Thursday, October 13, 2016
Frustration
I think the class is going to some "do" at City Hall on the first Wed. in November, and I will just cancel that one and get my money back. The next week is my daughter's birthday, so I will cancel that one as well. I'll just struggle along on my own and do what I can - I watch a lot of Youtube instruction as well as read books by successful artists.
I had an appointment with the dentist to see how the healing is coming along after my last extraction. We talked about when he would pull the molar on the other side, and I told him I wouldn't do it until I get a lower partial on the left side. If I can't eat, I won't live long. Speaking of eating, Jeannie wanted to go on a fruit & vegetable diet for a couple of weeks, so their entire family is on it. Donald says he lost 5 pounds, and he's like me only worse - he needs the calories to maintain his weight, and he is very active in addition to just needing maintenance calories.
The skies were too cloudy to see any stars throughout the night, but I got up this morning to the most beautiful sunrise I've seen since I lived here.
I don't know what has me "down" today, but maybe it's because I'm going to miss my daughter for the next two or three weeks when she goes to PA to drive back to Sacramento with Ara. She showed me her estimated itinerary this evening and it looks like a really great trip, with stops to visit friends and relatives along the way. I keep stressing that she should be prepared for the weather to turn wintry in which case she will have to head south, but no matter what, the Rockies are stretched from one border to the other and there's is no easy way to avoid mountain weather changes.
I sure hope I'm in a happier mood tomorrow. I'm not like this very often and don't like it when I am.
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Gypsy is your art instructor a real artist? I found that the classes offered to senior citizens are often taught by incompetents. Maybe you need to take a class from someone who is a "real" artist. I have spent the money to take classes at a museum (art) for 35$ a month and learned nothing. I am now taking an oil class from a college educated real artist and have really started to bloom. It 60$ a month. I also have signed up for an online class on the internet and learned some too. (Can't remember which one) I watch several art related youtube videos every day and have learned a lot from them too. I particularly like the one called the frugal crafter. Yes, she does things other than painting, but she sure has helped me.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to say she is probably a very good artist, but our styles and vision are totally at opposite ends of the spectrum. She came over at one point last night, sat down next to me and began to paint my painting on a big piece of cardboard. By the time she was nearly finished I was amazed at what I saw, although it still is NOT my style and I don't want to emulate it.
DeleteThe fee for this class is $25, which can run $100-$125/month. I did buy 8 classes on sale at half price ($12.50). It isn't only seniors in the class, but I am by far the oldest (I think one of the women is in her mid-late 60's).
I think I will run out the classes I've paid for, maybe getting my $ back for one or two of them, and then just sketch and paint on my own for a few weeks until I decide if I can find another class or just go it alone. The nearest art class similar to the one I attended in Alaska sounds good to me but it is in Folsom, which I wouldn't want to drive to in the dark. Michael's, where I currently go is probably 2 miles or so from me and no traffic when I'm coming home after 8:30 pm. How did you find your current instructor? Is it a class for several people, or private lessons?
I'd also like to try watercolor painting, and eventually even oils, although the cost of switching to oil paints will be considerable. Thanks for giving me food for thought.
I saw her studio while out shopping. There are 6 women in the class but she could have more. Try looking up oil painting instruction in Sacto on the internet. Of course you could always drive to Fresno and take it with me !
ReplyDeleteI would love to join you in Fresno, and would do it if I were 4 or 5 years younger. My driving days are a thing of the past, and I don't even want to drive to Folsom, even though it's only 5 or 6 miles! I did find a studio in Folsom that has classes throughout the week, and maybe I can get on during daylight hours. You pay a $35 fee; they provide the aprons, canvas, paints, etc. - everything you need. An instructor teaches the same subject to everyone. When my granddaughter gets her from Philadelphia, I may get her to go with me (and drive) to a couple of classes. It's all acrylic though, and I will have to wait a few months to spend the money for oils. Gosh, they are expensive. Meanwhile I'll keep looking.
DeleteLife is too short to be annoyed by other people - particularly if you are paying to be annoyed. Being uptight as you try to learn something is probably not really all that productive. If you don't love it, you might consider leaving it. Yes, I have had the same experience with a painting instructor. It was way too stressful to even consider continuing. I can tell the difference in pleasure between my camera and painting - no contest! ;->
ReplyDeleteVirtual hugs,
Judie
Thanks so much for your input. I think the way I've figured it out I will cancel and get refunds for 2 classes, and have 2 classes I will attend just to finish it up. The ironic thing is that there are still so many absolute basics she hasn't bothered with, such as which brush to use for what. I'll miss the group though, but it is way too much stress when I clash with her.
DeleteGypsy, somehow I suspected this to happen. I've met teachers that weren't teaching me as I expected. This is one reason I suggested reading basic art books galore to begin. I don't care for the idea of a class that only gets you a finished project but no basics of 'Why, How and What". Yet, there are many of just such art classes out there with attached (too costly) fees. I feel very fortunate to find a retired real art teacher at the local Senior Citizens. Ann taught art for 17 years at my kids' high school. In time, I'm sure you will pick up enough here and there that one day all you learn will fall into line and away you will go, although any true artist will tell you that learning art is a continuing learning process. Even Rembrandt would have continued this process IF he hadn't died! Your interest is the most important thing in your journey, so hang on and keep doing. Let us see your "Lemons".
ReplyDeleteI'll see how my next class goes, but I think I will try to find something else or just use books, videos, and trial & error. Victory, the art teacher, is a good artist I think, but I'm not sure how many total newbies she has dealt with. I've never done any kind of art in my life so I'm really starting from scratch.
DeleteYes. I was hoping to see those lemons today. We (Old Man and I ) really do like your apples. He did not mistake them for tomatoes, either. He eats lots of apples that look just like yours. I have been into different kinds of "art" all my life. Embroidery, knitting, crocheting, macrame, decoupage, etc. The only "art" class I ever took in college was "art for elementary school teachers. I made a "C" in the class, barely. No way could that teacher and I communicate. It was impossible for me to give her what she wanted. Through my years as a teacher, I remembered her many times, though. Every time somebody complimented me on a drawing I did, a collage I put together, the neat ideas I came up with to teach kids to weave, etc. My point? Don't let the fact that you don't agree with that teacher get you down! Be true to yourself.
ReplyDeleteThe lemons aren't finished. I did the lemons which didn't look too bad, but then she had me paint around them in brilliant blue and now I have to go back over the edges of the lemons. I didn't have time in class to finish the blue, and she told me not to finish it at home? Wonder what she worries I will do. Also I don't like the way she wants me to shadow the fruit - I would like a more realistic shadow, maybe more fuzzy around the edges. I watched a video last night where the painter put the different shades on the lemon by poking the brush on the canvas, sort of like Bob Ross often does. It looks so much more realistic, but I don't think "realistic" in IN these days.
DeleteI'm going to do another small still life on my own, at home. I think I'll do bananas since I have a bunch on hand.