Overcome Obstacles - INEXPERIENCE
When I decided to turn professional, the first thing I did was call an artist friend of mine who had been professional for many years. I asked him what I needed in order to turn professional. Here’s the list he gave me.
1. God-given talent.
2. Desire.
3. Commitment.
God-given talent - I was sure that I had this. I had known from a very young age that God had gifted me. Check.
Desire - I was sure that I had this. I was tired of living other people’s dreams for my life. Check.
Commitment - I thought I had this. I knew there would be challenges. I didn’t realize how many there would be. Now, looking back over thirty years of art and teaching, I realize that yes, I do have that commitment. Sometimes it wavered, but I always seemed to be able to get back on track.
There were many obstacles and there will be for you too. So you must be committed to overcome those obstacles.
What are the obstacles?
1. Inexperience - You may be an absolute “newbie” to the oil painting and art world.
That’s okay. Don’t let it stop you. Some of my very best art students have been those with absolutely no oil painting experience whatsoever. Just this past year, I taught a class in northwestern Indiana where the vast majority of the students had never held a paint brush. One was even a seasoned art collector, but claimed she couldn’t even draw a stick figure. Turns out she was wrong.
This particular piece to the left is a black and white done by Angie Morris from that very class. This is her first attempt at oil painting. She came in with no experience, but only a desire to learn how to oil paint. Not bad for a first attempt.
Obstacle number one: inexperience. Do not let your fear of failure stop you from attempting something new.
Grab your brush and get going.
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