The Artist’s Virtues

This book is written with painters in mind – since painting is my medium – but it can easily apply to other areas of art. It was written with love, to give you inspiration and practical steps to start now and to continue to grow as an artist throughout your life. Introduction I didn't go to art school. I went to elementary school. TWICE. Once when I was a child, and then again in my late forties. The second time, I taught grades kindergarten through fifth grade about art – real art! I introduced my classes to lines, shapes and colors, Matisse, Monet, and Mona Lisa. Their curiosity and joy for art was overwhelming. And I found my inherent teacher within. As a hobby artist since my twenties, I had heard much of what I was teaching my students from various instructors and classes over the years. But now, as I focused on how best to teach it to my neophyte artists, the basic concepts of art were back front and center in my mind. I soon noticed my own artwork getting better and my sales growing. I didn't realize it then, but looking back, the key to my fine art success was going back to elementary school and re-discovering the basic elements of art. Chapter 1 There is a reverence for what an artist does – creating what seems magical and mysterious. It can feel magical too. Magical moments come from a harmony of technical skills and virtues of the artist. You may be saying, “Yes, please, I’d like that magic.” Or you may have a desire for the solace that creative activities can add to your life. • Personal growth, learning, growing & working at your craft • Relaxation by thinking and doing something totally different from day-to-day life • Calm from the storm • Peace of mind • The pleasure of dipping your paintbrush into ooey-gooey paint and making marks on the canvas • The joy of creating • The fulfillment of making something you (and others) love • The excitement of discovery • The self-discovery of what you can do • The self-expression of what you can make • The self-satisfaction of being able to say, “I made that.” • The happiness of making something beautiful • The confidence in yourself and your painting process • The love of making and giving • The escape from the usual routine • The fun of playing • The challenge of learning something new • The beauty of creation • The freedom & flow of expression • The feeling of inspiration • The wonder of the natural world • A quest for a more than an ordinary existence • And perhaps even selling, showing, or teaching. If this is you, you DO have the capacity to make beautiful things. It is not magic. There is an artistic language, basic skills, and a path you can follow that will lead to your unique artistic expression. You are now on the path. You have found the book of someone who’s gone down it before. In charting this journey, I’ve come up with some virtues that embody each stage we go through. My hope is that in reading these you will recognize yourself and be encouraged to continue, knowing that you can learn and grow as an artist. This is not a strict “must-do” list, but simply some things that I've personally seen work, which may be helpful for you to use in your own art self-education. Whether you go to art school or elementary school, you are the one who must become the artist. No one can do it for you – but I can help by showing you a path. Here’s what’s ahead: • The four stages of artist growth • The virtues of each stage • A growth plan to progress to the next stage