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So in my last post I mentioned I'm kind of new to this "fine art" stuff. I thought you might be interested to know how I wound up here. After all, I've been working as a commercial artist most of my life, and whether or not that work has fed my artistic muse is less important that the fact that the work has fed me. So I'm grateful I've been able to indulge my passion to some extent–instead of simply punching a clock for my paycheck.

Of course I've always enjoyed farting around artistically at times when I'm not working. Creating gifts for others, or fun freelance work has been a nice distraction. But I never really felt that pull to pick up a brush and wave it across a canvas until...I went for a bike ride one day.

Cycling has been another passion of mine, and I regularly visit a local park. One day I was doing my normal ride and I detoured down a hill into a favorite spot by the lake. I came flying down a curve and what do I see but all these folks planted on the shore with all sorts of easels and stuff. Whattheheck?? I got off my bike and wandered around and spoke to several of these surprisingly friendly souls who were indeed painting this lovely cove, right there in front of me.

I was dumbfounded, amazed, and mostly, really intrigued. This was my first introduction to Plein Air painting. I had no way of knowing I was hooked already. This chance encounter sent me down a rabbit hole I didn't even know existed. In a short amount of time I bought my first meager oil painting supplies and made some pretty embarrassing attempts at painting in my basement. I was so bad I wondered how I had been fooling everyone that I was a real artist for so long. Honestly, I truly did.

But suck or not, I was so taken by the concept I couldn't let it go.

Go outside.

Take your art stuff with you.

Make art!

This, to me, felt like the perfect antidote to sitting all day gazing at a computer. So I kept trying, and learning with every attempt, and I finally got my nerve up to actually join that same group of painters I found while biking. And I painted alongside them!

Was it a success? Artistically, no! But in every other way, it was a big fat yes as I let that joy out and for once worried less about how my art was received. They were a safe and encouraging bunch–in fact they still are! I painted with them just this past weekend. But as I've gone down this path I've discovered that there's a pretty good learning curve, at least for me. Especially for the expectations I have of where I'd like the level of my art to ultimately get to. I feel very much like a beginner still, but the needle is definitely moving!

Some things in life are a journey, and this painting thing is for sure one I hope to be on for a long time.

Next time I'll tell you about my epic adventure that sealed the deal for me as a painter. In the meantime, here's the plein air piece I did with my friends yesterday: