DPW Spotlight Interview: Lauren Pretorius

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

To enter to win Lauren's painting, "Magic 8 Ball" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing her interview.

From Lauren's DPW Gallery page:

My name is Lauren Pretorius. I live in the lovely state of South Dakota with my husband, two pugs, and two parrots. I graduated in 2008 from Northern State University with a degree in graphic design and have been selling my paintings online since 2005. I absolutely love to paint, take photographs, and design anything that can be designed.

My artwork is inspired by nature, music, and ample amounts of caffeine. I choose subject matter that is simple and recognizable and emphasize its defining characters to make something that is not normally considered interesting... well... interesting! On occasion, I like to involve a little humor as well. I feel it's important not to take life too seriously and I strive to never lose my childish enthusiasm. Cheers!

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I can remember painting as a very young child with my 'kid friendly' water color kits that my parents were ever so great to purchase for me. My mother has always been a painter, and I attribute a large part of my ability to her. I remember trying to paint like her with my goofy plastic kid brushes on watercolor paper. My paintings were nothing close to being a masterpiece by any means, but my parents treated them like it! I recall entering drawing contests in Elementary school as well... I began to win a few of the contests and got really great prizes (mostly little trinkets and books) which really sparked my interest in the subject. I was having fun!

Magic 8 Ball
(click to see original image)

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

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

When I began college I pursued a degree in pre-med which allowed no time what so ever for my artistic endeavors. During college, I slowly realized that what I was going to school for wasn't quite my calling. After my second year of pre-med, I completely switched gears and changed my degree to the opposite end of the spectrum... Art! To be more specific, graphic design.

There was only that short span of time where painting wasn't in my life--- it was a pretty lack-luster and boring time to say the least! Ever since I charged back into the art field, I have been painting. I graduated from Northern State University in 2008 with my degree in graphic design.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I have tried almost every single medium at some point, except gouache. To be honest, I have no idea what gouache even is or even how to pronounce it for that matter!

Painting, however, was definitely my medium. Acrylic was really great for a while, but then I was introduced to oil paint and have never turned back. There is something about the buttery consistency of the paint and the capability to move the paint around if you need to without it drying.

As for a painting surface, I prefer a hardboard panel. I don't like to have the texture of canvas to paint on. I like the smoothness of hardboard, but I do like to add a little 'tooth' to the surface by gessoing with a foam roller. This gives the board a very uniform texture without strokes which I have come to love.

Dew Drop Tulips
(click to see original image)

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

I have dabbled in landscape, animal, and still life painting. Still life painting has really been the genre that has stuck with me the best. I am still exploring a bit, but I think I have pretty much found my niche. I will leave the landscape and animal art to my other love... photography.

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I think I have attempted almost every genre and have always gone back to still life painting. If something new comes up, I will definitely give it a try.

Who or what inspires you most?

I get the most inspiration from the people that surround me. Friends, family, and people in the art community inspire me to continue to create new works of art that stand out and that are unique. I also am inspired by the vast number of artists that are currently in the art community. It is amazing to see new ideas and techniques that other artists are using. Having the ability to see other artist's work always keeps ideas fresh and inspires me to shoot for new things.

Old No. 7
(click to see original image)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Procrastination is a terrible word! I have never been much of a procrastinator myself. If I know I have something that needs to be completed, I will make sure that it gets done when it needs to get done. Knowing that there is something on a checklist that needs to be checked off keeps me going. It is impossible for me to relax unless its done!

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

I adhere to a pretty strict schedule. I set certain hours for myself during the week to dedicate to my art. I also try to make sure that I reward myself with the weekend. The weekend is my time to do what I want to and when I want to; it helps me recharge to be creative again during the rest of the week.

Avocado Slice
(click to see original image)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I go shopping! I love to go on a shopping trip in order to get 'prop's for a photo shoot to use for future paintings. The grocery store is usually my number one 'idea' place as I love to paint any type of food. But I also love to hit up antique stores and even community 'rummage sales' to find unique items to bring out their character. My last 'prop' shopping trip involved the purchase of various vegetables, children's play marbles, a magic 8 Ball, a yo-yo, and a bottle of wine. I can only imagine what the cashier was thinking.

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

I like to paint things in a different light. For instance, imagine a painting of a pear. Normally, a pear is quite an interesting subject to paint with its color, slight texture, and slightly bumpy appearance. But, I like to take it one step further--- slice it horizontally and stack it back together--- or bake it and drizzle it with maple syrup. Different is the key for me.

Goldfish Lightbulb #3
(click to see original image)

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

Art is an ever-evolving medium. I will never know all there is to know about art--- every day there is something new to learn. If there is something that I have learned from in the past it would be to never take things too seriously. Art is about creativity, expression, and above all else, having fun.

What makes you happiest about your art?

Honestly, the best part about creating my art is the last few moments I have with it--- After someone has given me the honor of being it's new owner. The oil paint has finally dried and one last coat of protective varnish has been applied. I prepare my little painting for it's greatest journey ever--- to a different place in the world, knowing that it should hopefully bring a few smiles at it's final home for years to come.

Thanks, Lauren!

