DPW Spotlight Interview: Gail G. Slockett

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

From Gail's DPW Gallery:

My interest in art was sparked over forty years ago when I was a theater production major in college and an aspiring scene painter. But life had other plans for me and more than twenty-five years passed before my passion was reignited. I worked first with pencil, then charcoal and pastels, and finally oils, while also trying my hand at portraits, figures, still life and landscapes.

I find that what inspires me the most is not so much the subject, as it is the drama that lies within. Whether it is a compelling story, an intriguing expression, or a beautiful play of light and shadow, I am always looking for that emotional response. My works have won numerous awards and have been exhibited throughout New York City and North Jersey. Many are in private collections. (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I first picked up a paintbrush in 1973.  I was at Carnegie Mellon University majoring in Theater Production and was assigned to a scene painting crew.  I loved it and I was convinced I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.  That lasted about six years before I changed paths again.  However, during that time, I had to take a test to join the Scenic Artists Union and one of the requirements was to paint a landscape.  I was good at painting faux wood and marble and stenciling wall paper and making a flat piece of scenery look three dimensional, but I knew nothing about fine art.  I even attended classes at the Art Students’ League in New York for a month or two.  But life got in the way and it wasn’t until the 1990’s, when my children were in school, that I thought about taking art lessons again.  I started drawing with pencil, moved on to charcoal and pastel and then finally to oils.  As soon as I picked up a brush, I was hooked all over again.

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

I didn’t have any stops and starts since I started drawing classes twenty years ago, but I didn’t really get serious about my painting until rather recently.  When my children were grown and out of the house, I set up a studio, spent more time in classes, and traveled to workshops.  In the past, painting was just something I did when I had the time.  Now it is something I want to do all the time!

Another Sunflower Painting
(click to view)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

When I was in college, I did some watercolor copies of my favorite Andrew Wyeth paintings.  When I returned to art in the 90’s I started drawing portraits in pencil and charcoal, and then soft and oil pastels.  Working from photographs, I did a series of drawings called Portraits in Courage. I was inspired by those who had experienced hardship and loss yet had endured and grown stronger.  I wanted to show the wisdom that was written in their faces.  Feeling confident enough in my drawing skills I started painting figures in oils, but only in blacks, whites, and grays.  I did a series of 30” X 40” paintings, entitled The Park Bench, depicting people from all walks of life as they took a break from their busy lives.  Eventually I moved on to color and worked from live models.  Now I am concentrating mostly on still life and trying my hand at landscape and plein air.  I have taken a few pastel classes too, but I always go back to oils.

Which ones have “stuck” and which ones have fallen away?

I am deathly afraid of watercolors now.  I love that oils can be reworked at any time long after they are signed and considered finished.  I have paintings framed and hanging on my walls that I revisit years later.  Watercolors are much less forgiving.  I tried acrylics for about six months and hated it.  I didn’t like the feel and flow of the paint and I couldn’t get used to how fast they dry.  It just frustrated me.

When I started drawing I only did portraits.  But I worked primarily from photographs and now I don’t find that satisfying.  Although I still enjoy painting from live models, I like the control of the shapes and composition, and the play of light and shadow that I have when painting still life. 

Baby Bok Choy
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

Landscapes, seascapes, and snowscapes are my current challenge and I want to spend more time painting plein air, rather than from photo references.  I would also like to try abstracting the landscape and I am interested in learning how to use a palette knife for more than just detail at the end.  I love the look of pastels and am often tempted to try them again.  Color mixing with pastels is so different from oils that it’s almost like learning a new language. 

Who inspires you most?

The work of Patty Nebbeling, my teacher at the Ridgewood Art Institute in NJ, inspires me to loosen up and simplify.  Peter Fiore, a landscape painter whose workshops I have taken, inspires me with his brilliant use of color.  John MacDonald, another landscape artist and teacher, inspires me with his beautifully atmospheric paintings.  I find inspiration from many contemporary still life and plein air painters, such as Qiang Huang, Neil Carroll, Kathie Odom, Nancy Tankersley and Roger Dale Brown.  I love the masters.  I am particularly drawn to the drama of light and shadow of Rembrandt and the freedom and color of Cezanne and Van Gogh.  And just about everything in Sargent’s paintings. 

