Thursday, March 29, 2018

DPW Spotlight Interview: Johnna Schelling

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

From Johnna's DPW Gallery:

Hello! Welcome into my "not quite daily painting" studio, where you'll find fun stuff going on - trying new things, perfecting others, and enjoying life. Embracing the joy in everyday things makes for great memories, happiness and cherished moments. A painting can rekindle those special times, or perhaps be the cornerstone to launch a new one! My greatest desire is to paint more days than not, and share life's joy with others through art. Thanks for joining my journey! (click to view gallery)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

As long as I can remember, I wished I had time to pursue art.  Tried learning on my own for a few years and then in 2008 finally gave myself the gift of professional oil painting lessons.  Met a terrific group of new and experienced artists with one suggesting we start a club.  Like a book club, but for art - complete with homework, challenge paintings, get-togethers to paint, talk art, share dreams, etc.  I was hooked!  The years we spent sharing our love of art were priceless.

What's Next?
(click to view)

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

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

The art club has always been great for encouraging me and keeping art a part of my life despite a challenging, full-time career.

It wasn’t until I met Carol Marine and DPW that things really took off.  To my amazement, Carol added a workshop in January 2013 that I somehow managed to get into.  I couldn’t believe it! What a huge leap for me to attend a week-long workshop, let alone in a different state.  I was nervously excited for six months waiting for it to start.  At the workshop, it was like all the light bulbs went off at the same time. The idea of painting small and fearlessly was precisely what I needed.  Came home completely addicted and got busy starting a blog, setting up a Facebook page and immersing myself in art at long last.


What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

Oil painting alla prima completely stole my heart and so far, haven’t been lured away by other mediums.  Occasionally, I’ll focus on larger paintings and multiple sessions but tend to get bored with the amount of time involved and the subject matter.  I’ve tried acrylics but we don’t get along well since they dry out so fast.  Then again, it would be great to paint while traveling, so may have to give acrylics another go.

Summer Dreams
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

At some point would like to venture into painting abstracts.  The internet makes everything so much easier to learn, I guess there’s no excuse to not get it on a to-do list and take the plunge.



Who or what inspires you most?

I have long believed that life is about making memories – in good and even not so good times.  It makes us who we are.  So, I want to create simple paintings to remind us of those unique moments, or possibly become the cornerstone to launch a new one.  When someone buys a painting, I feel truly fulfilled that I have made a positive contribution to someone else’s journey.  Lifted someone’s spirit with a bit of happiness.  I love how art has a way of bonding people together no matter our backgrounds, differences or diversity.

Hot and Prickly
(click to view)


What does procrastination look like for you?

The hardest part for me is figuring out what to paint and then actually getting started.  I can get lost for hours looking through free photo websites, meandering in the aisles of the grocery store, and of course the myriad of total distractions presented by my computer which is way too close to my easel.  At least I have to walk past the easel to get to the computer...

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

I love challenges and have used the 30 paintings in 30 days as a way to jump start my routine and make sure I focus enough on painting time.  Painting every day is a commitment that I find requires me to schedule other things so there’s enough left for life, research and painting!  When I run out of energy, which happens around day nine, I find selecting the next subject and drawing an outline makes it easier for me to get started the next day.

Pear Pizzazz
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Searching for photos always turns up unexpected ideas.  I particularly like Paint My Photo (PMP-Art.com).  This site has photographers and artists who leverage each other’s talents – sometimes, a painting of a photo will grab my attention and then I get the extra benefit of learning how another artist “sees” and how they approach the subject.


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

Painting objects I’m not familiar with seem to work out way better than I expect.  Actually causes a mini-happy-dance.  I think it is because I go back to the basics and paint what I see, squint more, pay attention, watch the values, etc.   Still life classes and photos are great for this since who knows what will pop up.  One of my favorite recent paintings was of a lobster...  it sold right away, to you guessed it, to a serious memory maker!



Salsa Anyone?
(click to view)

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

If you want to make art, you have to make it a priority, get a schedule or plan in place, and then be ready for it to happen.  Funny it reminds me of my day-job where I was the project manager for several deliveries – I was always telling people if you can plan it, you can deliver it.  I’ve been able to early retire and realize you still need a plan to make things happen!


