DPW Spotlight Interview: Jan McLean

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

From Jan's DPW Gallery Page:

Hi, I'm an artist specializing in landscapes. Clouds are especially fascinating to me, as well as the effects of light on the landscape. I try to capture the feeling of a place in my work. (click to view gallery)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I would spend a lot of time as a kid drawing typical little boy stuff like police cars, cowboys and helicopters. One day when I was maybe five or six years old I couldn’t think of anything to draw, so I remember asking my Granny and she suggested I draw the flower garden. I wasn’t sure how to go about drawing a garden so I just tried to draw what I saw instead of drawing “symbols” for things like I had been doing. That way of thinking and seeing that I had stumbled across back then was a bit of a revelation to me. I was fascinated by drawing but eventually I began to feel the need to also explore color because there was simply too much color in the world to ignore. I was in my twenties when I began oil painting and it just seemed to fit.

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

Many starts and stops over the years which I like to think of as taking the scenic route. My day job as a graphic designer left little time or energy for painting, but now that I’m retired, I’m able to devote more time to painting and just the enjoyment of making art. I love painting large canvases but I also want to work on some smaller daily (daily-ish) paintings and possibly explore a slightly looser style.

Charleston Basket Weaver
(click to view)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

Lots of graphite drawings, some pen and ink, colored pencil, and watercolor, all of which I love, but I plan to concentrate on oil painting. My style has always been realist but I have tried to make my work not as much about realistic details but about how those details combine to create a cohesive composition.

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

I still love drawing, which has the added benefit of being one of the best therapies in the world. Nothing can quiet and clear your mind like spending thirty minutes with a pencil and sketchbook. I think oil painting will always be my favorite medium.

Thunderhead
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

Oil painting offers so many possibilities of expression in terms of color, surfaces, types of brushes, palette knife, thick impasto or wash, etc. It’s one-stop shopping for creative exploration.

Who or what inspires you most?

Nature and how light affects the landscape are constant inspirations. Clouds are some of my favorite subjects to paint and also to just sit and watch. I love seeing what other artists are creating and there are so many incredible artists who are willing to share their thoughts and methods online. I’ve learned a lot and continue to learn from and be inspired by them.

February Evening
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Some days it’s hard to focus for one reason or another, so I’ll get away from art for a while and go fill up the bird feeders or cook something in my cast iron skillet.

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

Sticking to a routine helps me. I usually wake up early, make some coffee and start working on a painting. I can usually get several hours of good painting time in before other responsibilities distract me.

Summertime
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I look for interesting light, interesting shapes, subjects that evoke a certain feeling. Usually while I’m looking for ideas, the ideas just seem to find me instead.

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

In the past, when painting time was scarce, I would generally begin with a quick outline sketch of a subject on the canvas without much prep work and hope for the best. But, lately I’ve been starting out with some basic thumbnail sketches to work out the composition and become familiar with the subject. This always leads to “what if” ideas—what if this tree were bigger, what if the road went more over this way, what if the shadow was darker, etc.—which makes creating art much more exciting for me.

Miss Lucy
(click to view)

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

Picasso said “It takes a long time to become young” and I feel like I’m starting to understand what he means. Art requires some discipline but at the same time it has to be fun, a sort of controlled abandon.

What makes you happiest about your art?

The entire process of creating art makes me happy. Painting, drawing, stalking clouds, waiting for the right light. I feel lucky to be where I am in my life right now and I’m looking forward to some quality art time ahead.

Thanks, Jan!

© 2019 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Eric Hazeltine

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings. To enter to win Eric's painting "Composition 17" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Eric's DPW Gallery Page:

Eric Hazeltine received his Bachelor's degree in Fine Art from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater in 2016. He is currently pursuing his Master's of Fine Art degree and teaching design at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Since a young age, Eric Hazeltine has had an affinity for drawing and painting and could always be spotted with his sketchbook and pencils. Currently, art could be considered his obsession. Working from life has become his passion in recent years which led him to start painting daily still lifes. In his free time he is always reading, researching and experimenting with new ideas in the processes of creating art to further his talents and aid in his studies. (click to view gallery)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I first started painting when I was about sixteen years old. All through my childhood, I was obsessed with drawing so my mother bought me an oil paint set and some canvas knowing it would be something I’d enjoy doing. I eventually took an independent study class in painting as a senior in high school that gave me the basics and the rest is history.


