Thursday, August 30, 2018

DPW Spotlight Interview: Renee Robison

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

From Renee's DPW Gallery Page:

Just three years ago, I retired after thirty-six years as a retail buyer. My husband and I have dreamed of extensive travel since the day we met. Somehow, I reached the finish line first. With new time on my hands, I decided to finally take that painting class I daydreamed about since I had taken one of those "paint and sip" classes. As I pushed a swath of paint across the canvas for the first time, my heart sang and my soul said, "YES, this is what you want to do." (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

Several years ago, I took a “paint and sip” class.  Okay, I did have a glass of wine before starting but I could feel the first stroke, across the canvas, right down to the tip of my toes.  Of course, that painting wasn’t great, but it was better than I expected.  Three years later, I was retired with a long “to do” list I was determined to tackle.  But a month into my new life, I took my first real art class, learning to paint in oils.  By week two, I had set up an easel at home and was painting everyday, I was hooked. 

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

Confession, I did take an art class in high school and was turned off when my teacher didn’t like my composition.  Instead of using her words to tell me how to correct the painting, she took the pastel from my hands and started doing it herself.  That was more than forty years ago and it is still a vivid memory, I stopped being interested that day.  I can’t say I would have become a professional artist if I had stayed with the class, but I definitely walked away from an opportunity to explore that avenue.  I shouldn’t complain, retail was a very good career for me, with lots of product development as my creative outlet.  I was blessed to retire at fifty-seven and start the next stage of life, who knew??

Bursting with Color
(click to view)

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

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

I started with an oil painting class for the first two years.  I have taken two sessions of watercolor class but I have not spent the time to develop that medium. It is great to take with me on our travels.  I am also working in acrylic these days.  I haven’t found a class to learn the medium so I’m watching online videos and experimenting at home.  It’s very different from oil, but, like oil, it’s also forgiving, just keep painting and you can make it better.

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I’m taking a pastel class at Artisan Expo in Santa Fe next month. 

Fresh From the Florist
(click to view)

Who or what inspires you most?

Before we retired, my husband and I had dreamed of being able to travel for more than a standard two week vacation. He retired a year after me and off we went, ticking off countries from a very long bucket list starting with Italy, Costa Rica, Spain and New Zealand.  Thanks to my handy iPhone and the cloud, I can take thousands of pictures for painting references when I return home. 

Last year, with five other friends, we walked across northern Spain on the Camino de Santiago.  This is a five hundred mile pilgrimage on foot with no cars, buses or trains; carrying everything you need in a backpack.  It was the most amazing experience of my life and it provided thirty-two days of beautiful inspiration. Over the last year, I have painted a series of fifty paintings called “Inspired by the Camino”.  They were just featured in a gallery exhibit during the month of August.

Explosion of Poppies
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

I was not involved in many things outside of work before I retired and had tons of time to paint.  Now, after three years, I’m chairing committees and helping family members.  I have to schedule time to paint just like I schedule meetings and appointments on the calendar.  It’s very easy to get caught up in other things and avoid my everyday practice.  I also must strive to keep my studio (dining room) cleaned and organized, clutter can be a big distraction. 

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

As mentioned above, scheduling the time.  Scheduled classes are another way to get a solid three hours without interruptions. 

Queen Anne's Lace
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

From extensive photos organized by theme, birds, landscapes, country, etc.  I try to get on a theme or style for at least three to five paintings.  I’m also inspired by surroundings and time of the year.  When we are in Florida, I like to paint beach birds and palm trees.  When it’s fall, I like to paint pumpkin scenes. 

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

Classes are a big help, take a class that’s challenges you outside your comfort zone or is different from your regular style.  I especially love “happy accidents” that can lead to something new.  I was recently trying to improve some older frames with gold leaf, that didn’t work at all.  But then I pasted some scraps onto a painting and voila! a new idea was started. 

White Poppy Closeup
(click to view)

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

There are so many mediums and styles to explore, that’s a journey for a lifetime.  This past year, I’ve been working on portraits with my teacher, Kim Cypert Russell.  There is so much to learn in this difficult subject matter.  It’s okay when you paint a stranger from a trip that no one knows, but painting a friend or family member adds a lot of pressure to make it look just like them.  She is teaching us about the planes of the face, the proportions of the face and body and the subtle highlights and reflections you never realized were there. 

What makes you happiest about your art?

Color, give me lots of bright colors.  :)

Thanks, Renee!

© 2018 Sophie Marine

Thursday, August 23, 2018

DPW Spotlight Interview: Michael Hutton

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

From Michael's DPW Gallery Page:

I am the artist Michael Hutton. I am a self taught artist and have my own unique style of painting, and I love mixing colors. My passion is creating, designing and hand painting original works of art of nature, birds, animals, still life and more in watercolors.

