Goals

As an artist, I am almost entirely self-taught, in the sense that I’ve only taken one formal class, a six week introduction class through a local organization where the most important things I learned was the sheer number of resources I could use to continue teaching myself. It also helped me think about what I wanted to learn aside from bing able to draw.

Ten years of a steady drawing habit means that I can now say that I am not bad at drawing. I don’t think that I will ever reach the point where there isn’t something more I can learn about drawing, but my drawing skills are not a roadblock for me. Because being able to draw is like being able to play scales. You can make are by just drawing, but drawing something doesn’t make it art.

I’ve done some playing around with watercolor but it really isn’t my thing. And Ive done some playing around with acrylic, but it’s been frustrating. I’ve been wanting to try oils but have been reluctant because of the limitations inherent in the workspace I have, but I finally bought a small set of water mixable oils and I’l be trying them out next week. But unlike when I started messing around with acrylic, I’m going to be working through some exercises and studies. Maybe I can finally find a way to wrap my head around painting.

Of course, the spoiler is that I already know that being able to paint is also not the same thing as being able to make art. Still, there are just so many things I can learn from painting, even if I do gravitate back to graphite and digital work. And if I just keep chipping away at it, eventually I’ll figure out how to make art.