DPW Spotlight Interview: Jean Delaney

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win Jean's painting, "In the Clouds" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Jean's DPW Gallery:

Jean lives and paints in Qualicum Beach, B.C. on beautiful Vancouver island.

I am inspired by many different subjects, though my favourites right now are animals and florals. My path through life has been dotted with everything creative from fashion design to rug hooking. For 15 years I had a rug hooking design business but always found time to paint, then in 2013 I committed to painting full time. Being mostly self taught has come with it's challenges but it also has allowed me to learn from my mistakes and my victories. (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I am definitely what you would call a late bloomer at painting. I was heavily into fibre arts for twenty-five years, and in between that I dabbled in painting. I started taking painting workshops about ten years ago and would periodically pull out my easel and experiment with what I had learned. Then in 2013, I read about daily painting. I started with a small blank canvas every day; what a wonderful concept. I purchased fifty 6x6 inch canvas panels and started painting. In the beginning I did a lot of wiping and sweating but with time I gained confidence. Now the more I paint, the more I want to paint.

Cow 146 In the Clouds
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Jean's interview.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

I had many starts and stops but when I finally committed to painting on a regular basis things changed for me.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I am definitely most fond of painting with oils. For years I was afraid to even try them, but after much encouragement from a friend I took the plunge. I absolutely love everything about them, a perfect fit for my style of painting. As far a genre goes, I paint a variety of things but most days on my easel you will see an animal or a floral.

Hint of Spring
(click to view)

Who or what inspires you most?

I watch artist videos like other people watch movies (I call this a healthy addiction). I also find staying curious keeps me inspired.

What does procrastination look like for you?

I am ok without painting for a couple of days. I would say I don’t have procrastination when it comes to picking up my paint brush. What does happen though is that I will start a painting, end up wiping it and walking away from my easel until the next day.

Little Miss Big
(click to view)

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

I wake up at 6:00 every morning, head to the computer to answer emails and then grab my iPad, prop it up at the kitchen table and pull up the photo I am going to paint (which I have usually chosen the night before). I spend a good half hour just observing the photo while drinking my tea and knitting (morning routine). I then head to my easel, and yes, I do paint in my pyjamas everyday.

Simple Pleasures
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

We live in a very beautiful area with ocean and forest. I find that just walking my dog I get so many ideas for my paintings. I also paint many animal portraits so I take my camera everywhere I go and there always seems to be an opportunity to find a compelling subject. There is also a site I use sometimes that allows the use of their photos.

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

I feel very fortunate. I rarely feel burnout, I just feel excitement. After I finish one painting, I can’t wait to start the next.

Cow 148 Slurp
(click to view)

What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

For years, I was learning from other artists. Now, I am at a point where I am also learning from myself. Spending so much time alone just putting your vision onto a canvas, you really get to know yourself.

What makes you happiest about your art?

I think because I paint most days, my work has become more rhythmic and in sync… it is a wonderful feeling. Also, I paint one day a week at a studio in town so I am fortunate enough to see people's reactions to my art… there is nothing better.

Thanks, Jean!

© 2016 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Dana Cooper

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win Dana's painting, "Spring Roses" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Dana's DPW Gallery:

After retiring as a children's art teacher, award winning southern California painter Dana Cooper has taken her painting from a hobby to a more full time pursuit. Viewing the world around her now as a daily painter, she is grateful for the opportunity to see and paint the world through the eyes of an artist!

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

As a child, I enjoyed drawing and as an adult, I always found ways to express myself creatively. It wasn’t until my own children were in middle school that I seriously pursued painting instruction for myself. Even at that point, I thought it would only be a hobby. Once I started painting, however, I was bitten by the passion to create art and I have never looked back!

Spring Roses
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Dana's interview.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

Though I have experimented with watercolors, acrylics, gauche, charcoal and mixed media, traditional oil paint still is and probably always will be my favorite medium. Genres? Figures and portraiture are my first love but I can be inspired by most any and every subject, for me it’s always about the light.

Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away?

Watercolors fell away and have never found their way back but I still enjoy playing with gauche, oil sticks, charcoal and mixed medias. I have never worked with pastels, but that medium may be next.