© 2013 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Cecilia Rosslee

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

To enter to win Cecilia's painting, "Late Afternoon Roses" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing her interview.

From Cecilia's DPW Gallery page:

Cecilia Rosslee is originally from South Africa where she studied Fine Arts. She has for ten years been publishing her art work on a large range of stationery and has many clients across the world, including Sun International Hotels, Planet Hollywood and many private collectors.

Cecilia now lives in picturesque Carmel, CA with her husband and three wonderful kids, where she is inspired by the natural beauty of the Monterey area and all things French! Her work is inspired by the contrast of warm light against interesting shadows and she works in high quality oil paints on canvas.

Cecilia Rosslee's work reflects scenes from her immediate surroundings, whether it be special object d'art around her, figurative work or beautiful French inspired floral studies.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I think very soon after birth! My entire family is creative, and I just happened to be fortunate enough to have grown up with easels, canvases, sketch boards and pottery wheels around me! I thought the entire world could paint, until I went to school and realized I was the only little girl in class that knew how to paint a river like it really looked and everybody else's... well, let me not comment, but I remember being shocked at the thought that painting wasn't a natural ability for everybody.

Late Afternoon Roses
(click to see original image)

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

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

As it later turned out, I realized that painting might have been the only talent I had! Therefore, I could not afford stops and starts in my painting career! I remember being pregnant, balancing on scaffolding planks, painting Tromp l'oeil images on ceilings for The Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, breast feeding my newborn baby onsite, while painting Planet Hollywood at the Waterfront, and I'm still painting everyday, picking my kids up from high school covered in oil paint.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

There is maybe not a thing I haven't tried! Water colors... too unpredictable; acrylics... too quick drying; murals... too labor intensive; landscapes... too bad for words; so I decided to stick to my beloved oils!

Dappled Light
(click to see original image)

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

I guess, like everything else in life, everything works together at the end of the day, and so I have taken something away from everything I have ever set my hands to, and apply it to what I do today. I am so blessed that I have had the opportunity to experiment with different techniques, styles and paint mediums. Also, it helps to know what not to do, and when to stop painting!

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

In my opinion, oil painting is really a science as there are so many different colors to work with and so many millions of combinations to reach. I'm guessing it will take me the rest of my life on this earth to really get to know it all!

Orange Study
(click to see original image)

Who/what inspires you most?

For starters, I love looking at all the new DPW paintings that come up everyday; what a wonderful inspiration to see what all the other artists are up to! But mainly, Ovanes Berberian, Sorolla and Sargent are my ALL TIME FAVES!

What does procrastination look like for you?

Balancing my elbows on the back of my garden chair so as not to shake the camera too much while it's on the longest shutter speed because there are only two more rays of light in the day to capture my daily painting for that night's posting!

French Chair
(click to see original image)

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

Getting dressed in my paint clothes: it kind of reroutes my ADD type personality back to the easel!

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

From pealing potatoes at the kitchen window and catching a glimpse of sunlight through a glass vase in the window sill to going through an old American Artist magazine before falling asleep at night... I guess I find it all around me all day long. When I am having a conversation with someone, I often find myself observing their skin tone, thinking of what colors I would mix to paint their face!

Roostafel
(click to see original image)

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

Going back in time and referring to the old masters is what does it for me.

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

The different degrees of temperature in oil colors and how to juxta position it so as to increase the emotion I want to convey when a viewer looks at my art.

What makes you happiest about your art?

The fact that I am able to use my God given talent to earn money to support myself, my kids and be a blessing to others.

Thanks, Cecilia!

© 2013 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Cathy Engberg

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

To enter to win Cathy's painting, "Morning Joe" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing her interview.

From Cathy's DPW Gallery page:

My name is Cathy Engberg and I currently live in the Chicagoland area, painting a slice of everyday
life 'almost' everyday. I’ve loved to draw for as long as I can remember, and being good at it was something I was proud of as a child. As I got older this translated into the love of painting and I’ve had the honor of working with some great teachers.

My artistic path has not been a straight one. There have been a many detours along the way. After 11
years in corporate web development I have once again started to follow my original dream in fine art. As of December 2011 I am painting full time and loving every minute of it.

I have been inspired by many of the masters. I am also inspired by today’s Daily Painters. Working small and often makes complete sense to me and I see my work evolving. I try to post several times a week on my blog “Color Notes” which shows my journey.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I've always had this dream, ever since I was a child, that I was standing at an easel painting a figure. I remember painting each stroke in the dream. I still have similar dreams. I drew a lot as a child. My mother encouraged each of us kids to have a sketch pad and draw during rainy days and on long trips. It wasn't until I was in my mid-30's that I had a chance to take some formal courses in drawing, color and design, oils and watercolor. After my first class, I was immediately hooked and I kept signing up for others. My love for oil painting started during this time.

Morning Joe
(click to see original painting)

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

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

Yes. In the 90's when I was in school, I was not exposed to much direction on how to take your art to the next level and make a living. While I was taking the art courses at the local college, I noticed that some new classes were being offered in a strange new thing called HTML. That's when I started to get involved with computer art, HTML, CSS, JavaScript. I discovered I could earn a paycheck in that field and all my focus went to that for the following 11 years. My major creative outlet during those 11 years was learning photography.

