Thursday, January 25, 2018

DPW Spotlight Interview: Kent Brewer

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings. To enter to win Kent's painting, "Shaped By Wind" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Kent's DPW Gallery:

Waxahachie resident and native Texan Kent Brewer cannot remember a time when art wasn't a part of his life. But it wasn't until he decided to join a local group of plein air painters in the summer of 2007 that he began to paint more consistently. A few years later he decided to try his hand at oils, retiring the watercolors after a 30-year run. "Switching to oils, combined with painting outdoors, was life-changing for me, as-far-as quality and quantity of work. Not to mention that it allowed me to plug-in to the community of artists that call this area home." (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

Painting was one aspect of my education in commercial art. Once I decided to take the plunge (investing in paint and brushes) I was in it for the long haul. 

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

I have had a few. My paintings were “occasional” for a few years. I would get inspired for a few months and then it would subside. It truly fell off in 1990 when I lost my little girl in a traffic accident. I had little desire to do anything art related for about 10 years. It eventually came back to me. But it wasn’t until I joined a local art association in 2009 that I began painting on a regular basis, especially en plein air.

Shaped By Wind
(click to view)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

Watercolor, pastel, pen and ink, colored pencil, charcoal and oils.

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

Watercolors have completely fallen away since I started using oils in 2010. I love their forgiveness. Watercolors were far too challenging for my liking, even though I did them for 30 years.

No. 268 - Townes
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I think I will keep on exploring oils. Maybe pastels on occasion since they have similar technical approaches.

Who or what inspires you most?

Contrasts inspire me the most. Lights against darks, warms next to cools. When I see these elements in nature or man-made objects, I get inspired.

Downhill Dogleg
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Procrastination, for me, is probably more of a lack of confidence, or not being sure of myself that I can “pull it off” as subject matter, so I stand there and question myself.  But really, there is no reason to procrastinate if you love creating something awesome. Procrastination is for paying bills.

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

My technique is to continue to have success and to continue to grow as an artist. I know that if I don’t grow, I might regress. And having a studio with everything I need at hand doesn’t hurt.

No. 235 Camp Misery
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

As in my answer to what inspires me, I try to find subjects that have a lot of contrasts. I get my studio ideas from personal photos that I have taken.

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

I think you keep things fresh by following a process that has led to some success in previous works. Whatever has worked for you in the past gives you confidence to keep on creating more. Burnout, for me, happens when I’m not properly planning a painting from concept to finish. At this point I tend to lose my way and get bored.

Roadside Recliner No. 179
(click to view)

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

I’m learning that I have a long way to go to be where I want to be. But, I can see mostly progress so that's a good thing.

What makes you happiest about your art?

I think there is something kind of special about finishing a painting that didn’t exist in history until the moment you signed it, knowing that at that moment and going forward, you would hate for something to happen to it. Creating something from nothing makes me happy.

Thanks, Kent!

© 2018 Sophie Marine

Thursday, January 18, 2018

DPW Spotlight Interview: Douglas Barron

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings. To enter to win Douglas's painting, "Rose of Sharon" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Douglas' DPW Gallery:

Michigan Artist, Douglas J Barron is a 1982 graduate of Frankenmuth, his home town. The artist paints oil on canvas, en plein air and studio, and practices his technique to convey a sense of immediacy and harmony that we feel within our natural environment. He applies the strengths of his medium to achieve rich surfaces and vibrant hues of favorite subjects; sky, water, flowers and views of the Michigan countryside.Often you will find Douglas gardening and raising chickens on his farm, sources of inspiration for much of his work.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting. 

I enjoyed art classes in High School but never pursued it. In March of 2016, I was reunited with my art teacher, Alan Maciag, (alanmaciag.com) at an art auction. At this time Al was giving art lessons. I took my first class with Al in March of 2016 and a follow up in March of 2017. As my painting skills grew, so did my desire to learn.  Art is an excellent way to challenge your brain. It also got me away from the TV!

Rose of Sharon
(click to view)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with? 

