New Year's Resolutions

OMG is it that time again?  The last day of 2009 is upon us, providing yet another opportunity to ponder deeply about art.  (I know, you do it every day, but bear with me...)

I encourage everyone to come up with a one-year and a 5-year goal for their art, and to write it down.  You may keep it to yourself, but we will take a few minutes in class for those willing to share their aspiration.  It doesn't have to be anything grand, for example, my one year goal is to figure out how to produce archivally sound encaustic paintings that are larger than 12" x 16."

To inspire you, here are some snippets of "advice to young artists"  from  Southwest Art's 2008 "Legends of Fine Art" article:

David Leffel:  Learn to love to learn to paint.

Clark Hulings:  Stay in school and study as much drawing and basic painting as you can manage.

Howard Terpning:  Learn the craft and don't worry about making a lot of money.  If you do good work  and work very very hard, success will follow.

G. Harvey:  Being an artist is a one man business, and you have to dig deep and have that desire and passion to do your very best.

Fran Larsen:  Fran's professor told her that the act of creativity is the application of the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair.

Richard Schmid:  Besides getting the best classical training possible, never compromise, and never listen to the critics!

Richard Greeves:  Don't think you know how to do it too quickly.  You need time in the harness.

John Asaro:  Just pursue your dream.  Do things that make you happy if you can afford to do it.

Alyce Frank:  Just keep painting.  Work, work, work. 

James Bama:  Get good training and learn to draw.  It starts with drawing.  Then work 17 hours a day.

Merill Mahaffy:  Go to an art school as opposed to a college or university program.  The difference is you are learning art theory at college, but when you go to an art school, you are learning how to draw.

Roy Anderson:  Draw. And draw from life.

Kenneth Bunn:  Draw continually, to teach your hand to do what your eye sees.

Phyllis Capp:  Hear your own song. 

Don Crowley:  Never give up, and never put out anything that you don't think is your very best work; if it sells, you'll regret it.

Robert Daughters:   Keep your nose to the grindstone and always try to do the next painting better.  Really study and try to improve yourself constantly.

Kenneth Riley:  There are no shortcuts.  Learn to draw, draw, draw.  Study the greats of art history, but be yourself; don't be an imitator.

Robert "Shoofly"  Shufelt:  Disciplined work habits make a career.  Build upon strengths instead of resting on them.  Don't get too comfortable.  The goal is to keep talent developing throughout a long career.

Jim Reynolds:  Take your time.  Make sure you know your subject matter.  Make a lot of quick sketches.  Study light.  Without it there is nothing to look at.  Don't look for overnight success; work hard and earn it.

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So... give it some thought, dear students.  What do you want the next year to look like?