Then I noticed all the incredible paintings that people where selling online. I was so thrilled to see people making it work. I was especially drawn to the daily painters Carol Marine and Karin Jurick. I credit them for inspiring me to come back to what I wanted to do since I was a child.

Mad Dash
(click to see original painting)

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I've always been creative even when I wasn't drawing or painting. I enjoyed fiber art and had a rug loom at one time. I would weave rugs and sculpt baskets from collected woods and fibers, and then sell them at local art/craft fairs when my children were small. I've experimented with pencil, charcoal, conte, ink, pastel, oils, and watercolor. More recently, I have found quilting to be another creative outlet that I can do in the evenings. It lets me play with color and contrast which I love so much in painting.

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

Oil is definitely my favorite. I still quilt in the evening and I'll use pencil & charcoal for sketching. I'm still playing with photography because it is related to my paintings. I never thought my photos were complete. I always felt they needed to be painted.

Scratch & Peck
(click to see original painting)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I'm pretty focused on oil painting right now. I just went to the Picasso exhibit at the Art Institute this last weekend and he had done some clay tiles that started a small spark in me. It involved carving through layers of color to develop a design. Hmmm...

Who/what inspires you most?

Color and contrast attract me first. I like to paint happy moments in life, a sip of coffee, or someone relaxing in the sun. My art doesn't have a hidden meaning. It's all about shape and feel.

I'm inspired by many many artists. The list grows every day.

What does procrastination look like for you?

I'm very self motivated. I can get myself into the studio on most days. I found that if I plan my paintings too far in advance then I tend to drag my feet starting them. But if I choose my image on the day I paint it, I'm gold.

Underwater
(click to see original painting)

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

I found it close to impossible to be creative and paint while I was still doing web development. All I could think about was painting so I ended up taking in less and less web work so that I could go into painting full time. I set goals each year and modify them throughout the year depending on how things are going. So far, it's been working well.

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Since I'm interested in everyday moments, ideas are everywhere. I'm living an everyday life! I have my camera with me most times. I use 2 cameras. One is small so it's easier to be subtle while taking photos. The other is larger and allows me to snap quickly and zoom from long distances.

Topsy Turvy
(click to see original painting)

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

I change my painting subjects often. I enter online challenges like the ones on Daily Paintworks. I've also created my own personal challenges on my blog. I finished one recently called The Portrait Project. Choosing the image I paint on the day I paint it keeps things fresh and impromptu.

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

Simplify. Simplify. Simplify. It's my mantra. I tend to get too fussy. I'm always working on this. I'm also working on design. One of my favorite parts of the Picasso exhibit was studying his sketches. He would draw the same motifs over and over and would modify the subject into better design elements. Better shapes. I think this is key to successful composition. Which is a lesson I'll be practicing for a looooong time.

What makes you happiest about your art?

Once in a while, and it doesn't happen on all paintings for me, I hit the absolutely correct value and color and drop it into the shadow. The shadow almost disappears. Happiness is in the shadows for me. This is what I love.

Thanks, Cathy!

© 2013 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Gerard Boersma

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

To enter to win Gerard's painting, "Classic (Coca Cola Can)" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing his interview.

From Gerard's DPW Gallery page:

I am a professional artist and have been internationally recognized for over 10 years. I’m a master of acrylics with my own distinctive style of realistic painting. My art is in museums, galleries and private collections worldwide. Paintings were shown alongside some of the biggest names in art history at leading art fairs in Europe and the United States. I live and work in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

As a kid, I first got interested in graffiti. You could say my use of color still stems from this. Later on, I moved from graffiti towards painting because I felt I could say a whole lot more painting than I ever could doing graffiti. After high school, I made a conscious decision to do what I love to do best, no matter what; that was painting. I decided to study to become an art teacher. Got the diploma, but never really did anything with it as I was fortunate enough to paint full time right from the get go.

Classic (Coca Cola Can)
(click to see original image)

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

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

After graduating at art school in 2001, I started painting full time and have never stopped. The only stop I can imagine is when I'm so old I can't physically paint anymore.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I experimented with all mediums and genres during art school. The only exception being oil paint. I can't stand the smell of both the paint and turpentine. Plus, to me, it takes too long to dry.

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

All, except acrylic on masonite. And of course realism as my genre.

Pick And Choose - Painting Of Woman In Bookstore
(click here to see original image)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

None. I don't feel the need to explore any new materials nor genres. I'm pretty much settled on realism and acrylic. That's all I need to make the art I like. I do, however, always love to explore my subject matter. That's way more important to me than my materials.

Who or what inspires you most?

Modern people and todays society. I love to paint people on the streets, in public transport, stores and museums, or zoom in on popular brands for my still life paintings. I feel it says a whole lot about who we are, how we see ourselves, interact with each other, or are influenced by modern developments, in many ways. I observe it, enlarge it and paint it. That way, our fast and busy lives are forever captured in a moment. Finally ready to be observed quietly.

