DPW Spotlight Interview: Martha Lever

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

To enter to win Martha's painting, "Orange You Glad I'm Pink" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Martha's DPW Gallery:

Hi... My name is Martha Lever and I'm from Jacksonville, FL. I have been an artist for thirty-two years, I started off as a calligrapher and through the years I developed into a lettering artist and designer. I have studied with many world-renowned calligrapher teachers including the calligrapher to the Vatican as well as with several teachers who are contributors of the St. John’s Bible Project. (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

My art journey began about thirty-four years ago with my first calligraphy class. I love lettering and decided to pursue this art and find the best teachers. I studied with many wonderful calligraphers and soon started to paint backgrounds and images to go with the quotes I had written. Gouache is the medium I used to letter in color therefore mixing colors early on was something that I had to learn. This mixing of colors and adding images to my lettering eventually led to a progression of painting with watercolor, acrylics, and oils.

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

Yes, I have had a few stops (mostly slowdowns actually) in my painting career, but usually those stops were moving me in another direction with a new medium. About three or four years into my oil painting career, I experienced a block so severe that I didn’t know if I would ever paint again. Nothing profound caused this block although the naysayer monkey on my back and my inner critic probably were partly to blame.

Many months went by and I began to pull out of it when I took an oil painting workshop from Dee Beard Dean in St. Simons, GA. Also in Carol Marine’s book, “Daily Painting,” she included a section on blocked painters which made me see that this happens to even the best of painters.

Orange You Glad I'm Pink
(click to view)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I love experimenting with different mediums and have enjoyed them all, but I currently love oil painting and can never see myself leaving that. I enjoy gouache because even though it’s a watercolor, you can layer the colors, even lights over dark. This is a great way for me to paint a thumbnail to plan out an oil painting. I also love transparent watercolors and acrylics. Before I started using oils, I was heavily into the mixed media genre and stayed there for many years. I have also dabbled in encaustics and watercolor batiks.

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

I really do think that my first love will always be lettering and calligraphy. I letter all the time and recently addressed all of my son’s wedding invitations. That was a labor of love for sure. I probably won’t pursue encaustics, so I can safely say that one fell away actually before it got started. I still use acrylics quite often and also watercolors. So, I can’t say that any one of those have fallen completely away.

Not So Mellow Yellow
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

When you are immersed in the mixed media world, there are many mediums that lend itself to this genre. So at some point or other, I have probably tried most of them, except for pastels. I have seen some beautiful work by pastel artists, so maybe pastels is something that I will one day explore.

Who or what inspires you most?

Oh my, there are so many people that have inspired me along the way in every genre I have been through. It would take up several paragraphs to name the people that have influenced me the most, but I will name a few from my current oil painting career. Carol Marine was the very first influence on me to start daily painting. I would stalk her endlessly and longingly devoured her daily paintings on her blog. I have never had the opportunity to take any of her workshops, but her book, Daily Painting, as I mentioned before, is one of the best out there.

I have also just returned from probably the best painting workshop I have ever taken from Melanie Morris called, “Fast and Furious Painting.” I also admire the works of Barbara Flowers, Trisha Adams and Maggie Siner. Then there are the Masters of course; Sargent, Van Gogh and Cezanne just to name a few. And for the “what” that inspires me, it’s seeing the beautiful paintings from these wonderful painters that inspires me.

Tulip Spray
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Procrastination takes on many forms for me. Usually it’s cruising Dick Blick or Cheap Joe’s for a new paint color or paintbrush that I definitely don’t need. Sometimes, it’s a complete reorganization of all my paints when I know that they will be quickly become unorganized again as I paint the next painting. Sometimes, it’s a cleanout of the art closet. Most of my procrastination is art related which must be my unconscious, distorted way of minimizing my guilt for not painting.

