This is a special course, suggested by Kate Britt, a teaching assistant at LVS (many thanks for the great ideas and suggestions) for acrylic artists to share their own work, get advice from fellow students and teacher on something they might be stuck on and learn valuable tips on how to move forward as an artist.

You will be asked to create or show something that you have already painted following the subjects of each lesson but you may use whatever paint or surface or colors that you wish.

With each lesson you can also submit an already finished piece for discussion or help.

Students are required to participate in the boards, giving their opinions, sharing ideas, etc.

LESSON 1

Have you ever taken a photograph and when you looked at the print found a shadow across someone's face or a tree that looked like it was growing out of their head or numerous other things that you just didn't see when you were taking the picture? I'm sure we all have, but with practice you will learn to actually "see" what is there. As an artist we have an advantage because we can manipulate things the way we want them to be, put in what we want or take out what we want, but the same "seeing" ability still applies to be able to make a well balanced, pleasing painting that someone will want to look at for many years to come.

Perhaps equally as important as what is in the painting is how it feels to the person looking at it. Most people buy paintings because they invoke some kind of memory or feeling that they like and want to keep feeling every time they look at the painting. Have you ever looked at a painting and said, "Oh that's nice or that's pretty" and then walked away and probably will never remember it again? Memorable paintings are ones that make people feel or remember. Feelings can be created by use of colors; cool colors are more serene, warm colors are exciting, passionate or of course the subject matter, for example an adorable baby animal or child, but many times the energy of the artist at the time of painting will drift through into the painting. Feeling the same emotion as you want your viewer to feel while you are painting will greatly enhance the chances of having an "emotional" work of art.

There are many forms of art, many types, many opinions of what is good or bad. Almost everything is acceptable in some form to some people so perhaps the idea of paintings being "good" or "bad" is not a valid criteria and good /bad should be only viewed as an opinion. Start with the affirmation that you ARE an artist. What you create is part of you and therefore important, worthwhile and valuable. You can always improve of course and learn different, new forms and techniques but starting off with the right attitude is important. If someone asks you, what do you do, can you feel you can look at them squarely in the face and say, "I'm an artist?"

Continued...