Self Portrait With QR Codes
(click here to see original image)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Doing the minor things last. I do the important stuff first, every other little thing can wait. That's the only procrastination I do. I love to paint and I can't get to my studio fast enough. Anything that gets in the way or keeps me from doing just that I see as an unwanted form of procrastination that needs to be eliminated fast. Once at my studio, I start painting and don't procrastinate whatsoever. It's just too much fun to waste any time!

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

I'm doing this full time, so I always have time for my art. I love to keep regular hours, almost like a 9-5 job. That feels right to me; plus, the light is best during those hours. As a painter, you have to have self discipline. I like to remind myself that an appointment with myself is just as important as an appointment with somebody else. And I should keep it, but as I love my work, it really isn't an issue to me.

ATM - Street Scene Painting Of Man WIth Bike In Front Of ATM Machine
(click here to see original image)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I don't think I ever came up with anything. This might sound strange, but it always just sort of happens. I have the intention to do it and then ideas seem to pop up in my head effortlessly or I happen to see a wonderful scene by accident while taking a stroll, for example. All I have to do is notice it. That's the hard part, noticing it all.

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

I never try to do tomorrow's work today. I like to close the studio door behind me at the end of the day and not think about art for a while. It doesn't always work out that way, but I try. I need enough time for play and relaxation. There's more to life than painting. In my spare time, I try not to look at too many other artists, as I've discovered that when I do, I often (unconsciously) end up trying to paint like they do and not like myself. I also like to take a step back every now and then and look at what I created over the past few months. That's also a good way to keep things vibrant.

Fountainhead - Still Life Painting Of Books By Ayn Rand
(click here to see original image)

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

It's not really learning I guess, but I'm struggling to accept (and at the moment I don't think I'll ever be able to) that art just doesn't have that big of an impact as I believe it used to have on public discourse and society. I'm afraid art is becoming more and more like a show business with its own celebrities, red carpet events and what not. I can't stand it. Art should give people what they need, rather than what they want.

What makes you happiest about your art?

I'm the happiest when somebody tells me my art has had a positive and profound impact on their lives. That's what it's all about.

Thanks, Gerard!

© 2013 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Diane Klock

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

To enter to win Diane's painting, "Shopping in Chinatown" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing her interview.

From Diane's DPW Gallery page:

I am a self taught artist who divides her time between New York City and Litchfield, Connecticut. I started out as a plein air painter in oils and then found the excitement of watercolor. I love to paint cityscapes, landscapes, boats and florals with a few cows and roosters thrown in the mix now and then. I also enjoy both plein air and studio work.

I love to travel and will carry my sketchbook and my plein air kit with me whenever possible. I have been painting seriously for about 15 years and am so grateful to God for the wonderful workshop teachers He has placed in my path and the beauty of His creation, a gift for any artist.

I have a blog called Created With Joy and would love for you to join me there as well as visiting my website. You can also see my work at The P.S Gallery in Litchfield, CT and The Artisan Loft in Pultneyville, NY. I currently have two books on Blurb.com: New York City In Watercolor and Litchfield In Watercolor.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I am a self taught artist and grateful God has placed wonderful teachers in my path. I always loved to draw and paint as a child, but did not really start painting till my children were little. Folk Art was my first introduction to painting; painting little boxes and stenciling. We moved often with my husbands job and when in Texas, I decided we needed some paintings for our house so I took a class and started oil painting.

As I grew and moved to Kansas I decided to attend a plein air workshop at the Scottsdale Artist School. I was hooked. That started my journey and my first teacher's, Charles Sovek's, advice to me was, "find a teacher you like and stick with that teacher and learn as much as you can" and I did. I now live between NYC and Litchfield, CT and painting is my passion. My life priorities are God, Family and Painting.

Shopping in Chinatown
(click to see original image)

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

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

I would say once I started taking workshops at Scottsdale Artist School, I became more and more serious. I have been painting seriously for the last 15 years and am now starting to teach others.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I started out doing plein air oils and some acrylic. When Charles Sovek passed in 2007, I was deeply saddened and decided I needed a change. God once again placed a wonderful watercolor teacher in my path, Pat Weaver. I am now focused mostly on watercolor and my goal this year is to get more proficient doing watercolor en plein air. I love plein air painting and am excited to get back to it!

Plein Air In Venice
(click to see original image)

Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away? Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I enjoy working in all mediums. When I get bored or stuck with one, I can get rejuvenated with another. My latest is sticks, ink and watercolor. I found some sticks, sharpened them with a razor and added watercolor. This is so much fun, you all have to give it a try.

Who/what inspires you most?

I love the beauty of the world God has given all of us and I hope the joy I have for painting shows through in my work. I love the excitement of the city, the peacefulness of the country. I love color, boats, fishing, hiking, snowshoeing, and little cafes. I love the excitement of painting my impression of the day as I travel.

Rockport Habor 2
(click to see original image)

What does procrastination look like for you?

We all need to get the iggly wiggles out right? I fiddle and clean as I find it hard to paint when my apartment or studio is not in order. Then I just go for it and enjoy my time with my brushes and paint.