The Painter
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

Abstract figurative is a genre that really appeals to me. Though I typically work on the small side, I have some larger, more abstracted figurative work in my studio that may or may not ever see the light of day, but the pursuit of something better keeps me working at it. I think play is important in art.

In the Moment
(click to view)

Who or what inspires you most?

Other artists awe and inspire me and push me to try new things.

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

Making time for my art has never been an issue. At one point in my painting career, I did paint every day which really helped me learn to see and mix color as well as get into good painting habits. Today, staying organized and on top of my life’s responsibilities helps to ensure studio time.

Among the Crowd
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Inspiration for paintings comes from a variety of sources. Travels and photos from those travels have been a huge source for ideas over the years. I always work from some sort of reference photo or from life. One often informs the other.

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

Burnout has been an issue at times but I try to paint through it and/or try new mediums and genres. I also try to take workshops from artists whose work engages me to kickstart a new direction.

Her Green Hat
(click to view)

What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

I am learning that creating a painting is so much more than being able to copy a reference. I am learning that my paintings are more interesting when I start with an intention or an emotion.  I am learning that edges are important and that creating an interesting value pattern is important. I am learning that painting is what centers me in ways I keep discovering. And what is most exciting to me is that I keep learning!

What makes you happiest about your art?

The process is what I enjoy most about painting and the results are secondary but when both things are in sync, it’s nirvana! I’m happy when my art connects to others.

Thanks, Dana!

© 2016 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Chantel Barber

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win Chantel's painting, "In Paris" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Chantel's DPW Gallery:

Chantel Lynn Barber resides in Bartlett, Tennessee. Her passion for art began flourishing at age twelve when she studied under various local San Diego artists. Chantel studied art while living in Rhode Island and Keflavik, Iceland. She remained active in local art communities. Chantel opened her own art business "Chantel's Originals" in 2006. Chantel has benefited from workshops and demonstrations with outstanding artists including Dawn Whitelaw and Michael Shane Neil. Chantel is the Tennessee State Ambassador for the Portrait Society of America and is also a member of the American Impressionist Society. (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

My earliest memories are of painting with children’s watercolor. When I was ten years old I was introduced to oil painting by a neighbor who was an artist. She gave me lessons once a week for the next three years.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

Most definitely. In the early years I struggled with feeling that I was not good enough and at one point I packed my art supplies away for two years. I also had times where health issues and raising two boys caused me to put my art on hold.

In Paris
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Chantel's interview.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I have worked in oil, charcoal, graphite, acrylic, soft pastel, mixed media and clay. I have explored painting landscapes, animals, buildings, still life, botanicals, and portraiture.

Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away?

Portraiture is definitely a genre that has stuck with me! I continue to enjoy plein air painting, along with creating botanical still lives. Without a doubt, acrylic is my favorite medium - closely followed by graphite and soft pastel. I just love working in these! I no longer work in oil.

Looking Up
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I continue to delve into the possibilities of the acrylic medium. I am drawn to it’s versatility. I want to develop techniques using acrylic to create plein air pieces on location.

Who or what inspires you most?

People inspire me! I was recently at the Grand Canyon and while everyone else was absorbed in the beautiful landscape, I was drawn to the variety of people all around. Every face was so interesting and unique. I cannot help but be captured by the human spirit and often find myself working out how to express this in paint.

Take Notice
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Cleaning! I clean and organize when I am avoiding the easel. I know a painting is not going well, or I am avoiding it, when I find I would rather clean a toilet than paint.

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

A daily routine is key to my painting almost every day. When in the studio I control distractions. I love to listen to audio books while I paint and a good story will ensure my presence at the easel.

On Your Shoulders
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I am a keen observer of things around me. Often seeing a display in a store or watching people walking by inspires me. I am always on the lookout for props to be modeled, hats in particular. Once I have a hat, I look for a model who brings emotion to the piece.

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid
burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

I learned early on that continuing to work on a painting which has lost it’s freshness is a formula for burnout. If a painting is not working, or the idea has faded, it is recycled or tossed. During the painting process, a stroke that is not reading right is never left on the canvas. It is removed and a new stroke laid down. I am not afraid to wipe a painting down to it’s ghost and start over rather than continue with an over-worked piece. It is not a waste of time and supplies because I have learned valuable lessons about what worked and what didn’t.

