The philosophy of these lessons: Look, Learn, Practice

Chapter 17 of "The Way To Happiness" deals with Competence. I've found that too many limit their own progress as an artist with the concept that they "haven't got the talent." 90% of being a good professional artist is about looking for yourself, learning (including good study habits), and practicing what you have learned to become Competent. If you are interested in a free copy of "The Way to Happiness", please email me for one.

Lesson 8

1. Thought:

"In my thirty-two years as an artist I've always tried to paint pictures that satisfied me and not a client or gallery. While there have been many painful failures, I still have a lot of fun at what I do. So right from the start, remind yourself how much you enjoy painting, and although it may seem like an uphill battle at times, don't let seriousness get the better hand of pleasure. ...Approach painting as an adventure and think of the excitement of the unpredictable instead of dwelling on the fear of the unknown." - Charles Sovek, Painter

2. Word for the week:

Canvas: A fabric (cotton, linen, jute, etc.) prepared as a surface for painting; also, a term for the finished painting. - North Light Dictionary of Art Terms

3. Practice: "Learning bears fruit when it is applied."

This exercise gets you to find the "home value" or basic value of a subject and then lighten and darken it. The exercise should be done with paint, using only shades of gray or brown. You can use burnt umber and white or black and white or a combination of blue and brown and white. Set up three objects, one light, one medium, and one dark, in front of you. Paint the basic value of each object, so that it is all one shape. Then, if possible while the paint is still wet, start developing the darks and lights on each object, working out from the "Home value". Notice that the light object will be all in the light shades of gray The medium object will be all in the medium tones and the dark object will fall all toward the darker tones of gray

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