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

Like I said earlier, I have simplified my life. My priorities are God, Family and Painting. I now give myself permission to say no to things that do not fit. My goal is to paint everyday, but if I don't, I no longer beat myself up about it and instead, look forward to the next time I can.

Traffic
(click to see original image)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Ideas for paintings go back to things that inspire me. "You need to paint what you love and love what you paint." I can't remember who said that but it is so true. When you paint someone else's idea, it shows in your paintings. You can tell by looking at a painting if the persons heart is in it. I paint what I am drawn to.

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

This goes back to answer four and my friend Charles Sovek. His advice to his students was to try all mediums. When you get tired, bored or stuck with one, try another that will challenge you. This has been sound advice for me all these years.

Walking Home From Work
(click to see original image)

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

Right now as an artist, I am learning to enjoy where I am. To enjoy the painting process and the joy that comes with that journey. I am excited to start teaching and share this process with others; to inspire and encourage new painters.

What makes you happiest about your art?

Sharing it with others and encouraging new painters to give it their best and enjoy the process.

Thanks, Diane!

© 2013 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Leslie Macon

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

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

From Leslie's DPW Gallery page:

I am an oil painter living and working in Archer Lodge, North Carolina. I have painted professionally since 1994. My art career began as a wood carver in 1984 when I started carving duck decoys from basswood and tupelo. I eventually apprenticed under a world class cajun decoy carver and that was where I first discovered painting with oils.

I switched from carving to painting in pastel and oil mediums in the early 1990's. It was during this time that I competed in national and international competitions as a wildlife artist winning awards and selling through art galleries.

In 2001 I decided to experiment with other subjects and explored floral and still life. During that time I worked for a fine art publisher and had several collections published for the home decor market. I paint floral, still life, historic portraits, wildlife and visionary/fantasy art. My art is also licensed on products as fine art posters, bookmarks, and art tile installations.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I started my art career as a decorative wooden duck decoy carver in 1986. I was fortunate to study under a Cajun carver that taught me to paint my decoys with oil paints.

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

No, I have pretty much have done art since 1986. I had times I had to supplement my art income and work as a custom picture framer, but I always kept actively working as an artist. I think they call that burning the candle at both ends.

Kramer
(click to see original image)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I have carved in wood, done beadwork, worked with pastels, painted with oil paint, done tile mosaics, laid ceramic tile, and worked with sheetrock. I am one of those creative types that can see something demonstrated on the DIY Network and I am sure that I can do it too. Monkey see, monkey do. As a result I can dismantle a house and put it back together... except for plumbing and electrical. I leave that to my husband. I am self taught in everything including art.

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

Oil painting is the only fine art focus I have right now but I am always doing home renovation. I look at pastels in the art store and get that longing feeling but then loose it real quick when I remember having to sharpen them every three seconds. I also wish I had kept up with carving duck decoys, but I am an old woman now and there are only so many hours I can stay awake.

Siesta
(click to see original image)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

Oil painting is my only focus as far as art is concerned. I have so many other interests and I am always exploring life. I love to paint but I need to balance out my obsession with oil paint with other things. Painting is a tangible creative expression of my day to day experience. I need to do other things and have things happen to me to have something to say in paint. Yesterday, I was hauling grass clippings to the compost pile for my husband and a bird pooped on my head. That is how memories are made and paintings develop.

You are able to paint an incredible amount of detail on a very small canvas, how did you hone this skill?

I grid my reference to a half an inch and work down the page left to right. I am blind in my right eye and use reading glasses and an optivisor from my old carving days to be able to see what I am doing. I have been working this way for twenty years so you could definitely call it honing my skill.

A Joyful Noise
(click to see original image)

What does procrastination look like for you?

I have never had the luxury of procrastination. If I don't paint, I don't eat and I like to eat.

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

I am disciplined and keep a tight schedule. I am up around 3:30am and I paint Monday through Friday from 8am until 3pm, fix dinner and feed the pups, and usually fall asleep while watching Nascar Race Hub on the Speed Channel.

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I have Mother Nature to thank for all of the ideas I get. I have spent most of my life outdoors gardening and working with animals like horses and birds. When I am outside I am tuned in and my sixth sense is turned on. There is always something to observe and appreciate.

The Sentinel
(click to see original image)

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

I have only experienced burnout twice in my life and both times I was working for someone that was "art directing" me; in other words, telling me what to paint. Because of those experiences, I learned that authenticity is more precious than gold when it comes to creativity. Finding DailyPaintworks was the best thing that ever happened to me as an artist. I can finally paint what I want. Freedom to paint what I love inspires me, feeds my soul, and is the key to my existence.

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

How to feel comfortable and confident marketing my art to a very large audience. I am used to the gallery system selling my art so art auctions are still new to me. The art galleries I worked with never gave me information about who bought my art so I was disconnected from the people that collected my art. That all changed when I joined DPW and I have to say there are some incredibly nice people out there.

In the Pink
(click to see original image)

What makes you happiest about your art?

It gives me peace and balance. I can paint and wash a load of clothes at the same time. I can work at home and not have to leave my pups. I can take breaks and walk in my garden. It keeps me motivated and engaged in life. Now, it gives me a connection to the world outside of my small acre of land, thanks to DPW art auctions.

