One of my favorite quotes is from a book by Dan McCaw. 'There are no such things as failed paintings, only failure to paint.'
This quote could not ring with more truth. There are days when we work tirelessly on a painting only to finally call it done and only be halfway satisfied, and we then find it hard to find something good about that painting, but there is something good. You painted, and I guarantee you learned something, even if it was from mistakes. I find that most often I learn the most from the paintings that I feel I failed. I learned what not to do, and just hope that I do not repeat it.
Remember it takes probably 10 paintings to finally get a good one you want to sell, so keep on painting!

It has probably reached a whopping 34 degrees here over the past week and with the mix of freezing rain and the onset of a bug I caught, I just really have not felt like painting. About 2 or 3 times a year this happens to me. So for a week and a half I have not been in to my studio, which my studio-mates kindly reminded me of.

Last night was my last night with my instructor so I mustered up the strength and went, albeit I almost fell asleep during the presentation. I talked to some fellow classmates for a bit and finally bit the bullet and started painting.

It was like a miracle. Once I started putting my brush in the solvent it was like an overwhelming feeling of something good stirring, and for an hour I completely forgot I was ill. Creating art truly does have some magic over us.

I spoke to my instructor about what to do in those painting lulls and he said 'When you get in a lull just make yourself pick up your brush and canvas and paint for 20 min. That's it. Just do a tree or something small.' I think to manage these moments better I am going to get a second set of paints and bring my small easel home so I have no excuse.
Hope everyone is staying warm!

As an artist I know that the cold, hard truth to getting better at art is to do it. I feel it is important to also focus on the fact that an important part of this process is to not only to experiment with your own ideas but to also experiment by recreating previous works of art.

You may think 'Why on earth would I want to copy someone else's work?', but the truth is you should, and often. (Selling them is a big no-no) You learn so much from trying to recreate something someone else's done and you may even go about getting an effect they did in a different manner.
I can even guarantee there will be some collective sighing and possibly foot-stamping (who, me?). but the end result will astound you. You may not produce an exact replica of said persons painting but I bet will even inspire you to do it again!

My lovely painting is a re-creation of the great master, Richard Schmid. There is a lot, and I mean a lot wrong with this painting in comparing it to the original, but the lessons I learned from it are invaluable.

My wonderful Cairn terrier who tolerates me painting in my studio for hours on end. She actually gets super excited when I ask her if she wants to go to 'the studio'.

Of course once we are there and some of the other painters aren't around she quickly realizes it will be a day of lazily lying around, but she is also a wonderful reminder that I need to step away from the canvas when she wants to play.

I am so thankful for my studio and the wonderful gift I have been given in being able see the world and create art that represents it, and with that said I am off to paint!