Being Me
(click to view)

What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

I find I am more concerned with the overall effect of a painting rather than getting caught up in the details. I am intrigued by how important controlling values are to the success of a painting. Everyday brings new challenges in this area.

What makes you happiest about your art?

This is a tough one to answer. I love the finished pieces and the way others are blessed through my art. But the process of getting to the finished piece is truly where my happy place is. There is nothing quite like standing at the easel, brush in hand, watching a piece emerge. I am grateful that God has shared this talent with me.

Thanks, Chantel!

© 2016 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Mike Peterson

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win Mike's painting, "Yellow Scarf" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Mike's DPW Gallery:

I grew up in northern Illinois where my interest in art took me to Chicago and the American Academy of Art. That was 1976 and at the time, my training focused on watercolor painting which I continued to pursue exclusively for about 15 years. Although I no longer do much watercolor painting, I appreciate its unique qualities and continue as a signature member of the Transparent Watercolor Society of America. (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I attended art school in Chicago at the American Academy of Art a long, long time ago.  The routine was fairly structured, life drawing in the morning and a course on fundamentals, including painting technique, in the afternoon.  My introduction to painting really began my second year when I studied watercolor painting with Irving Shapiro.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

After art school, I moved from Illinois to Austin, Texas with the intention of becoming a full-time artist.  After about a year, the difficulties of making a living became apparent and I started a “temporary” day job.  It lasted thirty years.  Since retiring five years ago, I have been a full-time painter.  Finally!!

Yellow Scarf
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Mike's interview.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I began my painting career as a watercolor painter and after about fifteen years decided to try something new.  I did not begin painting in oils immediately, but made the change gradually.  I started with acrylics, then water-soluble oils and after about two years took the final step.  These days, I paint exclusively in oils.

Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away?

Oil stuck.  Charcoal stuck.  I haven’t painted a watercolor in about twenty-five years.

Street Scene
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I expect to be learning about oil painting for another twenty-five years.  The variety of effects: transparency, opaqueness, soft edges, hard edges, temperature changes, color contrasts, the list goes on.  I am confident that I will never completely figure it out.  But that’s the challenge.

Who or what inspires you most?

I am inspired by many artists, past and present.  John Singer Sargent and Nicolai Fechin are two of my favorites.

Lady with Green Dress
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

I sometimes get stuck on a particular painting, but I don’t really procrastinate.  I start painting about 9 am and paint in my studio all day.  A couple times a week, I get together with a group of artists and paint from a model.  Painting from life and plein air has given a huge lift to my studio painting which for the most part is based on photos or studies.

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

Generally speaking, I think that if you enjoy doing something enough, you will find time to do it.  It may not always be as much time as you want, but even thirty minutes of sketching can be a satisfying experience.  It’s kind of like exercise, the hardest part is often getting started.

Boy at the Museum
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I take lots of pictures when I travel.  People, buildings, nature.  Many of those pictures never develop into paintings, but if I like something, I will usually do thumbnail sketches or value studies to start before beginning the painting.  With the basic values established, I am able to concentrate more on using color and playing with edges.

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

I am usually working on more than one painting at any given time.  If I lose interest or get stuck on a painting, I usually turn it to the wall and work on something else for a while.  I find that sometimes “not working on a painting” is more useful than mindless dabbing of paint on canvas.    

Girl with a Rose
(click to view)

What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

Currently, I am trying to focus on good design making better use of a few strong shapes with a variety of edges.

What makes you happiest about your art?

It doesn’t always make me happy, but it always fascinates me.  I start a painting with a plan, in charge, and invariably there comes a point when the painting takes on a life of its own.  At that point, the painting leads the way, but I am not always sure where we’re going.

Regardless, it’s never a boring ride!

Thanks, Mike!