For the watercolors I use Winsor and Newton professional watercolor paints on Arches 140#, 300 g/m, cold pressed, White, lightly textured, acid free, 100 percent cotton watercolor paper.

All my paintings have their own personality and are painted to uplift spirits, bring a smile to your face and add a sense of peace and calm as well as color to your home. Something that you would look forward to seeing everyday.

To see my acrylic painting site click on this link.

Summer Morning
(click to view)

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

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I am Michael Hutton, a self taught artist. I have always been in the arts. I began as a musician/playing lead guitar/singer/songwriter starting at age thirteen in a couple of good bands. We had the opportunity of playing at the then Keil Auditorium in St. Louis, which was very exciting, with other huge bands and our band was on a tv show. At that time, one of my two songs that I had written, we taped and entered it in a contest and it won and was playing for quite a while on KSHE radio in the early days.

For thirty plus years, I have designed, created and handmade twig mosaic creations in wall decor and furniture, also being a rustic furniture artist. This is when I began painting. Like landscape, mountain and cabin scenes on door panels, and drawers. My furniture has been in many books, on some covers of books and in magazines. I had been told that I was one of the top ten furniture makers in the US.
I also made unique, one of a kind whirligigs, which I also hand painted on.

Dawn
(click to view)

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?


I have been painting in oil on anything that I could get my hands on but dropped that due to concerns about health hazards.

So I started painting with artist colors pigmented acrylic paint and this is something that I really enjoy. I use the ampersand gessobord to paint on.

I also started painting with Winsor and Newton professional watercolors painting on Arches 140# watercolor paper. I can not tell you how much fun it is to paint with these watercolors! Even though watercolor is unforgiving, I just absolutely love it. I am finding that mixing colors is one of the things as well as creating illustrations that is the most exciting for me.

I paint birds and flowers, landscapes, still life and illustrations for children's books and more.

Breakfast
(click to view)

What makes you happiest about your art?

So I am a musician, acrylic and watercolor painter. I love to create and hand paint my original paintings using the watercolors and acrylics. I want to continue to improve.

I get a lot of pleasure out of reviews when people say how much they love their painting, and it is just perfect, that it uplifts their spirit and how the colors are so bright and cheery.

What I aim for my paintings to do is to uplift peoples spirit, bring a smile to their face, to transform the feel of their room and and bring color to their life.

Winging It
(click to view)

Who or what inspires you most?

I am very much inspired by nature and my other inspirations come from many other artists like from Bob Ross to Catherine Klein.

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging? What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

Since I am semi retired I thankfully have time to paint. I keep looking for new ideas and ways of painting, new techniques to use. I also have learned that you will always feel that you can improve, the next one will be even better. So you will always keep trying to improve upon yourself.

Morning Light
(click to view)

Thanks, Michael!

© 2018 Sophie Marine

Friday, August 17, 2018

DPW Spotlight Interview: Lisa Sotero

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


From Lisa's DPW Gallery Page:

Creative expression has always been a part of my life but oil painting didn't take hold until my early 30's. About seven years in came kids and a blip in the radar...

Now, I paint because I need to, satisfying something inside. Iconic and ordinary subject draw me, whether it's a gadget, an animal or landscape. Sunlight and cast shadows, reflective and rusty surfaces, angles and curves. I'm passionate about all of these things. They make me want to paint.

I have studied at Scottsdale Art School under Susan Diehl and Henry Stinson as well as San Francisco Bay Area artists Timothy Horn, Barbara Bailey-Porter and Keith Wicks. In 2010, I began showing my work at Scottsdale Fine Art, AZ and Wright Gallery-Kona, Hawaii in 2014.
Raised in Southern California, I now make home in Santa Cruz on the Monterey Bay where I'm fortunate to be surrounded by natural beauty. Family, friends, volunteering, traveling and painting satisfy my soul... And great food!

Please follow me on my instagram account; lisasoterofineart.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

We always had art and crafts going on in our home. Woodworking in the garage with my Dad, sewing, drawing, screen printing.  But my great aunt, is the one who inspired my painting, she was a SF Bay Area artist active in the 60’s and 70’s. In college I took many art classes while studying design and architecture but it wasn’t until the late 80’s that oil painting entered my life.

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

I had no easel time when my kids came along but they were the perfect reason to bust out poster paints, watercolors, paper and glue etc., introducing them to the arts early on. Those valuable times filled a void and helped develop my children into incredibly talented artists. About 5 months ago I got the green light to pursue my painting passion more fully, that’s when I joined Daily PaintWorks.