Bouquet of Roses
(click to view)

What inspires you most?

I am always intrigued by the play and drama of light and shadow on a still life or landscape.  But sometimes it is the lack of contrast and the more tonal, monochromatic setting that inspires me.  Other times it’s the colors or the strong shapes and values that attract me.

What is your mental preparation for painting?

I don’t have any preparation protocol, but I listen to books on my ipod while I paint.  I always make sure I have something riveting to listen to.  Right now it’s “The Alice Network”, about women spies in WWI and WWII.  It’s very good!

What does procrastination look like for you? 

I think I do more daily procrastinating than I do daily painting.  I am getting better however.  I find it most difficult if I am starting something new and don’t have a plan.  Once I am working on something I find it much easier to get going.

Persimmons
(click to view)

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

For me it is like going to the gym; once I have my gym clothes on and I walk out to the car I will go and work out.  I just have to get myself into the studio.  Once I am there the hours fly by and the next thing I know it is evening, I am exhausted, and it’s time for dinner.

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Every Wednesday I am in a class where the teacher generally assembles half a dozen setups to choose from.  I might tweak them a little.  Sometimes a piece of fruit or flower she has brought in will inspire me and I will do my own composition.  At home I work from photos.  Lately I am concentrating on landscapes and seascapes from photos I have taken during my sailing trips.  Many times I will see another artist’s work and it will remind me of a photo reference I have but didn’t think could be a good painting.  That will inspire me to find that photo and give it a shot.  This past summer I started painting plein air from the back of our sailboat, painting whatever scene is in front of me at the time.  It’s always paint worthy!

Roses in Silver Vase
(click to view)

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

I haven’t experienced burnout yet, possibly because I am always learning and trying new things.  Painting landscapes is new for me, and I am just starting to paint en plein air.  Recently I started using a palette knife whenever possible and I am experimenting with making my style looser and more painterly.  If I feel like a particular painting is bringing me down I will put it aside and paint something else. 

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

I am striving to learn how to simplify and loosen up and know what to leave in and what to leave out.  I think that is the essence of a successful painting.  I am also learning that photo references can only take you so far.  You need the experience of painting from life to be able to interpret and extrapolate the information in a photo and turn it into a work of art.  That seems especially true of landscapes.   

What makes you happiest about your art?

I am happiest when I am learning or trying something new.  I love exploring.  I also must admit that I am most happy when my efforts culminate in a successful painting.  And I am ecstatic when someone else is moved by my work and loves it enough to put it in their personal collection! 

Thanks, Gail!

© 2018 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Anna Sakhanchuk

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

From Anna's DPW Gallery:

I live in Saint-Peterburg in Russia, where I grew up, but ​I was born in the ancient town of Cesis in Soviet Latvia two years before the collapce of USSR. I always loved to draw but never took it seriously, because my family convinced me that there is no point to aspire to it as a profession, as I wouldn't make a living. Just like so many young people before me, I blindly trusted the judgement of my parents and got the profession they wanted me to. It turns out their choice was not the best one and couldn't bring me money nor happiness. I constantly had a feeling that I was waisting my life. Two years ago I decided that I postponed my vocation way too long and went to a local amateur art school. (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting. 

Probably just like everyone, I had some attempts at art during my school years. Actually, some level of painting and drawing was obligatory for my first school. I'd been studying at Waldorf school up to the last four grades. This education system strives to emphasize imagination in the learning process through artistic and intellectual development of pupils. I don't remember ever using textbooks except for grammar and maths there. All the possible illustrations and schemes for history, physics, you name it, we used to draw in our copybooks by ourselves under the supervision of our teacher. We even had a subject where it was our home work to paint several illustrations about some part of a story that was read to us. Sometimes I think that I remember information learned in that school better because I had to paint most of it.

Unfortunately my Waldorf school was closed and I went to state school where I was pressed by my parents to get serious and chose a normal profession, even though by that time I started considering becoming an illustrator. But well, I listened to my family as I sincerely believed that they were the wise adults and knew what was best for me. The next time I started to think about drawing again was only when I got married. I'd been looking through CG illustrations for some months, some were too beautiful to even think about that level of mastery, others were painted by amateurs, but nice nonetheless. At one point, after watching another tutorial I thought: how much longer am I going to just look? I needed to try it myself. Seeing my interest, my husband made me a Christmas present - a tiny drawing tablet. At the beginning it was an awkward experience, but I still keep the very first picture I painted on it, it is absolutely terrible.