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


I’ve had plenty. Long story short, after receiving my associate degree in Arts and Science I was working in the realm of engineering while continuing my schooling in Fine Art at the same time. Throughout this period there were big chunks of time that I wasn’t drawing or painting at all, but after graduating with my bachelor’s degree in Fine Art a couple years ago I decided to make the leap and leave my job of seven years to pursue my master’s degree in Fine Art. Most of my time is now devoted to either teaching/learning/reading about art or simply doing it and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Composition 17
(click to view)

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


What mediums and genres have you experimented with?


My work has always consisted of trying out different materials and is a major interest of mine. I’ve done papermaking, woodwork, metalwork, sculpture, etc. Basically, anything I can get my hands on becomes a piece of my work outside of my oil paintings. I’m also pretty open with genres as well and have experimented with too many to list. I’ve had years where I worked strictly non-representationally and long periods of time when I was strictly doing portraiture and figurative work.


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


Medium-wise, I always find myself going back to charcoal on paper and oil painting on board. Genres are a little trickier, but I really enjoy working with still lifes, portraiture, or working from the figure. I work almost exclusively from life. If I’m ever working from a photo it’s likely there are major constraints keeping me from working from life or it’s a commission piece that’s based on a photo.

Composition 14
(click to view)


Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

There’s nothing in particular that I’m looking to explore at the moment except maybe digging deeper into portraiture. I’ve found this is a harder genre to hold on to since I have such a preference for working from life and strive for realism in my work. It’s not very often I can find someone willing to sit for more than four or five hours at a time.


Who or what inspires you most?


A lot of my current and past teachers are the most inspiring because of their experience in the arts and their amazing work ethic when juggling teaching and their professional art practice week in and week out. It really pushes me to work on becoming a better artist every single day and sets a standard for me that I can only hope to attain.

Composition 20
(click to view)


What does procrastination look like for you?


My procrastination involves cleaning/organizing or building things to help me paint or other artwork. I’m a very meticulous artist when it comes to cleanliness so usually that doesn’t deter me too often since it stays pretty clean and organized in my studio. I’m a huge fan of building and creating things though, so sometimes I put off painting so I can build some cradled painting panels and frames for my work despite not needing them immediately.


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

I’m definitely more productive in the morning so I try to wake up early and get to my studio as soon as possible. This usually gives me a couple hours if I get right to work. You’d think that since I’m in grad school for fine art that most of my time would be spent doing art but that’s not the case most days. Unfortunately, I spend a lot of time doing research, writing, and teaching a design class at the University of Wisconsin instead of spending time in my studio.

Composition 24
(click to view)


How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I’m really interested in colors and the conceptual ideas behind objects. I tend to appreciate things that will change and degrade over time. Knowing that they will never look the same throughout their lifespan really intrigues me. With food products, this idea of degradation is emphasized because their lifespan is a lot shorter than other things I could be painting. I think this is why I tend to include them in my daily paintings so often. I know they won’t last longer than a few days, so I need to finish the painting within one or two sittings, which also helps me to be productive as well.


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

I jump back from realism/abstraction and painting/drawing a lot. This keeps me thinking of new ideas and possibilities of merging them all into one and having this constant stream of things I want to try. Along the same lines as this, my constant need to read and learn new or better techniques always brings me back to the easel to try them for myself. This borderline obsession of learning has given me an ample amount of skills that always seems to be of use even if it seems irrelevant to the work I’m currently doing at that moment.

Composition 27
(click to view)


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

It’s probably because I’m currently in grad school, but I think the conceptual framework for my paintings is in the forefront of what I’m in the middle of learning and figuring out. I’ve been reading a lot about the history of still life painting and have become interested in seeing where that will lead me in my own work.


What makes you happiest about your art?