Thanks, Leslie!

© 2013 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Katharine Cartwright

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

To enter to win Katharine's painting, "Monhegan Cottage" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing her interview.

From Katharine's DPW Gallery page:

Living along the coast of Maine allows me to explore the beautiful rocky beaches for shells, rocks, and scenes that reflect this glorious environment, which is the muse for many of my paintings. I've been an artist all my life, specializing in painting, and studied fine art at three universities. These days, I not only paint and exhibit, but I also instruct artists in creativity and technique.

My work appears in hundreds of private and corporate collections, and also in notable books and magazines in this country and abroad. In national and international juried competitions, I've won top awards, and am a signature member of the National Watercolor Society, Missouri Watercolor Society, and the Northeast Watercolor Society. Although my academic training is in oils, I've learned to love watercolor just as much and work in both mediums. Painting daily, for me, is as important as breathing.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

Before I entered kindergarten, my parents identified me as an artist and provided me with lessons in color theory and design. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t drawing and painting.

Monhegan Cottage
(click here to see original image)

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

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

There was only one time when I stopped. Previous to that, I had studied fine art at various academic institutions, including three universities, and enjoyed making art. By the time I was forty years old, I wanted to learn more about the landscapes I was painting. So, I returned to college to study geology, climatology, and oceanography. I completed both the undergraduate and graduate degrees in six years and just didn’t have time to paint.

However, as soon as I finished those degrees and landed a faculty job at a college, I returned to painting and managed to teach and paint for a number of years. I retired from college teaching four years ago when I found that my career in art demanded more time. At this point, I can’t imagine ever stopping again, short of the grave.

Cairn
(click here to see original image)

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

My initial academic training was in oils, acrylics and various drawing mediums. Eventually, I picked up watercolors and gouache on my own. Interestingly, when I attended college decades ago, the art professors didn’t consider watercolor to be a serious medium and I received no academic training in it. Although I did study sculpture, I’ve always preferred painting. The genres I’ve experimented with include both objective and non-objective across the spectrum of possibilities.

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

Just about everything has stuck since I use it all in one way or another depending upon which series I’m painting. Each concept that I want to express requires a particular technique and medium to best express it. I like to be flexible.

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

This is a tough question to answer since I’m so focused on what I’m doing now. However, creating art is an exploration all by itself and I’m certain that new pathways will be found as I continue this daily practice.

Nested
(click here to see original image)

Creatively, have you always been drawn to the ocean?

In fact, yes I have! I fell in love with the ocean as a child and even spent a few years as an adult living on a sailboat. Presently, I live by the ocean and can’t imagine living anywhere else. However, most of my paintings over the past five decades have had little to do with the marine or coastal environment. It’s only been recently, the past five years, that I’ve revisited the theme. Because I walk to the ocean every day, it speaks to me and I must express that.

What does procrastination look like for you?

I don’t procrastinate when it comes to painting. I love it and work in my studio every day if I’m not traveling. When I go away, I take along a sketch pad or even some paint supplies. When I’m not painting I’m thinking about painting. I guess you could say that I’m obsessed with it!

It's What's on the Inside That Counts
(click here to see original image)

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

The real problem is making time for everything else aside from art. Painting is a lifestyle that emerged from the lifelong habit of showing up every day in my studio. For me, being an artist means doggedly pursuing artmaking. It’s a discipline.

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I paint in a series and spend a great deal of time formulating the concept for a series before I begin it. Often, I’ll stick with a series for five years or more. I’ll also paint more than one series simultaneously. Presently, I’m painting one series in oils and another in watercolor. Additionally, I teach artists from all over the country about how to formulate concepts for their work and how to develop their own “voice.”

Although my ideas for paintings of the Maine coast are derived from my environment, I seldom paint what I actually see. Rather, I paint what I remember and reinterpret. This transforms reality into “art.” My other ongoing series, “The Laws of Nature” (which may be viewed on my website: www.kacartwright.com) is done entirely from my imagination with no external references or models.

Beach Assembly
(click here to see original image)

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

Because I work in a series, I find that when I have nothing more to say or contribute to that series I stop and move on to another series. This always keeps it fresh. The shortest series I’ve ever painted was only twelve paintings. The longest was sixty paintings before they became redundant and I had to stop. Additionally, it’s easy to avoid burnout because I’m always using my imagination rather than imitating someone else. Our minds have an endless number of ideas and they’re exciting!

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

To trust my imagination and intuition. This is the only way for me to produce unique and meaningful art and avoid imitation.

What makes you happiest about your art?

The privilege and joy of making it, and the privilege and joy of teaching others how to make it.

Thanks, Katharine!

© 2013 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Sharman Owings

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

To enter to win Sharman's painting, "The Float" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing her interview.