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

Throughout the years, these techniques have changed. At the moment, this is the technique that seems to be working for me: the last thing I do for the day before I go to bed is set up a still with the flowers I have bought that day from the local market. I plan the size of canvas I will use and draw it out with charcoal ready for the next day’s painting. I have a terrible time leaving it there because I want to jump in and paint it. But, if I did that my creative adrenalin would start flowing and I would be up until all hours. So, I let it be and go to bed looking forward to painting that still life the next morning.

Blue and Beautiful
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I would like to say that I walk around in nature and look for beautiful things that inspire me to paint, but I must admit that I don’t like bugs, heat, cold or carrying heavy things. In other words, I don’t plein air paint. In the beginning, when I started with oils, I would spend hours on the internet just trying to develop different ideas that I might like to paint. At first, I only painted from photographs that either I had taken or I had found from the “Paint My Photo” copyright free site. But lately, the beautiful flowers that I buy and set up in my studio have inspired me more than anything.

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

Oh my, keeping it fresh, vibrant and engaging! Therein lies the challenge for any daily painter for sure. Overworking and fiddling too much with my paintings are the biggest hindrance in retaining the freshness and vibrancy of a painting. I know when I am overworking and sometimes I have to say to myself, “Put the brush down and back away slowly.” Lately, to avoid burnout, I have been giving myself a time limit of about an hour to an hour and a half to complete the painting. If I hang in there too much longer than that, the painting and I both suffer.

I'm Going This Way
(click to view)

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

In keeping with the previous question, I feel that as I paint daily I am learning more and more how to keep it fresh with vibrant colors, better values and shapes that read correctly. It’s a process and a journey but one that is really fun.

What makes you happiest about your art?

To answer this question, I have to refer to a book that made a great impression on me called, “Outliers, The Story of Success” by Malcolm Gladwell. In his book he sites many interesting people who are successful because of one thing—they have put in their ten thousand hours (or ten years) of study and practice to become the masters of their craft.

The happiest thing for me now is that I can see that my paintings have taken a turn for the better. I am happier when I paint; I am more confident when I paint and goodness gracious—I am enjoying it! I have experienced a few years of agony and ecstasy in learning this art of oil painting, but I might be about half way in on my ten thousand hours and maybe, just maybe, I will continue this journey of daily painting and get to be an Outlier! That would be ecstasy for sure!

Thanks, Martha!

© 2016 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Mary Jabens

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

To enter to win Mary's painting, "Sunlight in the Canyon" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Mary's DPW Gallery:

I love living in Southern Utah! We have desert, mountains and all four seasons is my description to people who ask. The diversity in what to paint each day can take several minutes to decide: red rocks, trees, big vistas, close up to mother nature, it is endless. And when my dog, Max, comes along, it makes an even better way to spend the day! Of course, he is in training regarding patience in painting in one spot for awhile!! (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I started with crayons when I was little and kept going! During an illness when I was younger, my mom bought me my first set of paints/brushes and lessons. I was hooked forever. Later in life, a friend interested me in painting outdoors (plein air). I immediately knew this was a perfect match for me.

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

Yes, I think all creative souls have the “ebb and flow” of art. Creating has always been a healing mechanism for me so that makes it even more personal. I moved a lot based on my husband’s work. That brought many new places to see. Some of these moves inspired me and some not so much. When I just couldn’t paint, I spent my time absorbing art and finding my way. I think I will always have starts and stops, it is part of my life’s rhythm.

Sunlight in the Canyon
(click to view)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I paint in oils now but have done watercolor, acrylic, pen and ink, and colored pencils. I am an impressionist painter in oils/watercolor and more of a realist in the pen/pencils. There are so many mediums to delve into, I have to stay focused or I would be hopping from one to another and never accomplish anything!

Which ones have stuck and which ones have fallen away?

Oils stuck with me since that first childhood lesson. I may have used other mediums along the way but oils were my love. I tried acrylics, just never made a connection with them. I would probably do more watercolors if I didn’t have to plan so much. I like to let my mind wander when painting and watercolor is not receptive to that path!

