Re: intimidation....

In Reply to: Re: intimidation.... posted by hey bulldog on 09/13/00 at 5:28 PM:

Be patient I'm new at this posting buisness.
I don't know about potatoes but if you cut an onion in half and rub it over the THOROUGHLY dried surface of your oil painting it will allow the next layer of paint to take easier. This is used mainly when using the old masters seven layer method of painting.: : My...I want to vent a little frustration to whomever will listen...I read these posts and feel very inadequate to you more accomplished artists....I am not formally trained, yet have been lucky enough to "get away" with making good money by winging it...
: : However, I am tired of winging it and would like to know more...I took some art classes while in college and made good grades, but felt very inhibited and self conscious...I always felt like the teachers expected you to adapt to their way rather than express what came naturally...therefore I didn't pursue any further training...

: : I stumbled into art as a "profession", and I use the term lightly, by doing little things for friends and the next thing I knew I was doing oil portraits, and what amazes me, is that with no training, strictly instinct, I have managed to capture the personality and likeness of every child I have ever painted..I have almost NEVER had a client come in and want to change a thing...which I find absolutely amazing, since I have heard over and over again about people paying ungodly amounts for portraits and still there is something a little off about the likeness after several attempts at changes...So,knowing this, I feel that I have been given a gift that I should give my full attention.

: : Even still, I read some of these posts and haven't the foggiest Idea what some of the materials and processes you talk about mean...I try to read what I can, and apply accordingly, and obviously I must be doing something right, because I always have a portrait in progress, and haven't advertised a day in my life..
: : However I am very aware that I have alot to learn, and I don't know where to begin.

: : I was blessed with two children this past year..so I am not really able to attend school,I live in SHelby,nc..not to many art schools around here, so I would like to know if there are any correspondence classes that I could take, or anything for that matter that you could recommend to me that would help me master oil painting..Just remember, I am basically a totally uneducated person, that just happens to be lucky enough to make a living as a portrait painter...geese, what could I actually accomplish if I knew what I was doing?????

: : Thanks for any help and direction in advance...
: : Mary
: : ps..just exactly what do you do with onions and potatoes???...see I told ya!


:
: Well I cant help you with the onions and potatoes or really give you any advise. I just have to say that I totally relate to where you're coming from. I took art in high school, but learnt to use oil by myself, without any help from anyone. And to my amazement, I was actually good at it. I did a lot of portraits, and they looked like the person I painted. It just came so easy to me. But I would like to strenghten my skills, but there just arent, that I've found, any good refrences or courses that teach people to use oil. Right now I'm forced to use what little I know and what I greatly made up. Right now I'm only in college, and so far all my teachers have been horrible. Art is expression, how can they tell you what to draw and what to express? Only you can. The one thing an art teacher should be there for, is to teach a medium, not preach it. This is why i am becoming an art teacher. To give people like you and me the opportunity to learn and enjoy art. To be creative in their own ways and to become better artists. Well thats enough from me. I hope you find what all you're looking for.

 
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