From Sharman's DPW Gallery page:

I am a self taught artist (well! unless you count high school which was a very long time ago). I reside in a small, green (color) dairy town in western Washington with my uber talented sculptor husband. I love to create with anything that involves color. Oil paint is my drug of choice. It is messy, smells and makes a mess. Fits me too perfectly.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I am VERY competitive. I was about 10 years old and a friend’s older sister was getting lots of attention for her drawing skills. I just figured (in my 10 year old brain) that I could do it to. Turns out I was right. Math, art, athletics…just made sense to me.

The Float
(click here to see original image)

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

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

Oh, heck yes! I have no formal training unless you count high school. I got married at 18 and pretty much gave up all art except sewing for the next 12 years. After I got divorced I started to dabble but still very erraticly. In 1987, I met my current husband. He’s a sculptor. That changed EVERYTHING. He can’t live without art. Being in an environment with someone so talented is very inspiring.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

Graphite, pen and ink, ANY thing with color except encaustic (there’s still time…) I even consider cake frosting as part of MY art. Fabric is an obsession, ceramics a mystery, and bronze work, torture.

Thomas
(click here to see original image)

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

I love oil paint! To the point that my colored pencils, pastels, oil pastels and watercolors think they are orphans. However, I quit my “day job” last September so with more time available I will most likely start to dabble again. I have 30 lbs. of clay, 3 sewing machines and very busy hands. My studio houses the tools for all of the above so it would be criminal not to put them to use.

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I think ceramics and glazes. We have a kiln. Vessels fascinate me, but I’m sure I’ll tackle some figure work too. Oh! And then there’s bronze patinas! Yum.

Awakening
(click here to see original image)

How does your daily life inspire your paintings?

That’s an awkward one for me. I never really think of it that way. Color drives my work. When I’m scrubbing toilets in my “daily life” paint seems like a mirage on a distant horizon. That said, being in our garden (we have 5 acres and garden 2.5) inspires in a way I can’t put words to.

What does procrastination look like for you?

A dirty house, weeds running amuck, daily responsibilities. Oh! And the days I don’t exercise. Life rule: no exercise, no art! Period.

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

Everyone pokes fun at me because of my lists. Not having the structure of going to an office anymore meant I needed a way to ensure I didn’t get lost. Hence a daily “schedule”. It looks rigid from the outside but it really isn’t. I could have more studio time if I gave up some of the other things I commit to.

Precious
(click here to see original image)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Wow! Have you looked at my blog? Not much consistency. I never go anywhere without a camera. I even shoot through the windshield if necessary. Once we were behind a dark green truck with fishing rods out the back. One had the classic red and white bobber dangling along behind it. I couldn’t wait to paint that. I love portrait work; human and animal.

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

There are so many marvelous artists participating online these days. Look a little, read a little, play a little. Some of what you take in stays, some doesn’t enhance what you’re about. If it becomes dull, there is no one to blame but the person in the mirror.

Face of Fancy
(click here to see original image)

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

How important experimentation is. If you take yourself too serious you miss the opportunity to fail. NO ONE does a good painting every time. No one. Realizing that at the first stroke allows me to paint away.

What makes you happiest about your art?

There’s a special magic about facing a blank surface, lump of clay or batch of frosting. Terror. Someone once said “it’s not hard to DO the work, it’s hard to start”. That is so true! Once it begins to fall together the “happy” begins. Going from nothing to a full blown painting is pretty exhilarating. Also, having so much at my disposal. We have our own art foundry. I can paint, cook, sew, do ceramics, cast in bronze or plant flowers. Most days, the hardest challenge I face is deciding.

Thanks, Sharman!

© 2013 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Clinton Hobart

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

To enter to win Clinton's painting, "Apples and Grapes III" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing his interview.

From Clinton's DPW Gallery page:

Clinton’s work is currently being shown in many private collections, both national and international. His collectors include CEO's, actors and actresses, several well-known artists, prominent businessmen and women, and government officials. He was featured in the February 2009 issue of American Artist magazine and recently on the cover of the "Best Of Artists' Annuals". Clinton has taught painting and drawing workshops all over the country and in Brisbane, Australia.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I started painting very late, I was 27 at the time. When I was a kid I wanted to draw comic books. I started copying drawings of comics at a very young age. When I was in High School, I still wanted to get into comics. My art teacher loved Van Gogh and I remember thinking, this Van Gogh guy isn't funny at all. While everyone else was copying Van Gogh, I did a giant drawing of Calvin and Hobbs. This resulted in my getting a C in high school art, something I like to laugh about.

After that, I went to the Joe Kubert School of Graphic Art which is an entire school full of comic book geeks who couldn´t get into a real school. After I spent one year there, I transferred to the School of Visual Arts in NYC. We had to submit a portfolio and then there was an interview. My interview was held by Jack Endewelt, the chair at that time of the illustration department. He looked at my portfolio and said "Well, you can draw, so we can't put you in fine art." He asked if I would mind if he made my schedule for me. I said sure and he picked out all of my classes. I really made no decisions at all, everything just sort of happened after that.

My Junior year at SVA, I did an internship with Walt Disney Feature Animation which led to a mentorship after I graduated. There is a really funny story there but it will have to wait. I spent the next three years focused on nothing but getting that job at Disney. When it didn't happen, I was crushed. I was teaching a figure drawing class at Scottsdale Artist's School at the time, and a fellow instructor suggested that while I was figuring out what to do next, why not study oil painting? And so I did.