© 2016 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Kaethe Bealer

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win Kaethe's painting, "The Kayaker" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Kaethe's DPW Gallery:

My name is Kaethe, pronounced "Kathy". I have been A DPW member artist since 2011. I have been painting since the age of 16 and have been on a serious course to become a better painter for the last 13 years. I have had the pleasure of studying with numerous accomplished artists. Peggi Kroll Roberts, Tim Horn and Stanley Goldstein have been my consistent teachers. I have also tried to absorb the wisdom of the art community. My mediums are acrylic and oil. I love painting light and shadow and hope that I can take the ordinary and emphasize its beauty. Thank you for looking at my work! (click to view gallery)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I loved art since I was able to pick up a crayon. When I was sixteen, growing up in Hawaii, my Mom signed me up for an adult painting class with a local artist, the late Joe Dawson.  We had fun painting his formula waterfalls, lava flows, beaches and palm trees. To my chagrin, my mom still has those paintings hung up on her walls.  (Please Mom, if you are reading this…)

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

I didn’t do much art during my college years, especially during graduate school. I have a Masters in Social Work. I have always taken some kind of art class and was a “Sunday painter” until 2002. I am not sure what happened at that time but my light switch went on. I was excited about painting and wanted to get better at it. I became obsessed and the obsession is even more intense today.

The Kayaker
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Kaethe's interview.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I have used oils, acrylics, water based oils, pastels, watercolors, collage and silk screening. I think I have painted almost every genre. I get bored painting the same thing.

Which ones have stuck and which ones have fallen away?

I paint with Golden Open acrylics and oil paints. I don’t really use anything else. My subject matter remains varied; cats, dogs, figures, interiors, flowers, cityscapes, seascapes, etc.

The Art Class
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I hate to say it but I don’t have any interest in other mediums. Is that a bad thing? I just want to be a better painter. If I had to pick something that kind of falls into the category of exploration, it would be changing up the sizes of paintings and the formats. I have been doing squares and mostly small works. I would like to do larger works. I am going to be working on a 24x42 in the near future which I am pretty excited about.

Who or what inspires you?

I live on a boat and everywhere I look, I see a painting. I see paintings when I go for walks with my dog and when I am driving down the street. (I only take photos at the stoplights!) I get inspired seeing other artists’ work. I am hooked on Instagram for that reason alone! I get inspired because of the encouragement I have received from other artists. I also get inspired by listening to art podcasts such as Savvy Painter, Artists Helping Artists, PleinAir, and the Jealous Curator.

Attentive
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

I once heard that procrastination often appears when you are trying to be perfect. I suppose when I am trying to find ways to not paint, it's spending time online. When I am ready to get over myself, I can start my work and not think about things too hard.

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

Even though I don’t have a lot of space, I do leave my table top easel set up with my palette box. I often paint in the mornings before going to my day job. This is especially true when I have deadlines. Weekends are usually reserved for painting. I try to paint 'til the evenings when I want to spend time with my husband.

The Commuters
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your painting?

I am constantly observing, taking photos, playing with compositions. I use photo editing tools to help me arrive at an idea. I have thousands of photos that I periodically look through. I look until something excites me.

How do you keep art fresh ? What techniques have helped you avoid burn out and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

I give myself permission to take breaks. I think they are purposeful. I need to pace myself and not feel like a painting machine.  I use my breaks to ponder new ideas, look at other art or just do something entirely different away from art, like an art vacation.

The Flower Table
(click to view)

What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

I think I am learning how to talk about my work. I have been such a visual person. In my work as a social worker, I am focused on listening to others. My brain is not wired to elaborate and especially not to elaborate about me or my work. Opportunities such as this interview have been presenting themselves to me lately.  I recently did a demo for the Tracy Art League (thanks Vince!) and have a talk scheduled for my “30 Paintings in 30 Days” at the Harrington Gallery in Pleasanton, CA. I think there is something in the universe that’s telling me to develop the language around my art.

What makes you happiest about your art?

When someone tells me they have a connection with one of my paintings. That a painting spoke to them in some way and perhaps provided them with a smile. That makes me happy!

Thanks, Kaethe!

© 2016 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Shannon Bauer

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win Shannon's painting, "Don't Mind If It Rains" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Shannon's DPW Gallery:

My name is Shannon Bauer. I was born in Michigan and now live right outside of Cincinnati, OH. I've always had an interest in art and loved to draw and paint as a child. I took my first formal painting class when I was in college as an art major with a graphic design concentration. I've kept at it ever since, but now find myself most often painting with acrylics. I appreciate the quick-drying time, as a lot of my paintings have layers and layers underneath until the painting comes to a place I am happy with. Painting seems to be the most effective way for me to clear my thoughts. And now I just can't seem to stop!