After several months of playing with this new toy, something nice started to come out of it. It was fun and I became thoroughly engrossed in CG painting, but my works were lacking. I'd been enthusiastically stumbling in the dark without any understanding. So after two years of painting on the computer in my free time, I resigned and found an art school not far from my work. I started from the basics and found that I feel extremely motivated when I pay for my own education. I had surprisingly fast progress in pencil drawing and after some thirty lessons my teacher started to nudge me to try first watercolor and then oil. So I would say that officially my oil painting started only two years ago.

Milk Jug
(click to view)

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

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

I feel that currently I'm in the very beginning of my painting career and as my art finally started to bring some money I doubt that my very supportive husband would give me any chance to stop.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with? 

I started with gouache and crayons at primary school, then moved to watercolor pencils and watercolor washes. Without any art education I was free to happily mix watercolor with gouache and thoroughly enjoyed it, fortunately I don't know where these works went. Tried pastels and acrylics for a few months. I love painting people on the computer but have never tried it with oil. Returning to watercolors after painting on the computer was a humbling experience. I started to paint flowers because ten years ago, when my mum asked me to paint red roses on her wall they turned out more like tomatoes, so I decided to learn it finally.

Coral Peony
(click to view)

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

Of course I still make sketches in pencil, I like to spend an evening painting something on my iPad. Currently, I'm striving to master oil. I feel like I like to look at watercolors more than I enjoy painting them. Others have fallen away.

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring? 

I would like to play a bit with acrylics this summer, maybe do some studies in my garden and in the forest. Also I want to try figurative painting, though I'm not sure that I'm ready for it.

Red Oranges
(click to view)

Who or what inspires you most? 

Nature and countless wonderful artists. I'm in love with academic painters of 19th century, charmed with contemporary American realism painters and I am in constant awe of CG artists.

What does procrastination look like for you? 

I'm not able to make myself paint in the morning. I only managed it at art school and just because my teacher worked in the first part of the day. Several times a week I promise myself that I'll start at least at noon, but in the end I find a dozen seemingly important chores, interesting articles in the internet, can't stop reading that story or weather is too good to miss, and as a result I drag myself to my workplace around 5 o'clock.

Redcurrant
(click to view)

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

Interesting audio books help a lot, otherwise my thoughts tend to stray and I go search for the answers online. I'm not able to do anything while listening to audio books so it is a perfect combination with painting for me. Also my husband is so supportive that he doesn't let me be overcome by my laziness.

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings? 

I may see some beautiful fruit in the supermarket and buy it just for painting. Once I bought just one small plum because it had a nice leaf attached. I like to walk through the forest with my camera and visit botanical gardens. I love to paint from life, but quite often I make a photo for future use because at the given moment I may not have time or enough skills for it. Some photos I find in the internet, but I rarely like painting from them, it is too difficult to find something that feels right to me.

Red Onion with a Pearl Tomato
(click to view)

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

When I get frustrated I change the subject or the medium. From time to time I can't stand painting at all, usually a day of different activities helps. Last autumn when I went camping on Ladoga islands I took with me everything for painting and just felt that I didn't want to paint, so I spent two days just laying on the rocks and gathering berries. But by the second night I started to sketch the moon road and a boat on the back of my book despite the lack of light.

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

I feel like I'm at the bottom of my ladder and the skills I want are somewhere around the moon. Right now I would like to learn looser technique and the one with the pallet knife, also I need to work on my volume and I strive to understand the composition.

What makes you happiest about your art?

I love the process of creation, but the second best part is when my works find a new home and I get feedback. I'm not very interested in my paintings after I finish them, but it brings me real joy to know that they made somebody happy.

Thanks, Anna!

© 2018 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Nelia Harper

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

From Nelia's DPW Gallery:

Nelia Harper is a landscape painter who seeks to capture the aesthetic beauty of nature, and create an intimate connection between the viewer and the natural world.

