The value of learning from other artists and teachers
The value of learning from other artists and teachers
I grew as an artist this year! Here's a few of the ways I did this.
Hello friends, this week I want to validate and talk about personal growth as an artist. I’m writing this to remind myself (and perhaps others too) that the daily increments, the little tiny things we do to grow every day, make a difference.
Read on for my latest article.
Find me online:
All of my existing paintings are ON SALE through 10/8/24! If you’ve had your eye on one of my paintings, this is a great time to snap it up. Kris’s Art Sale
Visit my art website: KrisCahillArt.com.
Fine art prints of my work: Fine Art America shop
Thank you for being here, I always appreciate you for showing up. I’d love to hear from you: what topics would you like to suggest I write about and feature here? Please leave a comment, or email me, and thanks!
Love, Kris
The value of learning from other artists and teachers
I’m going to take some time and validate the growth I’ve experienced as an artist this past year. I didn’t do it alone, so I might be thanking you here too.
Thank you: first of all, to myself. I decided to commit to a new level of growth and it’s happening, so I’m going to acknowledge it.
It really helps that I have a dedicated studio again, since moving to Decatur two years ago. My husband Noel Olken, who is a wonderful actor as well as a wonderful human being, made my studio beautiful and amazing for me. Thank you honey!
A big loving thank you to my supportive family and friends, my awesome painting partner and friend, all the artists I know who share their stories and videos, and the many artists who teach wonderful classes. Thank you for sharing your gifts and talents. It takes something to make a thing and share it with others. I get it and appreciate you for it.
To the wonderful teachers out there: whatever it is you teach, if you’re coming to that experience as yourself, and giving from your heart, you’re a gift to everyone. Thank you. Especially to my fellow psychic teachers, amazing artists all, I give my thanks.
Thank you also to my collectors, I appreciate that you chose to have my art in your home. Thank you to my Substack subscribers, and those who reach out and give me feedback on my work. I really appreciate you, and thank you so much.
Last week I took a free online class with Louise Fletcher, one of the hosts of my favorite podcast, Art Juice.
Louise is a brilliant teacher, artist, and podcast host. She offers a yearly free course, right before her 12 week program begins. The course I took is called ‘Find Your Joy Taster Course’, and it’s a generous 8 days long, with lots of extra information, videos, and guest teachers and coaches. Her full 12 week program is called ‘Find Your Joy’. She’s currently signing up students for the next round of that class. Find her here.
I won’t be able to take her full course this year, but am putting it on my list for next year. I got so much out of the taster course, and am working with those ideas and principles in my art making now.
Here’s a few ideas that really sparked my own joy in last week’s course.
An upgrade on color mixing swatches: I love making color mixing charts and have kept color swatch books for years now. Louise shared her method of making color swatches, which is to make bigger ones on mixed media or watercolor paper. This makes it easier to hold up a swatch to a bigger painting to see if that’s the color I want to use. Working with 3 colors plus black and white, I mixed my first batch:
I’ve only scratched the surface with this new tool, and can’t wait to dig in and make a new batch with different starter colors.
Last week’s class helped me return to having fun and playing while I paint. Allowing myself to play and really explore what makes me happy is the key, it cuts through the overthinking and the effort. Louise’s attitude and energy about this was so true and helpful. That alone was one of the most healing parts of taking this class.
Sometimes less is more. I loved all of the assignments in this course, but one in particular really helped me: Assignment #4 (pictured above). We were given a strict set of rules in order to make each piece: 2 brush strokes, 2 pencil marks, 2 collage pieces, 2 marks with non brushes, etc. I love the results of that assignment, and plan to repeat this regularly for myself, and make up a few of my own guidelines and rules too.
Painting a lot more really helps.
Another way I’ve grown this past year is simply by painting a lot more. I’ve got more permission to make paintings that are just experiments, not necessarily beautiful or even anything I want to show anyone. Yes, I’ve done this before, but I’m a different kind of painter now.
I need to practice and give myself permission to make ugly paintings. Here’s the ugliest painting I’ve ever made, and this one was on purpose.
Oh boy oh boy is that ever ugly. Why make an ugly painting? To free up the demand and desire to make everything all nicely finished and beautiful. It might be ugly, but it was sure fun to make.
What am I making next?
Well first of all, hopefully more space in my studio! I’ve made so many new paintings this year and am getting ready to paint larger pieces, also more freely.
Which means I want to sell what I have, and so every painting in my studio is on sale right now, though 10/8/24!
For the next month you can enjoy generous markdowns on a lot of beautiful new paintings. Shop my art sale.
Inspiration from artists who teach
Nicholas Wilton is a wonderful teacher. I’ve benefitted from his classes and videos.
Louise Fletcher has a great YouTube.
I know Adele Sypesteyn personally, we were in a Women’s Business Mastermind group together years back in Los Angeles. She was working on becoming an art teacher, and she’s a wonderful one.
I hope you have a wonderful week, and thanks so much for showing up today!
Love, Kris