Please feel free to follow me on Instagram @sbauerart. Thank you! (click to view gallery)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I was always interested in art as a child. I transitioned into painting during my college years as an art major with a graphic design concentration. Studio courses for drawing and painting were my favorite and gave me the opportunity to discover a true passion.

Don't Mind If It Rains
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Shannon's interview.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

I have had several periods of time where my work seems to come to a standstill.  Even though I enjoyed painting in college, I didn't make it a priority in my life until years later.  Now I try to paint at least a couple times a week, and the quality of the work that's produced on those days seems to greatly impact how eager I am to try another painting. I often have times of frustration, but I just push on!

Olive No. 13
(click to view)

Describe your journey through mediums and genres.

I've experimented with Oils, Acrylics, Pencil, and Pastel. Landscapes have always been my favorite to paint, but I try to branch out here and there, painting animals and still life subjects. I've been painting solely with acrylics for a few years now.  In the beginning, the drying time required quite an adjustment, but now I feel it helps me to paint faster and fuss less (on a good day).

Because it's been years since I've painted seriously with oils, I keep wanting to give it another try just to see what unexpected discoveries lie on that path! I'd also like to try to approach more cityscapes and larger projects.

Who or what inspires you most?

I'm inspired by vast spaces of clouds, hills, oceans, and all nature really.  When I feel that I need an extra boost of inspiration I like to look up the work of Stuart Shills, Jon Redmond, Eric Aho, Mark Bohne, Oliver Akers Douglas, Liza Hurst... and the list keeps growing.

First Things
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Playing scrabble on my phone against my husband, checking out social media, and sometimes cleaning.

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

I always have a space in the weekend when my family knows I will be busy painting for a couple hours.  Sometimes at night I have enough energy to sketch out the bones of a painting and that gives me a little momentum for the next day if the baby decides to nap!

Sydney
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

A lot of my landscapes come from photos I snap on my phone when my husband is driving and I'm staring out the car window.  I do take artistic liberties... Sometimes the most beautiful cloud formation is hanging over an unappealing parking lot.

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

I am no master of this, but I can say when I start to feel burnout I usually switch to another subject.  If I haven't painted a landscape I'm happy with for awhile, I'll start taking pictures of my cat or buildings and go from there.

Later That Year
(click to view)

What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

I always wanted to be able to paint loosely and somehow still have every stroke look intentional and flawless.  That approach hasn't worked out for me. Right now I feel I am learning to embrace imperfection. When my hand becomes tight and too controlling I am usually not very happy with the product. In contrast, sometimes the imperfections are the most interesting parts.

What makes you happiest about your art?

When I get in the zone and I'm listing to my music, I can forget about absolutely anything that was bothering me prior to painting. It's a nice escape that helps me feel more balanced as a person.  As an introvert, my art helps me to connect to people that I may not otherwise be able to connect to, and that always makes me feel good.

Thanks, Shannon!

© 2016 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Shari Buelt

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win Shari's painting, "Surfer Boy" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Shari's DPW Gallery:

I grew up surrounded by the beautiful, tropical colors unique to Hawaii. My love of the ocean continued after moving to the Pacific Northwest and discovering the Oregon coast and the Salish Sea. Many of my painting express the beauty I am surrounded by daily. (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I have always loved art, but mostly dabbled in drawing, ceramic sculpture, and decorative painting.  When our youngest daughter was about six months old, I decided to check out a local painting class.  That was fourteen years ago and my passion was ignited!

Surfer Boy
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Shari's interview.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

Definitely!  The longest "stop" was when we began home schooling our girls and moved onto our sailboat.  That was about seven years of very little painting.  When we weren't schooling the girls and the weather was nice, I'd get out my easel and paint outside on the back deck of our boat.  Also, while we were living aboard, my husband gave me a "vacation" for Christmas every year.  I would go away for a few days and stay somewhere by the sea, and paint my heart out.  So I had little plugs of painting to keep the embers of creativity warm.  Four years ago, we moved off our boat and into our house in Olympia, Washington.  It didn't take long for me to start painting again on a semi- regular basis. About a year and a half ago, while browsing through various art magazines, I saw an article about Carol Marine's Daily Painting.  It was like a light bulb went off in my head! Painting small and often... Genius!  I ordered her book and the rest is history.