Rain in the Vallery - Silver Ree
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I am intrigued by encaustic, gauche and fiber media. I took a bookmaking workshop that was astounding. The possibilities of combining found objects and created art at the same time is endless.

Who or what inspires you most?

I have several close friends who are my mentors/friends and crazy painting buddies. They, along with past friends/mentors, let me see their world as they see it through their mediums and that is incredible. With today’s media access to art, I am inspired daily by new artists and their work, many I would never have known about if it weren’t for the internet. Growing up in Montana I have always loved Edgar Payne, Thomas Moran, Charlie Russell and way too many others to list. I am in awe of Jill Carver, Mark Bodges, Brian Blood, Scott Christensen and Tibor Nagy.

Morning Sunshine and Mountain Daisies
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

I worry too much about everything to be a successful procrastinator. I drive myself crazy making sure my commitments are done ahead of schedule… well maybe except for housework!

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

I work full time so painting time is always a challenge. Since my husband died I am in a whole new world. It has taken me a bit to figure out how to keep my life going. His gift to me in the last few years was to handle much of homelife, freeing evening/weekend time to paint. It is a daily challenge to find that normalcy I had before. Now I tend to let my “other” responsibilities override my time for art. Knowing that of myself, I am learning to be selfish about painting. Defining what is important helps me put the guilt away and go paint! I find my emotions and state of mind are on a much more even keel when I paint often. That is the incentive now.

Spring in the Canyons
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Living in Southern Utah has endless subject matter. I start driving and am cognizant of “glimpses.” A quick shot of light or a shadow shape, these are my favorite. Color or combinations of colors that scream my name make me turn around to find them. When I need additional inspiration, I look through my photos and paintings reliving the thoughts and feelings at the time I was there.

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

That is a hard question. It is easy to fall in the pattern of repetition painting: scenes I have painted many times and require little input from me, just memory. To avoid this, I change up everything: places/subjects and time of day. I paint in every season and all types of weather. Color is a catalyst which spurs me to find new ways to express what I am seeing. I have a friend who loves to paint everything. He constantly pushes me to expand my painter’s mind and abilities.

Cedar Breaks - Spring Flowers
(click to view)

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

Seems like so much, my head is a jumble sometimes. Right now it would be edges. They are so elusive yet so important. I am also working on variation - light to dark, warm to cool in each object and the painting as a whole. Composition, and keeping the viewer’s eye moving throughout the painting.

What makes you the happiest about your art?

Setting up my gear and pushing paint makes me smile. I love it when a viewer’s comments are exactly what I was thinking and hoping to convey. Painting lets me focus on the process and set aside life’s issues for a little while. More importantly, painting heals me. It gives me an outlet for the negativity of the day and replaces it with hope and joy of life.

Thanks, Mary!

© 2016 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Rebecca Helton

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

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

From Rebecca's DPW Gallery:

Family, friends, faith, and now, finally, painting most days.

It's been a circuitous route! I can't remember not being interested in drawing and others' artwork, so I majored in studio art in college. However, my other great interest was science. The next 35 years were spent raising kids and with careers in medicine and biology. I loved browsing art museums, but I drew and painted only intermittently. I got back to it and received my MFA in 2009. I was fortunate to be able to teach both art and biology, but still crazy-busy! Finally, I'm back where I started, painting and sketching almost daily. Each day is a new beginning. A new day to see, to learn, to experiment, to struggle, and to enjoy the process. I'm blessed! (click to view gallery)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting. Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

I first started painting in high school and college, though not a lot. I majored in studio art, but was mostly interested in sculpture at the time. My career took me in a very different path, so I rarely painted for a very long while. I finally took it up again several years ago, but still, between work and family, it was quite intermittent. In January this year, I was able to start painting nearly daily. It took several months to get any skills back, and I started posting here on DPW in May.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I have worked in acrylics, oils, watercolors, and pastels. I've painted just about every genre at one time or another. Generally, though, my work is representational. Nonrepresentational work just doesn't feel like me.

