Hi,
Perhaps I'm being a bit selfish, but I'm writing this blog to help me with my own ambitions. However, I do hope that readers who stumble upon it will find it entertaining and, who knows, it is possible that they may learn something about painting in the process.
So what is the challenge?
I have given myself 1 year to go from a novice artist to a successful painter.
Why are you doing this?
Those who remember the Beatles will also remember one of their songs, called "When I'm 64." Well just recently I passed that milestone and it got me to thinking about all the things I never got around to doing because I was always to damned busy trying to earn a decent living. I thought about circumnavigating the world on a unicycle but my heart attacked and general lack of fitness knocked that one on the head. However, from the days when I was spot popping teenager I always wanted to paint, so that is why I have taken up this challenge.
Why set yourself a challenge? why not just get on with it?
I'm sure many of you who have wanted to take up art or any other craft have found themselves floundering. The problem is that there are so many other things all after our attention. There are always other jobs to be done, so one feels guilty if one tries to sit down and paint. I am forever try to clear my "to do list" so that I can get on with some painting. Well now I've done added the painting to the list so there is no excuse.
Being an ex-production manager I also understand how targets and goals do really help with motivation.
How does the challenge work?
I am giving myself an objective of doing at least one painting per week. Each painting will be posted on here regardless of how good or bad it looks. Please be aware that on odd occasions in the past I've had a go at painting and my wife still laughs at some of them. In fact, when she gets a bit down, which we all do from time to time, she gets out one of the paintings I did of a lion a few years ago and after looking at it she always busts into a giggling fit.
I show it you in a later post and you can see if it tickles your sense of humour.
How will you or any of you readers learn from your paintings?
Well, we all learn from our mistakes, so when I post a painting each week I will give it a score out of 100 and then review it honestly. If any part of the painting is crap I will say so and why.
Can readers make comments about your paintings and will you be offended?
I welcome and encourage any comments that are honest and constructive. After all, finding faults in ones own work can be very difficult.
Will you concentrate on one painting medium?
Yes, it will centre around water colour paints, but ink and pencil work will probably be included at some stage.
After one year, how will you judge your success?
The measure of my success will be simple. If I can sell a painting at a fair price it must mean that somebody likes my work, they must be if they are prepare to exchange hard earned cash for one of my creations.
So I have 52 weeks until the 1st of May 2016 to paint something good enough to sell. If you are interested in watercolour painting and like a laugh, why not come along for the journey. The first of what I expect to be a pathetic attempt will be posted on here within the next 7 days.
I will also tidy up this blog so that it looks half decent.