Heron of the Sea
(click to view)

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

My first few paintings I did back in 2002 were done in acrylics.  It didn't take long for me to give oils a try and fall head over heals in love with their buttery consistency and richness of color.  When we decided to move onto our sailboat, I knew I would not be able to continue my love affair with oils;  The dry time would be ridiculously slow as well as not having space to store them as they dried.  I also didn't want to subject our kids to the odors of the various solvents.  Soooo, back to acrylics I went.  Through the years, I learned to love the flexibility of acrylic paints and the dry time can't be beat!  I fantasize of painting with oils again, so it's definitely something that could be showing up in my paintings in the future.

The Sand Man and Beyond
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Housework, laundry, and playing with the dog!  I am terrible about this.  I can't stand dirty clothes piling up or dust bunnies accumulating around the house.  A good friend of mine sent me this wonderful quote, "Don't let housework stop you from achieving your dreams".  I try to remember that when I'm vacuuming instead of painting.  As for our dog, Salty, I'm a sucker for him, so there's no helping that!

Plump Little Robin
(click to view)

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

The biggest thing for me is prioritizing my artwork.  It has to be on the top of my list, or I will whittle away my time with nonsense.  Getting a routine down really helps me too. After our girls are off to school and I've walked the dog, I make coffee and get to work.  If I put off painting until the afternoon... forget it!  It won't happen.

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Most of my ideas come from my surroundings.  Whether it be when we are out sailing, walking about, volunteering at the dog shelter, watching our girls grow...

Dad and Daughter Beach Day
(click to view)

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

Striving to be better with each painting helps me as well as mixing it up.  I don't stick to one subject matter.  I paint what inspires me that day.  I always want to have fun and feel gratification from my work.  Once it becomes a chore, the spark is lost for me.

What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

I am trying to loosen up a bit in my painting.   I want to be a little less realistic and a bit more impressionistic.

Thanks, Shari!

© 2016 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Nicki Ault

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.


To enter to win Nicki's painting, "Road Closed go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Nicki's DPW Gallery:

Like many, I have loved art my whole life, but for various reasons I have only recently begun to pursue this passion. In August 2009, as an exploration of this artistic side, I began my blog "Nicki Ault: Me, Myself And Who Am I?". In Dec. 2009 I was fortunate enough to join the St.George Ave. Artists' Group in Saskatoon and happily set up my first studio space. In 2013 the building was sold and we had to move. Three months later a new studio location was established with eleven Saskatoon artists; I have been painting at Studio On 20th since early 2014. It has truly become a home away from home. I love working in the studio, but I am a huge fan of painting en plein air, in particular, I love painting in the northern Boreal forest of Saskatchewan. My 8" x 8" original oil paintings are carried exclusively by Darrell Bell Gallery in Saskatoon. My work can be found in private collections in Canada, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S.A. (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

When I turned thirty, I realized I didn’t want to let any more time pass without pursuing my love of art, so I actually started out by taking figure drawing classes. Two years later, I decided it was time to start painting so I chose to immerse myself in a week long class at a campus in northern Saskatchewan (Emma Lake Kenderdine Campus) using acrylics for the first time. I really didn’t know what I was doing; I didn’t even know what gesso was or why it was on my supply list. I learned a lot from the group critique sessions, discovered plein air painting and loved the instructor, but unfortunately I didn’t gain much technical help. Rather than feeling defeated, I came home with a burning desire to learn more and I immediately signed up for a technical painting class.

Road Closed
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Nicki's interview.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

Yes. After two years of taking several classes to learn more about painting with acrylics, I discovered I was having my first baby. Once he arrived in 2002, painting was put on the back-burner and after his brother arrived in 2004 it was put on the back burner’s back burner! Being a new mother pretty much consumed me and I was very sleep deprived, so making art just seemed too impossible energy-wise. I ended up being away from art for five years until my husband encouraged me to return to the northern Saskatchewan art campus in 2007. That experience was transformative for me; I realized I had been ignoring a vital side of myself and one way or another art had to become a priority. Since then, there have been minor breaks in my painting journey, but I think they have just been the ebb and flow of a creative life.

The Ceremony of Fall
(click to view)

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

Mediums: graphite, charcoal, oil pastels, acrylic and oil paint
Genres: figure/portraits, landscapes, floral still lifes, abstract reflections

Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away?

