Sweetie recently received his latest National Geographic magazine and I was thumbing through, haphazardly, in a medicated fog. I came across a 2-page spread about the Great Backyard Bird Count. The illustrations were so beautifully done and so watercolor-y that I had to find out the artist's name and info. Here it is:
http://www.karlmartens.se
Under Gallery, check out the video, courtesy of Cricket Fine Art Gallery in London.
Love to watch this guy paint!
One thing Natasha (our drawing teacher) said to us in class is: Don't keep taking a lot of workshops from lots of people. Find one artist who inspires you and who you want to draw or paint like, and then study with them. I think I am at that stage - no more workshops unless the artist really speaks to me in some way and I want to learn from them. I think I could go to Sweden and study with this guy. But there are American artists right here who inspire me and who could teach me a lot. So I'll stay here :)
If you could study, one-on-one, with any living artist today (and money or distance was no obstacle) who would you choose? I'd love to hear your answers.
http://www.karlmartens.se
Under Gallery, check out the video, courtesy of Cricket Fine Art Gallery in London.
Love to watch this guy paint!
One thing Natasha (our drawing teacher) said to us in class is: Don't keep taking a lot of workshops from lots of people. Find one artist who inspires you and who you want to draw or paint like, and then study with them. I think I am at that stage - no more workshops unless the artist really speaks to me in some way and I want to learn from them. I think I could go to Sweden and study with this guy. But there are American artists right here who inspire me and who could teach me a lot. So I'll stay here :)
If you could study, one-on-one, with any living artist today (and money or distance was no obstacle) who would you choose? I'd love to hear your answers.
10 comments:
Rhonda - sounds like excellent advice. Everyone paints so differently that I am sure it can be confusing finding your own style. Have a blessed week.
We know what draws us to a certain style and who we like - I certainly do. But those styles can be so varied. I guess, if I had to define what I like about watercolor, in general, it's the wet-in-wet looseness of it. Do I paint that way? I try, but I get too tight at times - the looseness in his style is, I think, from painting so large with such a large wet sloppy brush full of pigment - must try that! And do I love birds? Yes, I do! So why don't I paint more of them? ha ha
Yes, I will go with you to Sweden. I love the birds against just the white background--just the essence. And Mr. Martens looks pretty good, too!
To answer your question--since Bacon and Freud have passed away, I don't have a favorite living artist.
Thanks for that link Rhonda. It was such an inspiring video.
Too many wonderful artists to choose from!!
At some point you have to just paint like YOU and it can be confusing to find who you are if you are constantly being barraged with conflicting information. Right now I'd probably pick Mary Whyte or Laurin McCracken to study with - one on one! Wow! (But couldn't afford either one!)
Thank you, Rhonda! I just googled his site, and the work is divine!!!
Hallie, you had me laughing - he does look like an interesting man, doesn't he :) I've heard Sweden is very pretty - but cold and wintry - so bundle up!
Carol, it was a beautiful video - I really would love to see him work more. Seems like he doesn't sell his originals, but has lithographs he sells through galleries.
Sherry, yes, so many artists to admire. Eventually, we find our own voice - but we usually know what direction we want to move in...
Deb, you're right - you have to paint like you and not let anyone tell you that's not good enough - but so many others can inspire and cause you to want to take up your brush and paint :) I knew McCracken would be one of your favorites and could see you studying with him - I was surprised at the Mary Whyte pick, though since her work is very different from Laurin's - but we have room for many in our heads and hearts, don't we?
Glad you enjoyed his work, Kathryn. I think learning more about your subject is a must when you paint from memory - I would like to try it, though. And surely birds are simple things? ha ha Laughing because nothing is simple in watercolor!
Rhonda, I've taken workshops with many artists, learned a little from some, and a lot from others. But I don't paint like any of them. I paint like me. The latest one was Judy Morris. I love her work, and want to try to incorporate her use of patterns into my florals.
Hi, Michelle! Good to hear from you :) I, too, have taken a lot of workshops but I think I'm going to stop doing that unless it's really an artist I want to see work and learn from - or it's a price and place I can't refuse :)
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