Oct 31, 2022 | ARC 2022
What is the Emotional connection and how do artists create connections? The last post on Curiosity talked about knowing your 3 taproot words. This exercise is important to complete before we move on to this next post, which is responding to your scene. ...
Oct 12, 2022 | ARC 2022
What is it and how can I use it to become a better artist? Kaizen is the Japanese word that simply means “continuously changing for the better.” The word refers to any improvement, one-time or continuous, large or small. The Kaizen for the artists and painters...
Sep 28, 2022 | ARC 2022
Why is it important for artists to be curious? Our brains love questions. It gets bored when it feels like it knows all the answers. Whenever you feel like you’re getting bored with your art, it’s not that you know all the right answers. It’s that you’ve...
Sep 21, 2022 | ARC 2022
The Paradox of Vulnerability When we think of vulnerability we think of being exposed. A state of being in danger of being harmed or attacked. There is another definition of vulnerability that I want us to consider. It’s being in an openness mindset. A humble,...
Aug 18, 2022 | ARC 2022
On Gratitude “When researchers pick random volunteers and train them to be more grateful over a period of a few weeks, they become happier and more optimistic, feel more socially connected, enjoy better quality sleep, and even experience fewer headaches than...
Aug 11, 2022 | ARC 2022
Do it like you know it! Confidence is closely linked to, and indeed is the fruit of, a well-connected and present mind. The confidence you need as an artist comes from knowing how to paint so well you don’t have to really think about how to do it while...
Jul 18, 2022 | ARC 2022
How to quiet the mind and reduce the mental chatter and clatter? Stillness is a hot commodity in this era of 24/7/365 distractions. Artists who understand this and can capture tranquility in their work will do well for their art, themselves, and their clients....
Jun 30, 2022 | ARC 2022
On Mindfulness Mindfulness in painting is presence. Presence, meaning the state of mind and state of being in the same spot that the rest of your body is at. Undistracted and focused on the job at hand. In this case, plein air painting. When art is made in this...
Jun 23, 2022 | ARC 2022
Often, good results aren’t due to a lack of skills, but rather a lack of mindfulness. That’s why this year’s topic is all about mindfulness. To increase mindfulness while we paint will directly increase our results. So take notes, be open to new and...
May 24, 2022 | ARC 2022
Artists are always looking to be in a flow state. We know that when we are in the “Flow Zone” some of our best work gets done. We aren’t quite sure how it got done, but we know when we’re there, it’s a good place to be. Flow is the experience of being so...
Apr 20, 2022 | ARC 2022
You are an artist – look for the helpers – seeing is tricky You don’t paint because you have paint, brushes, panels, and this is what you do. You paint because you are an artist who sees art in the ordinary and makes things extraordinary by simply...
Apr 6, 2022 | ARC 2022
I’m really excited for this 2022 PAPC season. In my own life there’s a lot that’s happening. Lots of irons in the fire so to speak. Like many of us, our painting time is limited. We don’t have all the time we need to paint all the paintings we want to paint....