A life-long creator, Nelia has engaged in artistic expression through photography, collage, and paper and fiber arts, before committing to painting with formal training. Her education began with college level drawing courses and continued under the instruction of Janeen Schissler, at the Schissler Academy of Fine Arts in Loveland, Colorado, where she worked primarily in pastel.

Intrigued by the properties of pure pigment and the historical use in the Renaissance style of painting, she then studied the technique of egg tempera under Koo Schadler at the Sedona Arts Center. (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.


Well, like a lot of people I know, I loved to draw and paint when I was a kid.  I remember my mom subscribed to a magazine that had pictures of paintings – I think it was called Victorian.  Anyway, I would look at paintings by Monet and The Impressionists. I remember thinking, “I want to be like that when I grow up.”  I thought it was so adventurous and romantic.

But, like many artists I know, I dropped the idea of art and painting.  I went to college and then found a 'real job' that would 'pay off'. 

Then, while I was on vacation in Paris, I remember standing in front of a painting in the Musee D’Orsay thinking, “How do they do that? I need to learn how that do that.”  The feeling was overwhelming.  I remember looking at the dabs of color on the canvas and stepping back to see a complete image.  How did they make it looks so real?  I wanted to step into those paintings.  I knew there had to be a way to learn, and even if I wasn’t any good at painting, I could still have fun learning.

So, I took a six week acrylic painting course, and I was hooked.  From there, I decided to take a drawing course at our local community college.  After that, I kept taking classes and workshops.  I joined a plein air group and worked on my own too.  It was almost exactly six years ago that I took that first painting class, and my interest in painting and art has only grown since then.

Across the Pond
(click to view)

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

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

Well, I’ve really just gotten started in my painting career, and I hope to keep going. 


What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I’ve worked in a variety of mediums: oil, pastel, egg tempera, gouache, watercolor, graphite, charcoal, acrylic, ink, markers… I’ve done a little experimenting with abstract painting and illustration.


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

Oil has definitely stuck.  It’s easy to use, transportable, and versatile.  I paint regularly in pastel, sometimes using a watercolor or oil underpainting, and egg tempera.  Watercolor is mainly reserved for travel journals and painting with my nieces and nephews.  It sounds strange to say when the other mediums take more time, but I just don’t seem to have the patience for watercolor.

In Your Embrace
(click to view)


Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

As I get better at color mixing and drawing, I hope to paint in egg tempera more frequently. Even though it’s incredibly time consuming, it is such a luminous medium, and I enjoy making my own supports and building up layer after layer. 

Who or what inspires you most?

I would have to say nature inspires me the most.  It’s so easy to take nature for granted.  Looking at a sunset, the shapes of clouds, the incredible colors in a bird’s feather, the variety of trees, flowers, landforms, and of course people.  Everything comes from nature.  We forget that we are part of nature and the endless creation of life. When I think about what it takes to create and support life on this planet, I’m endlessly amazed and intrigued by the diversity that nature provides.

Snow Day
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

That’s easy (laughs).  Being busy!  I joke that my favorite form of procrastination is “productive procrastination”.  I can always find a project in the garden or around the house that needs to be done.  And, I’m forever organizing my studio to make room for my next project. 

I converted a small basement bedroom into a studio.  There’s just enough room for me, a canvas, painting supplies, a table, and some tools.  It feels like I’m constantly putting things away to make room for the next painting project. 

If that fails, there’s always a good book to read, an art show, a plein air paintout, a new technique to read about or watch on YouTube, or supplies to research and buy, not to mention looking at artwork on Instagram.


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

My favorite technique is agreeing to participate in a show with fellow artists.  That seems to get the fire going more than anything.  We have a strong art community in our area.  So, typically we have to reserve space for a show at least a year in advance. 

Because I am showing my artwork along with artist friends, we are always working to improve our skills and show off for each other.  And, we all paint en plein air together.  Every Friday, our plein air group paints together at a set location.  Sometimes we’ll paint together on other days too.  Getting outside with friends is always a good motivator to paint.

I also like to submit my work to juried shows at least 2-3 times a year.  Knowing that I have a show to prepare for keeps me busy in the studio.  Having friends to paint with keeps me painting outside and motivated for the next show.

And, I have a couple of music playlists on Spotify (music app) that help get my mind in the groove too.

