I find myself in a dimly lit wooden structure in the muddy fairgrounds of Red Bluff, California. About 30 older ladies (and two men) gather around a table, holding plates of chocolate cake and sipping hot coffee from small styrofoam cups. These women are part of the Red Bluff Art Association in Tehama county, a small rural area about two hours north of Sacramento. They are taking a break during an oil painting workshop with the talented and prolific, Judith Frost, a California-based landscape painter.
As I listen to the conversations and questions about various oil painting tools and techniques (these ladies love talkin’ shop), someone sounds a cowbell to usher the ladies back into the workshop room where metal fold-out chairs are neatly arranged around Judith’s canvas and easel. I settle into my seat and take notes. This lady knows her stuff.
Judith discusses her appreciation for light and how it serves as the cornerstone to all her work. She also demonstrates how to create a sky with a palette knife and the proper transparent blue and gray colors. The workshop concludes and I realize that this oil painting workshop could double for a workshop about life. What I mean is that many practices and core concepts in becoming a successful oil painter (hard work, experience, right tools) are universal to being a successful human being regardless of what cause or craft or life style you pursue.
1. Go with the FLOW (Shit happens)
Life is weird. Unexpected events happen: some happy, some tragic. Over the course of the workshop, Judith told us that the majority of her art supplies were stolen from her car in San Jose. Why someone would do this is beyond me, however, it happened and now she had to deal with it. Judith’s lack of supplies forced her to use brushes and palettes she wouldn’t normally use, but what I truly appreciated was her willingness to go-with-the-flow and not ruminate about the actions of others.
Shit happens: your tools get stolen, you don’t get your dream job, you are rejected in love. It is important to be aware that these are inevitable bumps in the road and that inherently, life changes. Also realize that you have the profound choice to either stop and cry in the mud OR pick yourself up and move forward. It is up to YOU to decide.
It took me years to realize this and from time to time, I still find myself slipping back in a hole of self-pity and regret. Now, however, I have the foresight and strength to claw my way out because I HAVE THE CHOICE.
So, In addition to being weird and unexpected, life is transient. Shit happens. Just go with it. The choice is yours.
2. Work, Work, Work
Because it takes a lifetime of hard work, rejection and picking yourself back up to create something like this:
While speaking to our group about her oil painting practice, Judith revealed that she doesn’t usually lead demonstrations or workshops like these and she probably won’t again. She was very open about telling us that she doesn’t have free time beyond painting to teach. You gotta’ respect her honesty.
And there’s a lot to be said about practice. Have you heard of the rule of 10,000 practice hours? Essentially, it has been theorized that what separates the pros from the amateurs is sheer man/woman hours. How much time are you willing to invest into your craft?
According to Malcolm Gladwell in his book, Outliers, he examines through interviews and data analysis, why certain people and organizations achieve success far beyond their peers. So whether it’s the success of The Beatles or the launch of Microsoft, you must put in the hours.
And I theorize that if you truly love your craft, it won’t be so hard to spend the time practicing.
So you want to be successful? Grab your tools and start. You have 10,000 hours left to go.
3. Pursue Knowledge Constantly
During the course of the class, Judith generously gave us a a list of books she recommends for all oil painters to read:
• Sixty Minutes to Better Painting – Craig Nelson
• Alla Prima – Richard Schmidt
• Fill Your Oil Painting with Light & Color – Kevin MacPherson
• Composition of Outdoor Painting – Edgar Payne
• Carlson’s Guide to Landscape Painting – John Carlson
• Mastering Composition – Ian Roberts
• Sketching from Square One to Trafalgar Square – Robert E. Scott
• Landscape Painting – Inside & Out – Kevin MacPherson
• Landscape Painting – Mitchell Albala
• Perspective for Artists – Rex Vicat Cole
Knowledge is power. However, gaining knowledge is also a never-ending process; it’s constant. You will never know everything, even in your particular field of knowledge.
I usually maintain a cool head, but I get frustrated when people say ‘Oh, I already know how to do that’ or ‘I’ve already taken a class in that.’ Why?
Because the space for knowledge is infinite and when you dismiss someone’s suggestion to teach you, you dismiss the chance to expand your knowledge. Here’s a graph to illustrate what I mean about the Universe of Knowledge:
If this pie chart doesn’t make sense, then please watch my favorite scene from one of my favorite movies, Men In Black:
‘Imagine what you will know tomorrow.’ I love how Agent K keeps it real and real smart. Keep your minds and eyes open, you might learn something.
4. Find your Community
More than anything during the workshop with Judith Frost, I appreciated the warm community that the Red Bluff Art Association offered. Talent, practice and a thirst for knowledge mean very little when you don’t have a group of like-minded colleagues to commune with. We are social creatures after all.
Sometimes when we are caught up in our projects or in our areas of study, it’s difficult to realize that there are other people doing the same exact thing! Finding a supportive community is important because it can open doors to growth and collaboration. Then we can make the really BIG things happen.
I don’t believe in the myth about the self-made man or woman. I believe that the successes of one person is the culmination of a community of people helping that person attain success. Think about it. Even Frederick Douglass, who wrote the book Self-Made Men in 1872, can attribute his success to the help of various people throughout his life: Sophia Auld who secretly taught him the alphabet when he was twelve, Elizabeth Cady Stanton who pursued equality alongside Douglass, and Gerrit Smith who helped Douglass publish his anti-slavery publication in 1860.
So whether it is pushing for social change or growing as an artist, you MUST find the people to not only help you grow but pursue those projects and causes that are important to you.
Find the people who have the same interests as you! It might be as simple as joining a Meetup group or finding a local group like these ladies did for the Red Bluff Art Association. If you don’t find a group, then make one!
Two heads are better than one, and more is even better!
A big thank you to the lovely ladies in the Red Bluff Art Association and to Judith Frost for taking the time out of her busy painting schedule to teach us something. Keep smiling, keep pushin’.