My Watercolor Learning Goals

I’ve been so inspired lately, and also frustrated and even desperate at the same time.

Inspired by watching Hazel Soan, Jean Haines, Charles Reid, Shirley Trevena and others paint online. Their work is so beautiful, and they make it look so easy.

In the same time, my own painting is still so lacking, that I almost want to quit as I know I’ll never be as good. (I guess this is exactly what Ira Glass calls “the gap” – when your taste doesn’t match your vision.)

But, such thoughts are not really helpful. Even if I don’t become a master, I can most definitely work on improving my skills, for the sheer joy of it.

So I’ve decided to set some goals for myself, that will keep me focused.

• Read at least one art book every month – I think I may have a problem. I can’t stop myself from buying art books. I have many and still get excited every time I get the next one (or two, or more at a time, ups). The problem is I don’t always finish reading them and don’t take action based on what I learn. So, my goal is to read at least one book (if time permits, more) and, most importantly, write at least three actionable nuggets I can implement in my painting right away. Then post a review here on my blog. Most books are about 200 pages, so this makes roughly ten pages per day every week, with about two days “breathing room” if things don’t go as planned. I’ll mostly do the reading in the evening, possibly just before bed. If I don’t have enough time during the week, I may use the weekend to catch up. But I commit to open the book, even if I just read a paragraph. The book I’m reading in September is Jean Haines’ World of Watercolor. (weekly goal – ¼ of the book)

• Art courses – read, watch videos, do assignments. Again, another obsession of mine. I’m still exploring different styles and artists and doing art courses inspires and motivates me a lot. I have a few instructional DVDs, and several online subscriptions (I told you I’m obsessed). I’m just finishing Chris Bedroll’s Intermediate Course on the Artists Network University website. Next up is Liz Steel’s SketchingNow Buildings course. I can watch videos while getting ready in the morning, or in the evening after my daughter goes to bed. I aim for half an hour a day. On Sunday I’ll write down at least three actionable nuggets I can apply to my process. I will also post my work/assignments on the course forum on flickr. (My currently weekly goal is to finish the module for the particular week.)

• Paint or draw every day – something that is my original work. It may or may not be covered with the assignment for the current course I’m doing. (If assignment is simply to recreate a particular sketch/painting, it will not count toward this part). Even the smallest and unfinished sketch will do. Simple washes or color swatches count too. I just have to sit down with my brush/pen/pencil/whatever and do something ON MY OWN for 15 minutes. If I’m lost for ideas for what to sketch – I could just paint a loose flower, a bird or a cup of coffee/tea. I leave my few art supplies on the dining table in the kitchen at all times anyway (except when I know we’ll have guests) so I’ll try to get up 20 min earlier and get it done first thing in the morning. I’d like to have a dedicated sketchbook for this, but I’m not crazy about the paper in my Moleskine watercolor book. Once it’s full, I may reward myself with a different one.

Do you set painting and learning goals? How do you work on improving your painting skills?