Aspen Meadow
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Ideas for painting typically form while I’m hiking, painting en plein air, traveling, or daydreaming.  I’m usually inspired by shape and color.  I often feel a small wave of excitement.  Usually that feeling will last, nagging me to paint it.  Sometimes it’s a really bad snapshot with the cell phone, but I’ll see the idea fully formed in my mind.  When it stays in my mind’s eye and it feels good, I know it’s worth painting.


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

Luckily I’m still new to painting so I haven’t had a feeling of burnout.  As I look back, I realize that I am good at challenging myself with small risks that have potentially large rewards.  For example, I joined the Steamboat Art Musem’s Plein Air Event last fall.  For a $50 entry fee, I was able to experience a week-long plein air paintout, art show and competition.  Attending with several friends kept the cost down, and I sold a painting at the show.  I learned so much about plein air events, framing from the car, and traveling to paint.

Mostly, I find ways to challenge myself with small risks: paint larger, paint smaller, paint more realistically, more loosely, things like that. Right now, I’m learning portraiture and figure (back to the community college).  I also want to paint more complex scenes, buildings, flowers…there are so many challenges yet to paint.  The ideas keep me going.

Spring Blossoms
(click to view)


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

Hmmm… this is a tough question.  From a technical standpoint, I would say that I’m learning about light.  How it affects color and form, especially on the human body.  From a philosophical perspective, I’m learning about the value of beauty and living a joyful life.  For so long, I pushed myself in a career, I focused on society’s idea of success (the accumulation of things and prestige) and I lost my way.  Now, I think about what really matters: the human experience and how I want to enjoy living.


What makes you happiest about your art?

Art really is about the journey: painting with friends, braving the elements, figuring out how to make something look real, solving problems, seeing the joy in another person’s eyes when they look at my work, hearing the stories of collectors…

Once a piece leaves the studio, the influence of that artwork is often unknown.

For example, a few years ago, during our holiday art show, an elderly gentleman bought a print I had on display.  It was a print of an egg tempera painting, depicting a scene in Italy – a small courtyard with flowers.

He asked me questions about the location, and we chatted for a bit about our travels.  He used to travel for work and lived all over the world.  I shared with him the story of the hilltop town and the process of creating the painting. He dug into his pocket for some cash, and bought the print.  I signed it for him, and after a few more minutes, we wished each other a ‘happy holiday’ and parted.

The following year, as I set up for our annual holiday show a fellow artist came over and asked me, “Do you remember Harry, that older gentleman that bought a print from you last year?”  Of course I remembered him.  We had a really nice talk, and he was so excited about that print.

She told me he kept that print right next to his bed.  He looked at it every day.  It reminded him of the places he had lived and he kept it close to him.  A few months after we met, he died. 

Even though it’s a sad story, it’s filled with happiness.  We never know the impact that our work will have on other people.  I like to think that print brought him happiness and comfort in his final days.  As Claude Monet says, “Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love.”

Thanks, Nelia!

© 2018 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Deborah Savo

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

From Deborah's DPW Gallery:

Graduated from Moore College of Art in Philadelphia majoring in Illustration with a minor in painting. After 28 years of working as an art director I wanted to explore my love of oil painting. I love to paint people and animals and I'd love to start doing some plein air work and continue to explore light, color and composition.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting. 

I had a love of art from a small age. My mother was very creative and encouraged my creativity by buying me different art supplies. I remember spending many lazy summer afternoons playing with my watercolor set. In college, I majored in illustration and minored in painting. After graduation, I worked doing graphic arts and illustration but remember knowing that I’d return to my love of oil painting. A few years ago when I retired, I pulled out my paints and started to play around.

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

I painted in college, and other than my illustrations, I didn’t paint for many years. Unless you count the many school play sets I painted when my kids were in school. I always felt like I didn’t have the time to devote to painting. After working in graphics for thirty years I wanted to go back to developing my oil painting. At first I played around with the skills I had and did some pet portraits, they are still a love of mine. During my internet researching I came across Carol Marine’s name and daily painting. This spurred my interest in daily painting. I loved her little paintings; they are so fresh and full of life.

A Little Bit of Spring
(click to view)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

My first illustrations were done in watercolor and colored pencils.