What makes you happiest about your art?

When a person shares a memory that was triggered by one of my paintings or when they tell me why they “have to have” one.  What a thrill it is that my work delights someone and then we get to share the joy together.  Another surprise has been blogging.  It is interesting to have a journal of my art journey.  Looking back through the entries reminds me of the huge plunge I took in 2013, struggles met head-on, memories made, how far down the path I’ve come and how glad I am to be an artist.

Thanks, Johnna!

© 2018 Sophie Marine

Thursday, March 22, 2018

DPW Spotlight Interview: Teddi Parker

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

From Teddi's DPW Gallery:

My passion for painting started at a young age and was greatly encouraged by my family throughout my early life. With this foundation in place, I began to experiment and learn new techniques over the course of the semester I studied Spanish in Argentina. While living in Buenos Aires, I purchased canvasses and paints and then carried the finished paintings through the subway system by hand. Just imagine that for a minute. ::wink:

Through the gracious advice and critique of my pen-pal mentor, I am now making up for the lack of formal artistic training in my past and am currently learning how to better evoke emotion through vibrant use of color. (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I started painting sophomore year of college before going abroad to study Spanish.  My family had the supplies lying around and I got the itch.  I carried it over to Argentina and bought supplies and hauled them through the subway and painted in my host family's bedroom.  Getting those paintings home was a feat (I painted large back then).  It started out with images I would find online and copy, then turned into photos my friends took while we were abroad, and now it's primarily still lifes.

Unconventional Friendship
(click to view)

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

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

Yep.  But thankfully my husband encouraged me to pick it up again.  I jumped on the daily painting movement in 2014 and it has been revolutionary for my creative side.  I was also doing art lessons with some littles from my church - so the daily "arting" was helping my skills to develop much quicker.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

In painting mostly acrylic, I have played with oils and enjoyed them but have never purchased them myself.  I don't have the proper set up nor the $ it would take.  I actually get house paint from the landfill and use those pints for the large scale paintings, and for my 8x8s I get the 3$ samples at the hardware store and mix my colors with those.  I've had success in getting the colors I want, and that yummy brushstroke-showing oil paint look to my pieces.  I play around with a lot of other crafts too; embroidery on my clothing, my neighbors have taught me to knit and crochet, some sewing, and jewelry making.

Your Filament is Showing
(click to view)

Who or what inspires you most?

Gosh, I'm discovering new artists that inspire me every day - thank you social media.  Carol Marine's style definitely got me pursuing the bold and loose painting methods though.  Before I was so tight and photo-realism.  This is much more free and fun for me.  Lately the library books my daughter brings home have been inspiring me - there are some creative illustrators out there, and through them I've learned to appreciate the shapes in animals and nature. 

What does procrastination look like for you?

Hmmm, I think I only procrastinate when it comes to commissions that I'm not super excited about.  Since baby number two has come I think I'm done with that part of the job though.  By the grace of God I don't really have to look at my painting as a career, to me it's just a skill I enjoy that occasionally makes money.

Blowing Bubbles
(click to view)

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

Synchronized naps times, ha!  My art is a lower priority than other things that are happening in life right now, and that's okay.  So in this phase of life, when I get to do my art it's a treat.

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I keep a folder on the computer and save any images that make me want to paint so that I can refer back to them when I need reminding.  Or I have my still life shelf and there are definitely favorite items there I keep coming back to.  I like to work in series so I often use the same items or subjects or themes over and over.  Right now I'm on a cactus kick, but I would say I'm still in the middle of a reflections addiction.  Last year it was glass.

Pumpkin Play
(click to view)

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

Oooof, back when I was better at painting every day I would definitely experience burn out or boredom.  It's depressing and scary because you ask yourself - do I even enjoy this anymore?  Am I even any good anymore?  I've learned (and am still learning) to take a break and embrace another craft for a bit until the excitement and inspiration return, because they always do.  And look at lots of art!  I love finding the artists that make me want to paint by just looking at their paintings. Or pulling back and doing some abstraction play for a while.  That is just throwing paint on a canvas for me with really big brushes so I feel like an artist. ::smile::

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

How to have grace on myself.  In the world of social media I definitely feel the pressure to post a painting every day or let the way I feel about a painting be based on how many responses it gets.  My husband is really good at sensing when I need the reminder that I enjoy painting and to not pursue the next painting wondering what the people want to see or buy, but to pursue it thinking what might be fun to try.  I have way more fun painting when I'm grounded in that.