Apples and Grapes III
(click here to see original image)

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

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

After the let-down from Disney, I spent a few months not knowing what to do. Once I decided to study oil painting though, nothing has slowed me down since. I paint every day for at least six hours a day, often painting for ten or even twelve hours.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I've worked in oil, pastel, watercolor, acrylic, gouache, and pencil.

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

Currently, I only paint in oil and draw. I just don't have the time to do anything else right now.

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I'm really looking forward to working more in pastel.

Cracked Eggs
(click here to see original image)

Your art is incredibly lifelike, and yet still looks very much like a painting. How did you find this happy medium in your style?

Thank you! When I was in art school, a great instructor of mine, Sal Catalano, told us never to worry about style. Just paint and draw and the style will find you. I really believe that is true. I never worked towards or tried to create a style, it just sort of happened. The lifelike or animated quality of my work comes from the love of acting and animation. I love old movies and music. My favorite art book is On Acting by Sanford Meisner. I never cared much for still life paintings. They always seemed stiff, boring, and contrived.

My teacher, Daniel Greene, told me that the best way to learn painting is through still lifes. I decided that if I was going to do this I would have to make it fun for me. I created a mini stage and curtains for my still life set ups and pretended that the fruits and vegetables were actors on a stage. I often line them up like the play is over and they are taking a bow. This is why the long ones are titled "Curtain Call".

I always try to find the objects at the market that have the most character and personality. When I am painting, I try not to think about how the painting looks, but focus more on the character of the fruit or vegetables, and the personalities I have given them. I don't change their personalities, I try to capture them. I think of every painting I do as though it were a portrait of that thing. I see so many paintings of apples for example where it looks like the painter took one apple and painted it over and over again in the same painting. I never understood that. Apples are all different shapes, sizes, and colors - just like people. I like to put them all in the same painting and see if they get along.

Plums
(click here to see original image)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Procrastination is what happens to every other aspect of my life because of painting. I think to myself: I have to go to the store, clean the house, answer twenty or thirty emails, get an oil change, etc. and then I think, well I can paint for another hour or two, and then the other stuff doesn't get done.

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

I put it first. Everything else can wait. And usually does. I used to eat with a sketchbook at the table. I was that crazy. I must be getting older because I have realized that actually enjoying a meal is important too.

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

The little fruit and vegetable paintings need nothing more than going to the market and looking for a fruit with some personality. You do have to be careful where you say things like that, however. You can't walk into a grocery store and say to the clerk, "I'm looking for a fruit with some personality." I do like to walk up to the check-out line with an apple or pear resting snugly in the palm of my hand, like a wounded bird, and calmly ask the check out person to please not break off the stem, it's the star of my show. The look is always priceless.

The larger mask paintings come together much differently. I love to drive long distances; it's my idea of a vacation. Just me and the road, nothing else to do but drive. I do almost all of my creating and layout in my head while driving. Right now I have more ideas for paintings then I have years enough to paint.

Swiss and Grapes
(click here to see original image)

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

I'm not sure you can avoid burnout. I used to confuse burnout with a slump, and there is a big difference. It is absolutely vital to recognize which one is happening. The only way to beat a slump is to work through it. By slump I mean that everything you paint is complete garbage (to you). Other people may not notice, and say things like "it looks great, what are you talking about?" But you know it stinks. I paint twice as much during a slump. The good thing is that after it is over, you will have gotten better. It just seems to be how it works. Some people reading this will say "YES!" and others will not understand, you either go through it or you don't. Burnout on the other hand needs a visit to the beach and a drink with rum in it.

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

I'm learning so many things right now, it is difficult to just list one. I'm still learning how the paint will hit the surface. I'm not quite at the point yet where I have complete control and it still surprises me sometimes. Recently, I have gone back to painting portraits in black and white to increase my understanding of values and focus more on the paint itself. Currently, I am working on a series of ocean paintings. I am doing them without drawing anything first, which is also new to me. I'm always learning new things about the business end of it and the digital stuff is hard for me because I don't really know what I am doing.

Apples
(click here to see original image)

What makes you happiest about your art?

My immediate response was to think "painting!" but I'm not sure that is an accurate answer. Painting itself doesn't really make me happy all of the time. Painting is often very difficult and frustrating. Problems can sometimes take days or even weeks to figure out. I'm so happy just to be able to paint every day. I like waking up at 10am, having a cup of coffee and going for a long walk on the beach. Then, I start painting around noon and work until midnight.

I love that I have a job that makes that lifestyle possible. Since I do not have a day job, it requires sales. I would say that a good sale actually makes me happy. To me, a sale is the highest form of compliment. The majority of people work very hard for their money, so when someone is willing to spend some on something I created, it feels great. A few years ago I had a social worker send me an email in regards to a painting she saw on my website. She loved my work but didn't have very much money. She asked if she could send me $20.00 a month until it was paid for. It took her a year to pay for it and she sent me an email telling me how worth the wait it was. That made me very happy.

Thanks, Clinton!

© 2013 Sophie Marine