My absolute favorite medium to work with in art is oil paints. There is just something so exhilarating about preparing the palette and mixing the paints. Oil painting is a medium that can be manipulated in many ways and the possibilities are endless. I've learned a lot about oil painting in the past year. My most recent oil painting class was Landscape Painting with Brother Griffin. In this class my eyes were opened to a different approach to oil painting. I've always had this mentality that oil paintings always need to be photo real, but Brother Griffin's style is more loose and allows you to take a journey through the painting. The beauty about this particular style is that from farther away the painting becomes more complete. As I experimented in becoming more loose, I felt more successful in my paintings. In this class we had the opportunity to go outside and paint in plein air. It was such a different experience compared to painting from a photo. We were asked to paint six landscape studies and choose one of them to paint a final. I want to share some of the most important things I learned from my teachers, some of my own work, and some landscape artists that are very successful and produce amazing paintings that I aspire to be like one day.
This is one of Brother Griffin's landscape studies he gave away. It's a scene from Bear Lake and he said the water was really that blue that day. Brother Griffin paints professionally as well and sales his paintings for quite a bit of money. I was thrilled when I was given this study and it has now become a priceless treasure in my home.
My Landscape Studies at Henry's Fork
Scene from a river on a sunny day.
This is the same scene just closer and overcast.
This was the second study I ever painted. I loved learning how to paint water and reflections so I chose it to do my final from this one.
At the end of the semester in this class we were told to display our studies and our final. The class was then instructed to begin with critiquing comments. At first everyone started to express degrading comments. But I know as an artist, you have to develop tough skin, and so I began taking it in so that I could learn from it. Then Brother Griffin stepped in and started talking. Now he doesn't just give out free compliments. He will be honest in telling you how it is. He expresses the things you did right and things you did wrong. Here are some of the things he told me.
- Be careful with sharp edges on a tree, it draws a lot of attention.
- Said he really liked them and that they could be put in a gallery. (I was shocked at this)
- He said I am successful at painting what I see but how can I go beyond that.
- Said I was one of the better ones in the class and that it was A material.
- Told me to think about: Can't stop with just copying, How can I make them work?, What is my unique stance?
Brother Griffin ultimately taught that he wants our artwork to look like our own, BUT with knowledge. We are taught in art to draw:
What you see
What you know...and then
What you WANT to see
That's the beauty of being an artist. A painting is a combination of perception and conception. It is a constant challenge, but without the struggle we'd lose interest. By incorporating a clarity, freshness, and purity into my work, I can create something truly beautiful and inspiring. You can draw the eye of the viewer in so many ways by being more bold with your stokes, increasing the contrast and the brightness and dullness of colors. Art is an ever changing learning experience and it is something that has shaped and continues to shape me into who I am today.
Puthuff's original painting
My emulation
Hanson Puthuff was a famous landscape painter. Brother Griffin gave us the assignment to emulate one of Puthuff's beautiful paintings to help us become better painters. This was one of the hardest paintings I've ever done, but after many hours of preservation, I was able to complete it and I was given a pretty good critique.
Master Landscape Painters
Scott Christensen
Here's a little side note about this amazing artist. Brother Griffin is really good friends with Scott Christensen and in his studio he has over 5,000 landscape studies. This just gives me the determination to not give up and to continue painting!
Jim Wilcox
He is an amazing landscape painter who has a gallery in Jackson Hole that I've been to. His work is absolutely breathtaking and has the ability to transport you miles away to the scene he has depicted.
Ken Spencer
This artist had a gallery show in the Spori a couple semesters ago. It was truly inspiring to see his work. He is my favorite landscape painter. Every time I see his work, I am mesmerized.
Well, there you have it! This is my art journey and it will continue on throughout my life. I hope to one day teach my children the beauty of art and it's influence in my world.
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