Asparagus Adorned
(click to view)

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

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

Currently, I'm working almost exclusively in oils, with a pastel painting on occasion. At some point I'll probably work on some watercolor paintings again, but one thing at a time. I still have so much to learn about oils and just painting in general. One of my favorite quotes is by Winston Churchill. "When I get to heaven, I mean to spend a considerable portion of my first million years in painting, and so to get to the bottom of the subject." I haven't put in my first million years yet.

The past few months, I've been primarily doing still life paintings, along with a few landscapes and reworking some old photos. I'm really interested in landscape paintings right now, but most of those I've done so far have been trashed or wiped out (this is where you're supposed to laugh with me).

Egg and Silver
(click to view)

Who inspires you most?

This is difficult to answer – there are so very many wonderful painters. Currently, I'm really enjoying Catherine Kehoe, Tim Kennedy, David Roth, and several of the wonderful artists here on DPW! I never tire of looking at work by Euan Uglow, Richard Diebenkorn, Edouard Manet, Joaquin Sorolla, John Singer Sargent (particularly his works from the Middle East and North Africa), and so many others.

What does procrastination look like for you?

A fully-read book returned to the library.

By Tremaine Shelter
(click to view)

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

I do best with routine. I start painting shortly after my granddaughter leaves for school and stay at it until life interrupts. Some days it works out very well; other days not so great. I'm an artist, but like everyone, I also have a lot of other competing roles. Balancing is difficult, so I try not to get too obsessive about sticking to routine. On the other hand, I do manage to do at least something with painting nearly every day.

Blueberry Minions
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

It's corny and trite, but I really do get excited when I notice something different about the way light is hitting an object; when that happens, I want to share it. For me it generally starts with the purely visual. But sometimes as I work on a painting, I start seeing symbolism or a new meaning, which in turn may lead me to change the image. I occasionally discuss this in my blog and comments on DPW, but mostly leave it to the viewer to insert symbolism or just enjoy the visual concept.

Muriel and Mother, 1926
(click to view)

What makes you happiest about your art?

I tend to go through periods when very little seems to work out as I'm pushing to change a habit or learn something new. It feels like I'm just slogging through mud for a while, documenting my failures with a photo and then wiping them out. But when I finally do something I am happy with, whether because it turned out well or just that I really learned something, it's like hitting the lottery! It makes all that slogging surprisingly worthwhile.

Thanks, Rebecca!

© 2016 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Setsuko Lawson

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

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

From Setsuko's DPW Gallery:

I was born in Japan, but have been in US for almost 30 years. I try to paint a few paintings or drawings a week. It will be great if I can do a daily painting but when I have a daytime job, a few paintings a week are good to me. I love to take walk in neighboring parks and woods, and sketch or take photos for my future art works. When I encounter the great light or shadow effects, I will be excited and can not wait to start working with it. I also like to paint the still life, especially the transparent objects like porcelain, antique glass, and antique marbles. I simply enjoy creating images.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I was born and raised in Japan.  After I received my degree in American literature, I decided to improve my English by taking some courses in the United States. But, I did not like studying English in the classroom as a language any more. Since I always liked to paint and draw, but did not have many chances, I decided to take some art classes and experience the language among native English speakers. Unfortunately, I did not improve my English skills very much. On the bright side, I found out that I really like drawing and painting.

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

I did not ever totally stop painting, but I was not productive at all for decades. Probably because I was not happy with what I was doing, and was not eager to create new art works. Recently, I realized that I needed to paint and draw many images if I was ever to get anywhere artistically. Even if it meant creating many not wonderful works in order to improve. Every day now, I am striving to create better paintings. I know I am improving, and I am at point that I am very happy just holding a brush. Painting has become pleasurable for me now.