Wet Hippo
(click to view)

What makes you happiest about your art?


What a fun question.  When I can't stop staring at something I just finished.  Sometimes I'll even put it on the dinner table for my family to critique with me.  So much fun.  Another perk I didn't expect is how many people it has connected me to, and the conversations about art I get to have with strangers.  I love that too.

Why is beauty important?

My husband and I have been chatting about this topic so much in the last year or two.  The art culture here in Fort Collins, CO is on the rise so lots more art is being hung in lots more places and it gets you thinking about what makes good art.  I usually think about the sunrise.  God could have just made the sun come up and go down and that be that, but he thought it was important to fill them with loads of color and texture and beauty.  I think that's deep down why we appreciate the awe of nature so much.  If beauty important to the creator of the universe, we should make sure to do our craft well - not just to please him but to experience his joy too.

Thanks, Teddi!

© 2018 Sophie Marine

Thursday, March 8, 2018

DPW Spotlight Interview: Mindy Lighthipe

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

From Mindy's DPW Gallery:

I LOVE to paint nature. My training is in classic botanical and natural science illustration. I paint in a variety of techniques including watercolor, gouache, PanPastels, colored pencil and egg tempera. I enjoy experimenting and expanding out of my comfort zone. I am happy to consider commissions. Please visit my website for more information about my art, teaching and art tours. http://www.BotanicalArtPainting.com

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I have always been a nature lover and always worked as an arist/craftsman. I went to art school but studied textile design. After working for twenty years in the textile industry, I went back to school for a certification in Botanical Illustration. I knew at that point I would change my career and paint full time.

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

Once I started painting in 1990, I have not stopped. I continue to learn new techniques and often switch to different mediums. I sometimes combine mediums.

Blue Heron
(click to view)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I work in watercolor, gouache, colored pencil, pen and ink, acrylic, pastels, and watercolor pencils.

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

I like to bounce around with techniques. Certain subjects are easier to render in specific mediums. For instance when I paint animals I prefer to work in gouache because I can work light to dark, dark to light and in-between. The opacity of gouache allows me to do this. I will also combine mediums. I may start with watercolor and finish the piece with colored pencils for fine details. I seldom use acrylic as I didn’t really take to it. I use pastel once in a while but in conjunction with watercolor and gouache.

Oleander Moths
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I just have started to explore solar intaglio printing. I am enjoying the traditional printmaking process and hand tinting my prints after pulling them from the press. The hand tinting makes them a one of a kind. There is less investment of my time than some of the other techniques and allows me to create small affordable works of art.

Who or what inspires you most?

Nature inspires me the most. I have always loved color, texture and pattern. As a textile designer, I was often inspired by insects. I still am inspired by insects, birds, plants and animals that are brilliantly colored and unusually patterned.

Malachite Butterfly
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

As a full time artist, I realized a while ago that I was a business woman and entrepreneur. This meant that I have to wear many hats to do the business end as well as making the art. I really don’t have time to procrastinate as I am constantly doing commission work, teaching, marketing and developing new concepts.

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

I sometimes write and sketch in a journal to record things I find inspirational. To keep myself on track, I make a “to do lists.” When I cross things off the list, I know I am accomplishing my goals and it feels good.

Red-Eyed Tree Frog
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I love to travel and get out in nature. This can mean a hike in a nearby park or travel to a foreign country. I am particularly inspired by the rainforest and have traveled to Costa Rica for thirty years. I now lead tours for artists to teach them about the rainforest. It is a never-ending stream of inspiration. I love to research and depict lifecycles that can teach my viewers the need for conservation in the wild places.

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

I think it is important to keep learning. I have taken classes that directly relate to learning techniques but I have also taken environmental classes to help me learn more about fragile ecosystems. Learning keeps me engaged and curious. It brings me new ideas on how I can create my art to share with people.