Vanilla Creams
(click to view)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I will try just about anything but primarily, oil, watercolor, acrylic. Screen printing, mono-printing, paper making, ceramics, photography, welding, woodworking, jewelry, even basket making. I love being a “maker”.

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

Oil is my favorite, I love the texture of the paint, how it blends. And even though it’s not a good thing, when the lid is cracked on my brush washer the smell of mineral spirits gives me a charge. Watercolor “fell away” but my niece recently treated me to a workshop in hand-mixing watercolors from raw pigment. It’s revitalized my interest and daily sketching is becoming a habit.

Vintage Dresses
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring? 

Non-representational work has always interested me and to feel natural, comfortable working in this genre is a goal.

What or who inspires you most? 

The old axiom, “It’s not what you paint, it’s how you paint it”, makes just about anything worthy of painting. Artists who inspire me are my sister, Beth Lauterbach (my foremost critic and owner of Scottsdale Fine Art), my great-aunt, Sorolla, Bongart, Rothko, Diebenkorn, Hockney, the Society of Six, many of the Daily Painters and on and on.

Golden Gate
(click to view)
What does procrastination look like for you?

Watching YouTube videos of artists at work.

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

Even though painting can consume my thoughts, I‘ve marked specific days on my  calendar. Otherwise distractions draw me away.
1950's Triumph
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings? 


I’m visually stimulated by small, ordinary subjects to grand vistas. Whether it's an iconic gadget, an animal or landscape, color, patterns, sunlight, cast shadows, reflective and rusty surfaces, angles and curves. I'm passionate about all of these things, they make me want to paint.

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

Taking occasional workshops, online tutorials, and visiting other artists on DPW.

Charlie
(click to view)

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

In technique, I’m trying to loosen up. Sometimes I simply have to paint left handed to lose the edges. I’m also learning about the way the internet and social media is changing the art market.

What makes you happiest about your art?

Just doing it, creating!!! It’s definitely a bonus when others appreciate what I’ve done.

Thanks, Lisa!

© 2018 Sophie Marine

Thursday, August 9, 2018

DPW Spotlight Interview: Kristina Sellers

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

From Kristina's DPW Gallery:

Growing up in a modest home, in what some would call a nondescript suburb, was really a good thing for me. Turns out when you have to look a little harder to find beauty, you appreciate it. This has shaped my relationship with art. I have been called a "slice of life" painter and I love it! Helping people to see beauty in ordinary things is a wonderful privilege. In my college years I pursued art as a career, quickly realizing becoming an art teacher or a graphic designer seemed to be what I was being funneled towards. Both are worthy fields, but not what I wanted to do. I took a break from school, during which time I met and married my husband, joining him in his real estate business. Some years later I took a plein air class on a whim. I had never tried oil paints before and didn't know anything about plein air painting. So this was a double "Aha!" moment. I loved the tactile quality of oil paint and the adventure of being outdoors. I was hooked. (click to continue reading)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I was an obvious artist from a very young age. But surprisingly, I never tried oil painting. While visiting a local gallery, I noticed they offered workshops. I signed up for a plein air class with artist Eric Jacobsen. The experience of delving into the feel of oil paint and the adventure of plein air combined was almost too much! I was totally hooked.

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

I was a real estate agent alongside my husband for many years. Ever since that first plein air workshop, my husband and I made it a goal for me to do art full time. I went full time a few years ago and haven't looked back!

Red Roof
(click to view)

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

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

Although I started with plein air, I enjoy working in my studio, or from live model sessions. I have self imposed painting seasons. When the weather in Oregon is great, I'm outside painting and socializing with fellow artists. By the time fall weather rolls around, I'm ready to take some time to myself and hunker down in my studio for a few months, exploring ideas and working from photos I've take along the way.

I've experimented quite a bit with palette knife painting. I find it interesting that most artists discount it as a tool. It's difficult to do an entire painting that way and you have to be ok with giving up control of your drawing within the painting, but it can have such a vibrant outcome.

Spring Bouquet
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

Currently, I'm working on trying to marry my brushwork and palette knife work. For the most part, I don't like it when I see a painting that's been done with brushes and has a couple swipes with the palette knife. To me, it's a bit jarring. So I'm trying to figure out how I can harmonize that in my own work.

Who or what inspires you most?

I'm endlessly inspired by color and light. I know it's a simplistic answer but it's so true! I would call myself a colorist for sure. And when I am out plein air painting I care far more about catching a fleeting light effect than painting every tree in the landscape before me. I love mystery, so I guess following what makes me curious is very exciting to me.

