Falling in Love

Richard Schmid

   When you fall in love you don't just 'fall in love' and that is it. It is a growing process and the more you love the more you are able to love. That is just like painting with me. After spending the last few weeks really immersing myself in learning about art and watching some long demonstration videos from amazing artists like Morgan Weistling and Jeff Watts, I'm all caught up in this affair, which is going to be one which will hang on to me for the rest of my life I'm afraid...

   I've been learning so much and trying to put it into practice in my own paintings, which I'll share photos of in my newsletter next week. Sometimes it works and I'm on top of the world thinking I've finally getting it! And then a couple of hours of painting later I realize that this painting thing really is an impossible mystery and the great artists are just some extraordinary people with gifts that only they are born with. My love affair is elusive; hopeful and hopeless by turns, but when you are in love you never give up and everything is possible. I'll keep on going and one day perhaps I will be able to paint like some of the worlds greatest painters. Here are some of their works that inspire me and lead me on.

Susan Lyon

Mary Qian

john singer sargent

Matt Smith 

Scott Burdick 

Edward Harrison Compton

Tibor Nagy

Painting by Jeremy Lipking

Richard Schmid

'The Artist's Journey'

Old Holland and Windsor & Newton Oil on 16"x20" canvass.

   I recently painted this still life which I have titled 'The Artist's Journey'. Everything in the picture is something meaningful to me and my journey as an artist. The framed pictures in the background hold some of my old work, they represent where I've come from. The wooden box is my pochade box which I use for painting outside, en plein air. That and the paint brushes in the jar represent me now painting and doing plein air work. The violin represents what I've had to give up in order to give more of my life to art. And the book represents my learning and my future ambitions. It is Richard Shmid's Alla Prima II, my favorite art book from which I have already learned so much, and continue to do so every time I open it. As I was painting this I tried to keep all I recalled from the book in my mind. And it was amazing when a few times I applied principles I had learned and it worked! I still have a long way to go, but it's encouraging to know that I'm learning.

   So, in all, this painting is of my journey as an artists. Shows where I've come from, where I am, where I'm headed and what I've had to let go on the way. 

   This painting is for sale. I would like to keep it. But I've got to keep space on my walls for paintings to come, not to mention earning enough to keep myself supplied with materials. If you are interested in purchasing 'The Artist's Journey' please contact me at felicityfdeverell@gmail.com

Inspiration from the Masters. True Story.

   Have had a nice quiet weekend to myself, usually I'm off doing something with my friends, there's always something going on these days! I could have gone hunting and kayaking to an island but I thought it must be time for a quiet weekend and get myself into focus for the rest of the month.

   I've been reading my favorite art book, Richard Schmid's Alla Prima II, and doing a lot of reading of Articles on the internet. Just getting fully inspired really. 

   I somehow came across The Master Secrets. A website/blog of Kathryn Lloyd an enthusiastic artist and lover of art who has interviewed many amazing artists. Her interview with Daniel Gerhartz is very inspiring, and with Rosemary & Co brushes--very interesting and informative. It's good to hear interviews in which the interviewer is also an artist and can ask good questions that I want to hear the answers to. 

   One article I read, Finding your Artistic Voice,  contained advice to young artists about how to find a voice or style. Being a young aspiring artist myself which all that advice is aimed towards I am thinking I should take it on for real. I've known it for so long having heard it repeated over and over from many successful artists. Just paint, paint, paint, and draw, draw, draw. Do your best work. Don't worry about style, go after the important things. Learn the craft. Be honest.

   That is exactly what I did in the pastel portrait of Tabitha. I spent all my efforts getting every measurement right, making each mark have a purpose, and not thinking about style or effect. The result was what I consider my best portrait to date.

   And I suddenly realized one aspect of what I've always heard and sincerely believed only didn't understand. Only because I applied what I had learned was I able to really understand it. I should say begin to understand it. The more I learn the more I realize I have to learn! 

  This month I am going to start working hard to apply everything I've learned so far. I have a commission to work on, heaps of Virtual Art Academy assignments to complete, and heaps of ideas for lots of drawings and paintings. I already spend most of my time doing art related stuff, but I always seem to be caught up in other little jobs and leaving the fun 'til later. I need to forget that I have a hundred things to do and just spend all my time having fun with charcoal and paint.

   Might need to order some more art supplies about now...

   I'll keep you posted with photos of some of my new work. Look out for some brilliant progress!