer drying time meant that I had time to correct and change anything I did not like…with acrylics, I could paint light over dark and also change things when I wanted to do so…
However what I love so much about watercolour that the other mediums do not have, is what most people complain about, and that is the unpredictability of it…
Often, I will just let it do it’s thing, stopping it just before it gets out of control, rejoicing in the happy accidents that sometimes happen…indeed, often happen with my style of painting…it really forces you to relax with your art…you can’t be intense with watercolour…if you are, it will definitely show in the work..
Alison Pearce
Excellent and informative article Janis!
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you Alison…I’m so glad you like it…
Jake5611
Hi Janis…your work is simply put, beautiful. I enjoy the way each work sets a different mood.
I find that these paintings also bring back some pleasant memories of my youth as I find
them setting the wheels in motion. Your work truly stirs the soul and I thank you for that. Jake
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Jake…I really like hearing how my work resonates with other artists…I am so pleased that you enjoy viewing my pages and that they bring back good feelings from the past…
Anthony R. Pla...
Diligence and perseverance have paid off for you :) I really appreciate the way you not only bless us with the images of your art, but you share the techniques and methods and tools, and even more, you share aspects of your life that are tangential to the creative process and yet are intrinsically bound to it. Thank you so much for inspiring me. :)
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you Anthony for that incredible paean of praise to my art work…I am very humbled at the thought of my being an inspiration to you….I really believe that it’s only through sharing that we can grow as artists, and if telling my story and sharing tips and techniques are a help to you, I will continue to do so ad infinitum…
Lesley Hill
Thanks for sharing!
Janis Zroback replied
You are very welcome Lesley…thank you for your continued interest in these articles…
Susan Moss
Dear Janis, thank you for sharing your story, it is very inspirational
Janis Zroback replied
You are very welcome Susan, and thank you for letting me know how much you enjoy reading these articles…I’m so pleased that you find them inspirational.
Joanne Bradley
Another wonderful extract from your journal Janis! I think that your journey is as important to you as is the ending outcome! And I truly admire that in your outlook as an artist although I have no doubt that your work will continue to sell and bring you much success because of its beauty!
Janis Zroback replied
The journey is definitely much more important than the outcome…
RB has now been incorporated as part of my journey as well…it has taken me on paths I would have never gone but for being here as a full participant, [more about those as they evolve], not only showing my work, but being part of the community which includes sharing as much as I can…my life is extremely difficult, but fantastically wonderful at the same time…I would not change it for anything else on earth…
Ron Moss
Hi Janis,
Great series and so worthwhile. I love watercolour for the same reasons you give.
The same for ink on rice paper, less about me and more about the materilas and inspiration behind them. The painting ‘northern sky’ in wonderful!!
Ron
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Ron….glad you like the series and took the time to let me know…that gives me the incentive to write more…
catherine walker
you tell great true stories Janis..I enjoyed reading this..and I tried watercolour a few times..then sort of gave up..it’s a real skill involved and lots and lots of practice I think ..you have obviously mastered the art of watercolour -well done..and I see that you had many many months and years of full on practice..good on you janis..Your’e amazing and a wonderful person too..your art is so lovely!!
Janis Zroback replied
Only four months out of each year, as I never painted in summer till this year…being on RB forced me to paint right into the summer and I have not stopped as Iused to do…I started to paint 15 years ago, but only in winter…so the sum total is only about five years…but I did paint every single day…
I am so sorry that with the changes in RB software the pictures here have disappeared…they were there until recently…now they will only show if I have them on my pages..I will have to upload them and put them back here…
I’m so pleased you like my work Catherine…thank you so much.
catherine walker
well for someone who has only painted for 5 years..that’s amazing work janis..really you have poured your heart and soul into it..I think you’ve done so well and truly are a fantastic artist..
I on the other hand have painted for about 35 years ..but that is very sporadically..just when the mood hits me..or if someone wants a painting..there were times when I had what I call “really great sessions.” and .for some unknown reason I would paint full on for a week or two and turn out maybe 10 paintings in that time.. they would all be pretty good ones..but it rarely happens ..it’s wonderful when it does though..sometimes I will force myself to paint and will paint all night and day and turn out a dozen or so works on paper..but out of them I might only get one that I’m happy with ..like one shines brightly above all the other work..It’s strange isn’t it..
I guess to be Inspired can come at any time..but I shouldn’t wait for Inspiration ..I should just paint ..you have so much more discipline than me janis.
I should try to paint every day..I did have a lot of years though where I painted on ceramics and that was everyday..so I guess that is strill painting .. it just wasn’t on the canvas ..I would like to do more work on the canvas..so will try and push myself ..I procrastinate too much and make too many excuses..hhha!!!
good work janis..cheers to all of us who love to be creative..no matter what our method or madness.
cathyxxxooo