I started with Oils and continue this medium. I love the challenge that oils offer and the endless amount of color options that can be created during mixing. There might be a time that I will explore acrylics and or possibly watercolors.

I primarily paint in studio, but I also like to be outdoors and Plein Air Paint. The studio gives me plenty of time to work the subject, whereas Plein Air challenges me in speed.

Peeling Paint
(click to view)

Who or what inspires you most? 

The two muses in my life are my spouse then our farm and surroundings. Until I started painting, I never really paid attention to what was happening in nature throughout the seasons.

Sled
(click to view)

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

My goal is to try and paint at least 3-5 times per week. My spouse is my resource for ideas, together we explore cities, landscapes and new places. The resulting photography gives us inspiration.

Being involved with events, exhibitions, and paint-outs really helps add excitement and focus.

Soybean Rows
(click to view)

What makes you happiest about your art? 

I find a great deal of enjoyment in the process of a painting, from the initial sketch to signing my name.  Goals are good! When I have a blank canvas in front of me, I have a new goal!

Winter Paddock
(click to view)

Thanks, Douglas!

© 2018 Sophie Marine

Thursday, January 11, 2018

DPW Spotlight Interview: Jacqueline Davis

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings. To enter to win Jacqueline's painting, "Three Odd Bottle Buddies" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Jacqueline's DPW Gallery:

Originally from England, I have also lived in California and now reside in New York state. I'm influenced by old architecture, vintage glass, ceramics and all things retro.

I have spent time working variously in graphic design, ceramics and teaching!

My most recent love is oil painting. I have studied still life with Karen O'Neil; plein air painting with Randall Sexton; and taken workshops with Leslie Saeta.

Thank you for taking a look.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

Of course I drew and painted at school, but a career in fine art just never seemed something I could practically consider. However, after high school I somehow immediately landed a job as a graphic designer. I stayed doing that for three years, but feeling the need for something more fulfilling - and deciding I needed some proper qualifications, went back to college.

At the college I attended, we were never introduced to oil paint - I think it was probably something to do with the cost. I did love oil pastels, which were my favorite medium.

I started dabbling in oil paint after we moved to America (initially California) from the UK, six years ago. Initially I was just teaching myself and not getting very far. I really got into painting properly after we moved to the east coast. I started taking some workshops at the Art Students League of New York. A really good teacher can help to open up the possibilities of what oil paint can do. After that I was hooked.

Three Odd Bottle Buddies
(click to view)

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

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

Yes! I stopped for many years! After college and gaining a degree, I trained as a teacher - I taught a subject called Design and Technology in the UK which for my part was predominantly graphic design and drawing, so while I didn't paint, I continued to draw pretty much constantly.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

At art college we experimented with pretty much everything; pastel and oil pastel, watercolor, acrylics, gouache, photography, ceramics, textiles! Everything except oil paint!

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

Interesting question. After my first child was born, and I was looking for a creative outlet, I took up ceramics again at adult school. Actually, I ended up buying a little paint-your-own-pottery business from another mother, who was done with it. It fell into my lap almost by chance. So I did that for three years. I also painted and sold my own pottery, inspired at the time by my seaside home in the south of England. I sold the business on when we moved to the US.

I have a little play with watercolor now and again, more as a compliment to pen line drawings.

Misbehaving Tulips

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

For the moment I'm happy staying with oil paint. 

My comfort zone is still life but I dabbled a fair bit with plein-air last year, taking some plein-air workshops: also I was so, so fortunate to be invited on a painting retreat with a group of the most awesome people you can imagine. I will be forever grateful for that. Plein-air is such a different discipline from still life I think. It's almost like learning everything again, from scratch!

I hope to take some more workshops with artists I admire. There's so much to learn about painting in oils and I'm definitely still developing as an artist.

Who or what inspires you most?

It's a strange thing - I have a great love of old ceramics and glass. I'm quite addicted I admit. I'm drawn to vintage pieces that could almost tell a story. So I'm always inspired by what I have in my kitchen cupboards! But, I don't think it's good to just paint what comes easy. I want to challenge myself as well.

