Okay everybody...how did you horn your carft...

[Longgrain]

Let's get to know each other a little better...

How did you cut your teeth as an artist?

Did you go to an art school? Or were you an art major in college? If so where did you go?

Are you self taught, or just getting started?

Or did you have a craft or skill handed down to you? Was it something you we're trained for your entire life?

For me, like many people I've been drawing and painting all my life, but I didn't start getting serious until college. Since I come from a small rustic town, I started off a a local community college before moving on to the big city. I went to Mass College of Art in Boston.

This was about seven or eight years ago...



One of my paintings at the time as a work in progress...



I didn't have much success beyond art school, although I did sell one of my paintings, and have participated in a few local gallery shows...

But my experience has instilled a lifelong passion in me, and I still draw and paint when ever I'm inspired enough and can find the time. Here's one I did over the summer...



So tell me how you got started, and don't be afraid to be as uber-vain as possible...a little shameless self promotion never hurt anyone...

[SiouxJ]

1. My stuff leans more commercial

than the fine art I've seen here. I was going to be an illustrator but fell into a business situation that offered a better living than commercial art ever could, so I took that road. I majored in art (with emphasis in graphic design), at San Diego Sate (after doing the community college thing too ;-) ) then worked as an art director for a small advertising firm in San Diego after graduation. I got out of that as I couldn't stand business people over-riding my aesthetic decisions; plus I hated the stress (deadlines etc.).

Now I mainly work on my business website but I still do some drawing and/or painting now and then. Some day I hope to sell the business and get back to my art :-) .

I really don't have anything too exciting to post but here's a drawing I did of my dogs for last year's Christmas card:



I wish I still had time to do stuff like this, it's a colored pencil thing from college that I always liked:

[Longgrain]

2. Hey, didn't I just see you down in the photography group...

:hi: Maybe I should pose the question of photographing paintings here.

Great work BTW
:thumbsup:

[SiouxJ]

3. Yeah, I get around ;-)

yeah, perhaps you should. I'm sure everyone's photographed their work at one time or another.

Thanks! I'm a fan of your work too! I really like your style. Wish I could be less commercial looking, but it's a hard habit to get out of ;-) . Some day I hope to have the time to develop that.

:hi:

[Lorien]

4. Same style here

5 1/2 years in art school (Columbus College of Art and Design, Cleveland Institute of Art). A bunch of years in the film industry, which sort of sucked my passion for art right out of me. I always drew and painted, so there was never any question of what I would be when I 'grew up".

At first I though "horn your carft" was a new technique or something, lol! (hey, I'm dyslexic too-bad spellers of the world untie)!

[SiouxJ]

9. I try to limit how often I horn my carft

mom told me it would make me go blind. ;-)

I wanted to be you when I grew up Jen (work in animation). But I refused to move to L.A. (aka "Hell A") and at the time, everyone told me you had to live there to be in that field.

[Lorien]

10. Lol!

Yeah, if I had to live in helL.A., I wouldn't have worked in animation. good thing you never did; this kind of work sucks your soul dry!

If you really want to enjoy being an artist, don't be someone else's artist!

[outraged2]

5. strictly an amateur artist

Well, I am strictly an amateur artist.... my work isn't nearly as good as the work posted in the threads in this group. I have drawn my whole life. I started out doodling horses as a child and one day when our house was being worked on the contractor (or one of the guys) saw me drawing and showed me how to do it better with his carpenter's pencil all loose and sketchy. To this day I start horse drawings the same way as he showed me 25+ years ago. I also like to draw vintage cars and oversized/much larger than life portraits, among other things. I did take classes in high school and more recently at college.

I have never been able to get a grip on painting, though I love to do it. I mostly work in pencil and charcoal. I don't have good luck with color for some reason.... same is true of my photography. Its very weird. I don't have much of my work on my machine but here is one.... It doesn't look very good shrunk down to a few inches, the original is 2 x 3

[Longgrain]

6. That's awesome work with the gray scales

and contrast. I'm mostly amateur myself too--though I have been to art school.

Is that a self portrait? Even if it isn't, it's great to see you :thumbsup:

[outraged2]

7. thanks

No, not a self portrait :) It is just some random guy. I just pick interesting photos from wherever, change the composition a bit and draw them.

[Cobalt Violet]

12. There are many wonderful self-taugh artists.

That artwork doesn't look amateurish too me.

[Longgrain]

16. I absolutly agree!

Art is for all, not just the few!

[jdots]

8. started really young being an outsider who observed life

around 6 when it seemed i wasn't allowed to play ball with the mini jocks.Started churning out drecky little paintings that grown ups confused as being art,when they were just a way to cope.They even had a show with my crap,which i thought was a way of telling me i was a looser and couldn't cut being a good student.Alot of artists i know do it as a place to go.
Went to an experimental art school in 1967 no need to say more about 1967-69 when the school folded.Actually made a living till i came up against the reality of the New York art scene and who I would have to sleep with to get the big break.
Went back to music which was fun and money.The night they selected bushkin dec 11 2000 after 30 odd years I flipped out and started painting and drawing 20 hours a day.Went figurative and political to make sure nothing would sell (joke ?) The art world now in America is a do it for love situation,these neocons hate art and what sells is all about investment pieces.
Paint on everyone sooner or later people will replace thier plasma screens with art.......Oh yeah i give away tons of paintings,when they are done,they are done.Since i know artists who are spending 30 k and up a year to try to sell, don't try and just do what i have to do.

[Cobalt Violet]

11. Mass Art Alumni here too!

Where you a painting major?

I was, but I painted before I went to art school. I work other jobs because I just don't make enough from art, YET. Until recently I really didn't care too much about marketing, the art market, selling or anything like that.

[Longgrain]

13. Yep painting major...

around 1996. I can't consider myself an Alumni though, since i had to drop out. Mostly for financial reasons. I've only sold one painting in my life, so i can sympathize with having to work other jobs...I still love it though...

This was kind of the style I was working in at the time, more of a figurative meta-physical style...

Warning: kind of creepy...





Here's a nicer, more recent one...



I also do photography and have about a million and one pictures posted down in the Photography group.

[Cobalt Violet]

14. Creepy is good.

I love creepy art.

[Longgrain]

15. I like!

I see you have a sense for photography as well...:thumbsup:

here's another one of my paintings, a bit less creepy, a close up of the one I first posted above...

What do you think?

It's my avatar image BTW...