Summer Mixer
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you? What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

I definitely go through times when I experience a sort of stage fright. I'll do anything else but paint. I'll gesso panels, watch videos about painting, go through endless amounts of photos trying to decide which one to paint. But paint... oh no! Usually I beg my husband to give me an assignment. I don't like the assignments he gives, but it spurs me on to make a decision to work on something.

I have tremendous support and kinship with fellow artists in my community. That has been a wonderful surprise for me. I figured before I got started that being an artist would be a bit isolating. My fellow artists keep me inspired and help me keep my perspective in check.

Pomelo
(click to view)

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging? How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I try to bring something fresh to the table every time I paint. For me, growth and following that bit of mystery is the reason I'm doing this. I want to stay engaged and hopefully that translates to engaging work for everyone to enjoy. I still actively pursue knowledge and training and take workshops. I never really turn off the "artist switch". By that I mean that even if I'm watching a show or going for a drive, I'm noticing things. Making mental notes of why things work together, or what would make them work better together.

Rowena Sunset
(click to view)

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

Sometimes it seems like I'm one of those performers that is spinning dozens of dishes at one time. I'm learning complicated heady stuff, but if I don't keep up with drawing, some plates are gonna come crashing down in my work. Or if I'm thinking only about color and value, my composition plate is going to get wobbly. It seems like learning about painting requires you to constantly get back to the basics and nail those skills down better each time.

What makes you happiest about your art?

I'm very happy when people key in on what I am trying to communicate in a painting. When they really connect and have an emotional response, I've done something worthy.

Thanks, Kristina!

© 2018 Sophie Marine

Thursday, August 2, 2018

DPW Spotlight Interview: Sue Sneeringer

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

From Sue's DPW Gallery:

I have been an artist since I can remember. I love to paint as much as I can. I adore mid-century modern kitsch! (click to view Sue's gallery)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I have been drawing and painting since I can remember. For fun, my brother and sister and I would spend hours drawing away. We loved Mad magazine and would copy all the characters from the magazine. Both my brother and sister are incredible artists as well. This activity was strongly encouraged by our parents probably because it kept us quiet, ha ha. I have always considered myself an artist and studied art in both high school and college.

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

Too many to count. Since I discovered Daily Paintworks, I know I will never stop creating art in some fashion from here on. DPW was the right thing at the right time to get me inspired to start painting regularly again. For that, I am eternally grateful.

Twilight on First Avenue
(click to view)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I have a lot of experience with photography, having worked in custom photo labs for years. This lead me to my love of realism in painting. I want to get back to painting with oils as soon as I get a proper studio with good ventilation.

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

Acrylics are my go to paints, especially when painting on a daily basis. I have attempted pastels but could never conquer them, I am so in awe of Susan Bjerke and her pastel works.

Flowers
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I love what people are doing with collaging and silk screening. Some day I will be the Banksy of Southern California.

Who or what inspires you most?

Other artists seem to inspire me most. My go to favorites are Georgia O’Keefe, Frida Kahlo, David Hockney, Alice Neel, Kenton Nelson, Andy Warhol, Lee Krasner, Claire Basler, Barbara Kruger, Shag, El Gato Gomez, Donna Mibus, I could go on and on. I try to go to all the museum exhibits and art shows that I can. I recently went to the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, where real people become works of art. It has been going for 85 years and is incredible. I look at all the paintings on DPW everyday and see what everyone is up to. I follow artists on Instagram and love when they post their processes.

Arrow Motel
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Me being lazy. I try to work through it every day.

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

I schedule my day so that I have a few hours every afternoon to paint. Since painting is so enjoyable, it’s something to look forward to.

Vintage L.A. Scene
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Most of my paintings come from pictures I have taken or from old Kodachrome slides I collect off of eBay. I am obsessed with mid-century America. I love the architecture, advertising, cars, you name it. Most of my paintings seem to be about old signs, places or scenes.

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

I like to experiment with different painting surfaces and sizes. I am very fortunate to live 2 blocks from an art supply store and go there a lot to see what they have that is new. I usually come home with new colors, brushes and markers to use on my work.  I love to see what other artists are buying there and see what they are working on.

Cadillac Fence Hardware
(click to view)

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

By being a member of the DPW community, I am learning something new every day. By painting every day, I learn what works and what doesn’t in my artwork. I am trying new things and ways of painting that I never thought of before. It is also interesting to see what sells and what doesn’t. I don’t create a painting with the idea that it will sell, I am painting really just to please myself.

What makes you happiest about your art?

I cannot lie, I love when people like my paintings and when they buy them. I love when I finish a painting and I can get started on the next one.

Thanks, Sue!

© 2018 Sophie Marine