Came across a few artists on a social site who think that the only real artists are those who have been formerly trained. It’s a very narrow and strange way of seeing art.

All Colleges, Universities, Institutions etc. are products of the system. They are corporate in their thinking and traditional in their training. They are extensions of the government and hence present careful, institutionalised attitudes. They are mechanical production lines that produce trained monkeys.

Some of these monkeys are able to break out of their training and become great artists, but most cling to the few rules they learned as they try to make it in the practical world of art.

Art is an expression of the character, the personality. How can anyone tell you what you are and how you should express it? How can people who are not successful artists teach you how to be a successful artist?

The system sucks and if you want to follow its foolish ways, then you will probably suck too!

Quietly being me

I am still steadily working towards my goal of being a professional skyscape artist. Most mornings I work on some paintings – adjusting, refining or painting over previous works.

It is important not to give these early works much value, otherwise I could stop halfway up skyscape mountain, thinking that I have reached the summit. Read the rest of this entry »

How do you find a subject?

How do you find a subject? I get an idea. I play with it as a possibility for a while. For example, I had been considering painting landscapes as an alternative to seascapes. I wasn’t quite comfortable with the traditional landscape idea, so I just let the idea roll around my mind for days, weeks. Read the rest of this entry »

Speed painting – the art of painting efficiently and confidently. Painting does not have to be a slow, laboured experience. Some people prefer to move quickly and get a great joy from spontaneity. Read the rest of this entry »

The road never ends

This is a problem planet, there will always be another complication, an unexpected difficulty. Read the rest of this entry »

Stop talking and start working

When you get an idea, start. Don’t wait until later, because later has yet to arrive for anyone. Read the rest of this entry »

Oh no! A showoff!

You might think, I don’t like people like that. I don’t want to be one! This might make you uncomfortable if you are used to keeping out of the spotlight.

If you consider an alternative meaning of the word, it may make more sense. Showing off your skill or achievement is similar to celebrating your skill or achievement. Read the rest of this entry »

You are the only one who understands

Assume you are the only person in the world who understands exactly what it is you are trying to do. Stop trying to explain and to justify your actions and intentions. It is most likely, nobody will get it. They may even accuse you of not being normal (quite a compliment really!) Read the rest of this entry »

Mind your own business

Avoid conventional, it is dead.