The process of creation. As long as I’m drawing, painting, or working on some type of artwork, then I’m happy. I can spend 10+ hours just painting or drawing somedays and those are the days I live for, honestly.

Thanks, Eric!

© 2019 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Kathy Los-Rathburn

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings. To enter to win Kathy's painting "Cool Paintings to Warm the Heart # 12" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Kathy's DPW Gallery Page:

Kathy, a native of Indiana, received her formal art training as a realist in watercolor at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. She holds signature status in the Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois Watercolor Societies and also belongs to many other art organizations. Her love for watercolor and passing on the joy and gratification of the medium to others has gained her teaching experience at the American Academy of Art, Purdue University, and many local art organizations and groups since 1974. She also has been teaching drawing and painting in her studio since 1974. (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I don't know when I started to paint, I think I was born with a paintbrush in my hand. Like most kids, I was always doing some kind of art. At sixteen, I remember getting my first "real" set of watercolors. I still have that set. At sixteen I also took an 8-week drawing class with a lady who had classes in her home studio. I knew then that I wanted to do the same when I grew up and I have been doing that for forty-five years.

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

I would have to say that once I started to paint that I never stopped and I have enjoyed every creative moment.

"Cool Paintings to Warm the Heart" # 12
(click to view)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I always loved watercolor and sketching. I have been trying some acrylics the last few years and I am enjoying working with them.

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

I do have some really nice large sets of pastels, but I never really got into them. I could never understand how they can get such detail with them. To me they were always messy and I never could figure out how the pastels would stick to the paper.

Streets of Chicago XII - Skating Under the Bean
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I recently bought a selection of oil paints. I have never painted in oil but I always admired the work that I saw here on DPW in oil. So I went and bought the oils that mix with water and I hope I can adjust to them. We will see.

Who or what inspires you most?

The person that inspired me most in watercolor is Irving Shapiro AWS who was my instructor at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. Now I am inspired by so many water color artists that I have met on FB and Instagram. I am amazed by so many of them and what they are doing. Watercolor has come such a long way and so have the pigments.

Peonies
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Procrastination? That word is not in my vocabulary. I am more the opposite... I am obsessed and I do not know how to stop.

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

My time for my art is a bit unusual... I love the night so I work from 10pm 'til about 5am. Sometimes I start even earlier. During these hours everyone is sleeping so no one bothers me and I am not going to go out in the middle of the night. Perfect time to paint.

Beets
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Since I do not like to travel, my subject matter is usually found within an hour of my home. It is amazing how much subject matter that I have in the area where I live. Since I am mostly a landscape painter, I love painting Chicago scenes, Industrial landscapes, the Dunes, and the many farmlands that are near me. My ideas come to me from photo shoots when I venture out to all of my favorite places.

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

I don't know why I don't get burned out. I just love what I do so I just want to keep doing it. Wish there were more hours in the day. Sometimes trying new paint, colors, brushes, or paper excites me.  Sometimes I will challenge myself to try new subject matter. I have had many shows and that is definitely a way to keep you fresh and motivated.

Waiting to Hear From You
(click to view)

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

Right now as an artist I am at the point where I paint because it is my passion. If someone likes my work, GREAT. If they don't, that's OK, too! I am not trying to please anyone. I am trying to be true to myself and to please me. I try to make each painting the best that I can and hope that the next one will be better yet. I try to keep growing for self fulfillment.

What makes you happiest about your art?

What makes me happiest... the more I paint, the more I paint!

Thanks, Kathy!

© 2019 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Betty Felenchak

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

From Betty's DPW Gallery Page:

"Every artist was at first an amateur"
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

I started painting in the fall of 2014 after being inspired by the book Fail Fast, Fail Often, by Ryan Babineaux. I have taken some lessons and followed YouTube tutorials. I am currently taking a class with Sean Beavers at Sanctuart Arts in Elliot, Maine. I have a full-time job as a software engineer.