Green Back Heron
(click to view)

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

I think I am learning how important it is to remain positive. I am learning to shift and reinvent myself, my skills and my art to be able to make a living doing what I love. I am learning the importance of not taking things or people for granted. I am blessed to be able to pursue the things I love.

What makes you happiest about your art?

I love the actual process from start to finish. The beginning stages are full of excitement and I research what I want to do. Research is important as it offers lots of possibilities. The next step is to decide what will be included and what will be excluded. Creating the actual art and deciding on the medium to use is processed through experimentation and final execution. When the art is finished I get ready for the next journey on what I am going to do and I start the process all over again. It doesn’t get any better than this!

Thanks, Mindy!

© 2018 Sophie Marine

Thursday, March 1, 2018

DPW Spotlight Interview: Mandar Marathe

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

From Mandar's DPW Gallery:

I am an artist originally from Goa but now settled at Pune, India. Painting and sculpture have been my more-than-hobbies since early age. In May 2011 I chose to become a full time artist after pursuing art as part time or weekend activity for many years. I have had 12 shows and apart from painting regularly and creating online art courses, I conduct sketching, painting and clay sculpture workshops at my studio and other locations. Hope you enjoy my paintings! (click to view gallery)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I started drawing and painting at an early age, probably at the age of four or five. They were just scribbles but I could keep doing that for long periods of time.

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

Not really, I have been creating art continuously since then. After school, I chose to go engineering college instead of art college as I was not sure of what it meant to be a full-time artist. All through my college education and later sixteen years of professional career in the corporate world, I was painting in my spare time and showed my work in five solo and six group exhibitions.

Welcome to Kanha
(click to view)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I mostly paint landscapes, still life and some abstracts (on rare occasions). I have experimented with oils, watercolors, acrylics and more recently opaque watercolors/gouache. I also experiment a lot with digital painting on my iPad pro.

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

Landscapes and still life have stuck with me as subjects and oils and watercolors have stuck as my art mediums.

Jungle Safari
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I love painting landscapes a lot and I want to explore plein air painting more often. As far as mediums are concerned, I want something that handles like oil for an hour or so but dries quickly after that. Currently, my choice is oil colors for studio paintings and watercolor for plein air work.

Who or what inspires you most?

Nature is my constant source of inspiration. Light and shades in the mornings and evenings are my favorites. I paint from photos clicked only by me and so I know the place better than a single photo can tell me. I keep clicking photos when I am out. My wife and kids complain that my photos almost never include people!

Crisp Morning In Kanha
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

I rarely procrastinate but I find it challenging to focus on any one activity for a long time. Other than fine art, I also have interest in areas like illustration, sculpture, and technology that are constantly seeking my attention.

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

I chose to become a full-time artist in May 2011 after a sixteen years long corporate career. So, I make art or art related activity every day. Other than making art, I work mainly on creating online art courses. As of today, I have 20 such courses on my platform at http://courses.mandarmarathefineart.com/, Udemy, and Skillshare.

Towards Kankumbi
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

The photos that I click give me the ideas for my landscape paintings. I look at vacations or family outings as a means of getting new raw material for my art. I always have my phone camera, sketchbook and some colors with me when I go out. For still life paintings, I just go to the kitchen and pick up something to paint!

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

For me, there is always more than one idea that needs to be painted. I feel I need to paint a lot more often than I do currently, so the question of burnout hasn't come to me yet. I have a dream to have separate workplaces for every medium that I want to work/experiment in. All I want to do is to walk up to each workstation, make art and not have to worry about cleaning up!

Morning colors in Chorla ghat
(click to view)

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

I am learning to be consistent in making art. I am also continuously learning to manage my time in a more efficient way. Art is all about practice, practice, and consistent practice.

What makes you happiest about your art?

I am happiest when a painting turns out good! I am also excited by the fact that this work of art gets a life of it's own, independent of me and can give happiness to it's viewers for decades, if not centuries, to come. For me, art is the best method to capture the beauty of everyday things that we fail to notice otherwise. Next level of happiness comes when someone buys my painting as it means the painting spoke to his/her heart directly and I can buy more art material!

Thanks, Mandar!


© 2018 Sophie Marine