Many years ago I worked in an in house corporate art department. While I designed booklets and brochures, I also did some illustrating. These were mostly technical product renderings. But my favorite thing I did were these caricatures of people who were retiring or receiving awards. I continued to do these for about twenty years. Painted only a handful a year but enjoyed the opportunity to paint because, during this time, most of my designing and illustrations were created on the computer.

My current paintings are oils. I have a great love of animals and do pet portraits by commission. Other genres are still lifes and some florals. Attending a class at a local art center spurred my interest of alla prima and plein air painting.

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

I’ve always loved painting oil. I haven’t painted in watercolor in years but still love the luminousity that the media has.

Big and Little Pears
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring? 

Right now most of my paintings are alla prima still lifes but I’d like to further my skills in plein air painting.

Who or what inspires you most? 

My favorite artist of the past is John Singer Sargent. There are too many artists of today that I aspire to. I’m drawn to the impressionistic and figurative painters. The looseness of their brush strokes and use of color amazes me as it is something that I struggle with.

Shandy & DeeDee
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you? 

Procrastination is a big thing that I struggle with. I can waste a lot of time browsing the internet looking for inspiration and get caught up in looking at other artists. While I think it is important to look and learn other artists, I spend too much time looking and not getting to work on my own paintings.

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

I’ve participated in a couple thirty day challenges and they’re really helpful keeping me on a schedule.

A Cozy Spot
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings? 

Sometimes I go to the store and buy a bunch of pretty fruits and vegetables and they inspire me to paint them. I also have a cabinet of things I’ve collected that I thought would make a great painting. I love to grab my camera and ride my bike around town looking for interesting places to paint. I find myself taking mental notes as I’m driving…great skies, colors in the shadows, an interesting tree, an old barn. Mostly it’s the lighting that grabs my attention. I often have to remind myself to pay attention to driving. I try to only do this when I’m the passenger!

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

Looking at other artists past and present. I’ll pull out a book or search an artist I’ve heard about. I also listen to art podcasts. Listening to other artist talk about their struggles and inspirations helps me with mine.

Johnny Cat
(click to view)

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

Right now I feel like a baby artist. Sometimes it overwhelms me how much there is to know. My use of color and brushwork is my main focus. As an illustrator everything was very tight and I have to constantly remind myself to be looser and not to get caught up in the details. I love being an artist and it is a constantly evolving journey.

What makes you happiest about your art?

When I hear from a viewer that it made them smile or evoked an emotion.

Thanks, Deborah!

© 2018 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Johnna Schelling

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

From Johnna's DPW Gallery:

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

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

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

What's Next?
(click to view)

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


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

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

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


What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

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

Summer Dreams
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

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



Who or what inspires you most?

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

Hot and Prickly
(click to view)


What does procrastination look like for you?

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

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

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

Pear Pizzazz
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

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


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

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



Salsa Anyone?
(click to view)

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

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


What makes you happiest about your art?

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

Thanks, Johnna!

© 2018 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Teddi Parker

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

From Teddi's DPW Gallery:

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

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

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

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

Unconventional Friendship
(click to view)

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

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

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

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

Your Filament is Showing
(click to view)

Who or what inspires you most?

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

What does procrastination look like for you?

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

Blowing Bubbles
(click to view)

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

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

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

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

Pumpkin Play
(click to view)

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

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

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

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

Wet Hippo
(click to view)

What makes you happiest about your art?

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

Why is beauty important?

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

Thanks, Teddi!

© 2018 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Mindy Lighthipe

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

From Mindy's DPW Gallery:

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

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

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

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

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

Blue Heron
(click to view)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

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

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

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

Oleander Moths
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

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

Who or what inspires you most?

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

Malachite Butterfly
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

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

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

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

Red-Eyed Tree Frog
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

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

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

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

Green Back Heron
(click to view)

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

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

What makes you happiest about your art?

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

Thanks, Mindy!

© 2018 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Mandar Marathe

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

From Mandar's DPW Gallery:

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

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

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

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

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

Welcome to Kanha
(click to view)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

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

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

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

Jungle Safari
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

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

Who or what inspires you most?

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

Crisp Morning In Kanha
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

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

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

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

Towards Kankumbi
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

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

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

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

Morning colors in Chorla ghat
(click to view)

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

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

What makes you happiest about your art?

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

Thanks, Mandar!

© 2018 Sophie Marine