I am attempting to do "daily painting" as a way to move forward in my art journey.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

Two things happened about 4 1/2 years ago that got me started painting.  The first is that a friend started painting fairly seriously after years of hardly painting while his kids were young.  He started posting these great paintings to social media at about the same time as I was reading the book, "Fail Fast, Fail Often" by Ryan Babineaux.  This book discussed how adults don't like to try new things because we don't like to fail, but that failure is an integral part of learning any new skill.  Someone can't expect to play a Chopin Nocturne when they first start piano lessons, but instead must be happy with "Mary had a Little Lamb". I decided that since I had always wanted to be able to paint, I should just begin, with the understanding that my first couple hundred paintings were going to be bad, but that I would try to learn from each one.

I took some lessons from local teachers, and also followed along with a bunch of YouTube tutorials.  (Thank you Angela Anderson and Cinnamon Cooney for all your virtual lessons.)  And yes, a LOT of my early paintings were really bad.  But over the years I have seen progress.  I am currently taking lessons from Sean Beavers at Sanctuary Arts in Elliot, Maine.  (See some of his work here: https://www.artsy.net/artist/sean-beavers).

Ring Dings
(click to view)

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

What does procrastination look like for you?

It looks exactly like a Samsung Galaxy S7 phone.

I can always find something to do such as scrolling thru social media or art websites such as Daily Paintworks, playing games, or searching though photo websites for ideas to paint.  Watching other people paint on YouTube tutorials is a great way to put off actually going to the easel myself.

What makes you happiest about your art?

Because I haven't been painting all that long (4.5 years), sometimes I stand back from a work, and I am amazed that it looks like what I am trying to do!  Also, it is really satisfying when people like my work.  And if they like it enough to buy it, I am over the moon.  But what has been the most satisfying is to see that I am making progress in my art journey.  I have been working hard at it and I can see improvement.   I am an engineer in my full-time job, so painting unlocks a different section of my brain and allows me to relax.

The Kiss
(click to view)

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

When I first started painting I thought that Water Colors looked easy.  I was so wrong!  I have such admiration for those people who make it look so loose and easy.

I have painted mostly in Acrylic and Oils, going through phases where each was the preferred medium.  For a while I tried Acrylic Pouring, but decided that it was more abstract than I wanted to do. (It was loads of fun, though!).  I also went through a brief period where I tried plein air painting as well.  But again, that is harder than it looks to do successfully.

White Lily
(click to view)

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

Currently I am painting mostly in oils on small canvases in the Alla Prima style.  I am trying to do "daily painting", where I try to complete a whole painting in one sitting.  Because I have a full time job, sing in the choir, and (try?) to go the the gym, my time is limited.  My goal is to complete a small painting in this style about 3 or 4 times per week.

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I recently began a class in Representational Oil Painting that will teach me a different method from the Alla Prima method that I currently do.  We will be doing an under-painting and then glazes.  I am looking forward to learning this as I feel that certain paintings need that level of dedication.

I can also recognize that I need to take a drawing class, as I usually trace my design from photos onto my canvas, rather than draw/paint them freehand.  This skill will help with painting from life and plein air.  And someday I would like to get back to learning Water Colors.

This Little Piggy
(click to view)

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

I have found that the hardest thing is to just get off the couch and walk to the easel.  Having a goal of at least 3 paintings a week has helped keep me motivated.  I also find that taking a class once a week helps to keep painting in the forefront of my mind.  I had a couple shows (local library and coffee shop) and that was very motivating to have enough quality work to show.

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I am mostly inspired by photos or artwork by other artists.  Sometimes I see a photo that just begs to be painted.  The Facebook group Photos for Artists is great inspiration as the photos are all available for artists to paint with no copyright restrictions.  Sometimes I get into a theme for a while.  Currently I am in a theme of painting food.  Maybe having a New Year's resolution to eat better is the reason I am painting junk food: donuts, cake, cupcakes, ring dings, etc.

Toll House Cookies
(click to view)

What do you most want people to know about you as an artist?

I think what I most want people to know about me is that I am committed to improving my skills and growing.  I am a busy person in the other areas of my life, so I don't have tons of time to make art.  However I am motivated to learn and grow as an artist.  If you check up on my Daily Paintworks website occasionally, hopefully you can watch my progress as I travel along this art journey.  Enjoy!

Thanks, Betty!

© 2019 Sophie Marine