Path to Painting for Myself

So most of you know I started my career in Fine Art a couple years ago so I am still an infant in terms of becoming a professional artist. That is why blogging and visiting blogs have so important to me. Other artist’s works inspire, motivate and feed my soul.

I feel I am still all over the board. Sometimes I feel like a ship without a rudder and allowing whatever dominant wind push me in any direction.

Reading this post from Katharine A. Cartwright's blog slapped me on the forehead last week. If you have not visited her blog, you must if you want some mental stimulus on the subject of art. Besides Katherine is an exceptional watercolor artist and an outstanding teacher.

I took several days after reading that post to take a break from blogs and blogging to try and figure out who I am in terms of this new role of an artist and what gives me passion when I paint.

I was working on the top painting which is another scene from the Dublin St. Patrick's Day fair. It took me about 3 days to make me feel like it was completed. It gave me a 2.5 out of 10 on my excitement scale. Then just for kicks, I painted the bottom painting in about 3 hours and it gave me about a 5 out of 10 on my excitement scale. So I'm not there yet, but besides the pet and other commissions, I'm going to start exploring on how to find that 10 out of 10. I hope you'll stick around for the journey. Love to all!

both pieces are 20x16 oil on canvas

Open Studios

I was busy this weekend helping out Benny Alba and her open studio with 11 other artists. It was such a great learning experience and I loved being able to meet with other artists and talk about their work.

The best part of my part of the helping was being the meeter/greeter. I met so many interesting people and a handful let me photograph them for possible future pieces. By far our most interesting person on the last day was a young man named Jack Passion. He came in the room and it was so obvious but I was the only one who commented on his magnificent beard. His beautiful girlfriend Alexis was quick to point out Jack is the current World Champion in the Natural Full Beard division of the World Beard Championship contest. I believe he's only 24 years old so that means he probably has not shaved ever since he started being able to grow a beard. I've also been working on a couple of pieces and hope to share them with you soon.