My main love is landscape painting- it has definitely stuck- and I seem to reach for my oils way more than acrylics now.

Golden Reflection, Lynx Lake
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I feel like my entire foray into floral still lifes was exploratory- the subject (flowers), the medium (I layered oil paint and oil pastels over acrylic washes!) and the support (terraskin paper). I feel like I have some unfinished business and would like continue to experiment with these ideas.

Who or what inspires you most?

My kids certainly inspire me to keep trying to make this art thing happen. I could make a very long list of who inspires me and it would include musicians and authors, but for the sake of a focused answer, I will say that I have been most significantly inspired by early 20th century Canadian painters Tom Thomson (my favourite) and the Group of Seven (especially A.Y. Jackson and Fred Varley). However, I am perhaps most inspired by the artists in my community- the “real” people I know who are actively engaged in making art and bravely sharing their work with the outside world. It is not an easy thing to do. My beloved Saskatchewan landscape provides endless inspiration for new paintings; the northern boreal forest, fresh lakes, big skies, open prairies and wild grasslands. Most recently my studio mate’s new acreage has inspired a whole new series that has me very excited about painting!

On the Edge of Canola
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Scanning social media, chatting with my studio mate, eating Lindt Sea Salt dark chocolate bars.

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

Actually scheduling in painting time on the family calendar. Occasionally, sending lunch to school with my kids (rather than feeding them at home) so that I can spend longer stretches of time at the studio.

The Descent
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Ideas come to me by getting out into the landscape- drives in the country, hikes in the forest or on prairie trails, and even boat rides in the summer! I take tons of photos to use as resource back at the studio.

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

Hmmmm, I am not sure I have always been successful at this. When things feel stale or forced (this happened earlier this year) I have learned to allow myself to take a break from creating so I can recharge. Instead, I look at art books, visit with friends to “talk art”, I go out and experience the landscape to practice “seeing”… and I take naps!

Flutter By
(click to view)

What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

Right now, I am learning to use neutrals in order to make colour really pop and I am experimenting with different layering and scratching effects in my underpaintings. I think right now I am learning to be more focused on the process of painting rather than being focused on the outcome.

What makes you happiest about your art?

That when I am making my art I feel like the most authentic me I know.

Thanks, Nicki!

© 2016 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Gilles Poulizac

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win Gilles' painting, "Wood Boat" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

Special note: This interview has been translated from French.

From Gilles' DPW Gallery:

A French painter born in 1970, I am a graduate of Fine Arts in 1999. I live and teach painting at Vannes in Brittany. I teach concepts of values, composition, light being important to make a "good painting" but it must also expresses spontaneity. I simplify the forms for an optimal atmosphere; "suggestion rather than detailing." (click to view gallery)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I started painting in a place called Saint Maur in Paris. I was a teenager and passionate about painting.

Wood Boat
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Gilles' interview.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

Once I caught the virus, I never stopped painting.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with? Which ones have "stuck"and which ones have fallen away?

I started by drawing a lot! My Fine Arts education emphasized the practice of drawing. I tried acrylic and collage but found that the mediums most suitable for me are watercolors and oil. I prefer oil for its "passages", its cast, its impasto. Watercolor allows me to work easily.

La Mobe Bleue
(click to view)

Right now, I practice mostly watercolor. I try to work in the studio, to translate the themes I usually find with oil. I watch a lot watercolor artists who are on the front stage (Joseph Zbukvic, David Taylor, Jhon Vardley, etc.) They are very inspiring.

Village
(click to view)

Who or what inspires you most?

In fact, I'm a real sponge. Many painters inspire me and influence in my work. My favorite has long been Edward Hopper. I also look up enormously to impressionist painters, Edgar Degas, Wislow Homer, and John Sargent.

À la Cuisine
(click to view)

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

I like to approach painting full of different themes to avoid monotony.

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Light especially will trigger the subject, object or landscape work.

Fauteuil
(click to view)

What makes you happiest about your art?

It is the intoxicating side! I listen to music while painting in my studio. When everything works, it seethes, I cast off and I paint without difficulties, it's almost like an innate gesture.

Thanks, Gilles!

© 2016 Sophie Marine