Scattered Strawberries and a Painted Bowl

What does procrastination look like for you?

Oh my goodness, I'm the most hopeless procrastinator, in that I think "I'll just sort this out before I start". So I'm always clearing up the kitchen, doing the laundry or running errands or tasks, and before you know it, it's 2pm already.

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

This January, I set myself a challenge to paint everyday for the month - my goal is to get into a daily habit, so that painting comes first. I'm learning that if I always have to 'clear my desk' first, I'll never paint! I have switched my day around, so that I start painting first thing in the morning. I leave the afternoon to do the other stuff: photography, posting to my blog and facebook, etc. I'm finding so far that it's working well. For one thing, the light in the afternoon is usually better for taking photos of my paintings.

Ready, Steady, Bake

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

For my larger pieces I always have a million ideas for paintings swimming around in my head. They sort of develop and percolate over a long period of time. It's hard to describe, but I know what I want to achieve because I have the composition worked out before I start. Of course what goes on in your head and what appears on the canvas can be two different things!

My DPW paintings tend to be studies to help me with a larger idea that I'm formulating.

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

In terms of 'keeping it fresh', I have this obsession with keeping my colors alive and vibrant. I'm always playing around with the paint and trying different combinations to darken and lighten without muddying them.  My color palette is a constantly evolving thing. I like trying out new colors to see what works.

In general terms though, I think yo should paint what you love, but challenge yourself as well. I think it's important to keep developing, trying new things.

If something is not working, even if the painting is terrible, then you have learned something from that and you can try something different next time.

Stripes, Spots, Spoon and Spatulas

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

I'm a very slow painter. I thought I had wanted to speed up my process but what I'm learning is that speeding up doesn't necessarily achieve the results I want. So I'm learning to accept my own limitations. Maybe it's not about how fast you go, but how you get there that matters!

I have a vision in my mind's eye of what I want to achieve and I know that I have a long, long way to go. I know that the only way to get there is to put in the hours and just keep moving forward.

What makes you happiest about your art?

I'm happiest when I'm in 'the zone' as I call it - everything going on in the world melts away and you can give your painting your full focus and attention. It's really nice to do something for yourself.

Also, on the odd occasion when you 'knock one out of the park', it's very satisfying and you feel like you have achieved something.

I'm incredibly grateful to my husband and children who are always so, so encouraging and supportive.

Thanks, Jacqueline!

© 2018 Sophie Marine

Thursday, January 4, 2018

DPW Spotlight Interview: Shweta Mahajan

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings. To enter to win Shweta's painting, "Orange African Daisy" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Shweta's DPW Gallery:

I'm a self taught artist from India. My work comprises mainly of watercolour, charcoal and pencil. (click to view gallery)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I started painting during my school days and became a full time artist in 2013.

Orange African Daisy
(click to view)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with? 

Graphite and watercolour are my prefered mediums. I love the unpredictability of watercolours. I also wish to work wiith oil colours and acrylics. I like to make paper sculptures as well.

Squirrel and the Red Berries
(click to view)

Who or what inspires you most?

My mother is an artist so I was drawn towards art quite early in my life. I'm fascinated by nature and try to capture the visual experience in my works. Trees excite me most and I've done around 100 drawings and paintings on trees.

Riverbed
(click to view)

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

I don't find it difficult to find time to paint. The hardest part is to let the brush go.

What does procrastination look like for you?

There is no stopping once I start working on a project.

Blue Footed Booby
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings? 

Yoga and meditation helps me to get my creative juices flowing. Ideas are everywhere. I look through hundreds of photos to decide on the subject.

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

I'm learning to talk about my work and be more articulate.

Whitaker Point Trail
(click to view)

What makes you happiest about your art? 

The most satisfying thing about creating art is that I get to express myself. I love the process that goes into making a painting. I like it when the work is appreciated.

Thanks, Shweta!

© 2018 Sophie Marine