Bottles
(click to view)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I usually switch between oil and acrylic. I have worked on many surfaces including canvas, paper, and different types of boards and panels.

Which ones have “stuck” and which ones have fallen away?

Sometimes my paintings have compositional problems. If this is the case, I can put a painting away for a while. I know I can go back later and most likely find my compositional solutions. But if the painting does not have any charm in it, then I will not spend additional time to fix it, instead I will go on to a new one.  I have to feel that “spark” in my work to be completely satisfied.

Afternoon Shadow
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I like to work gold leaf into drawing.  Also, I am working more now with digital arts.

Who or what inspires you most?

There are so many contemporary, incredible artists. I am awed by many of them. I like to find the most comfortable chair in the bookstore and keep reading and looking at many artists’ works and their strategies. The magazines and books are my friends. My favorite masters I always go back to are George Inness, Ingres, Rembrandt, and also a Russian painter named Nicholas Anokhin.

Summer Evening
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

I am a queen of procrastination. Therefore, I do not give myself a chance to do it. After my husband goes to work around 6:30, I sit and start to work. That is it.


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

I do not have any techniques but my schedule helps. I usually teach the night classes at the nearby college so that I have just about all day for myself.

Old Glass Marbles
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

It is the hardest thing for me to decide what to paint next. I usually spend time taking photographs and keep them in the right categories. Later, I check them with a fresh eye and create the composition using Photoshop.

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

I try to add drama or some stories behind the image. It doesn't need to be anything big. It can be a contrast between values, textures, or shapes. Also, I like to switch the medium. Digital art especially gives me a new attitude toward image making.

Alice
(click to view)

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

I've learned a lot of techniques, skills, and theories. Now I am learning how to apply those wonderful things to my works.

What makes you happiest about your art?

These days painting and drawing has become therapeutic to me. If I can sit and work on my painting or drawing, I am a very happy person.

Thanks, Setsuko!

© 2016 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Christine Bayle

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

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

From Christine's DPW Gallery:

I live in Toulouse in South France. I love both plein air and studio practice, and above all drawing and sketching. Feel free to email if you have any questions.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I have no academic background. I started with drawing life models and my first training for painting was as a decorative painter.

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

I'm still a young painter (!) and wish to become a very old one (in many years...)

Dried Sunflowers
(click to view)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I paint at home and therefore like to avoid smelling solvent. For a few years, I mostly used watermixable oils and acrylics. I love monoprinting too. When I sketch outdoors or from life I love to do experiments and combine all kinds of media like watercolor, graphite, crayola, pastel, ink, etc

From My Window
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I would explore any support or media that I come across.

Who or what inspires you most?

What is touching me the most in painting is more the emotional than the narrative part. However, I've never been attracted by pure abstraction. I need "something concrete" and based on observation.

Cat for Mural Painting
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Sometimes I feel right from the first brushstrokes that nothing good will happen and I need to clean my mind until the next day.

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

I always have all my material ready to use which allows quick installation (including a box keeping paints fresh, and all supplies stored in a sketchbox.) I also never go out without a sketchbook so I never loose an opportunity to practice (even in a traffic jam or waiting rooms!)

Entrance Room, Morning
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Mostly, from everyday life, people, landscape and animals around me. Sketching is a great resource and I have many thumbnails patiently waiting, or sometimes written descriptions. I find that the more I paint, the more ideas I have.

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

I rediscovered the possibilities of acrylics recently which is helping me to clean and affîrm my color choices. I think painting should never be boring; if it starts to become so, I go outside for a walk.

Sweet Story
(click to view)

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

Most difficult is to remain self confident. I remind myself that nothing is permanent.

What makes you happiest about your art?

Sometimes when I put a patch of color next to another and both work perfectly together, I feel like life is worth living!

Thanks, Christine!

© 2016 Sophie Marine