Amy's Thought's On All Things About Becoming A Professional Emerging Artist

This Blog is about excitement!  I am, as you may know, if you've seen me paint, a bit unconventional.  I won't go into details, yet let's just say, I'm passionate in a way that surprises some.

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Good News, a bit of the travel expense this year has been curtailed, and I am able to paint at multiple events, this Autumn, at a time of year when I seldom would have been traveling.  You see I usually travel alot one year and then take the next year off. 

Last year, I art traveled so much, I think I visited, and painted, a record number of states, mountains, coastlines, lakes, and rivers.  I still have so many paintings to paint, that the stay at home request, sounded like a welcome break.  With a home studio, and supplies, painting can be done prolifically now, with all that inspiration from my travels.

A Spring and Summer event person normally, until last year, I tended to stay closer to surrounding states in Autumn.  Not this year!  As I get to travel virtually, to meet some super artists at The International OPA Wet Paint Competition, and Convention.  (I also, am exploring Texas this Autumn in Nov. , more about that later.)

Last September, found me in Fredricksburg, Tx., and surrounding cities.  I stayed a week, and participted En Plein Air Competition with The Good Art Company.  I attended my first professional artist workshop, right after returning from an art trip to The North, and right before traveling to the East for a three week art trip.  So as a self taught painter, I was thrilled, to be exploring the state that I have lived in for over 25 years, yet had seldom explored.  

Yet, I was such a newbie to the whole experience of competition last year, that I just wanted to paint all of The Hillcountry, and play tourist, in all the surrounding cities, too, instead of "getting in the flow" of painting outside.  I must have looked like the doe I tried to paint for my first competition piece.  Could this year be a "Do Over"?

This year, I'll rub virtual shoulders, with some of the great artists that have this type of thing, "a convention paint out", as a habit, like their morning coffee, without looking like a "deer caught in the headlights"!

I've taken the plunge and can hardly contain my excitement!  I'll be close enough to, "go get", that special tube of handmade color, that I pre-mixed for a special locale.  Something I do after I "get to know a place".  Or the color that often pops up on my canvas over and over.  In the past, I would often, forget to bring that special tube or colors with me.  Not this year!

There are advantages to painting closer to home.  Everyone this year, can feel like they are just "painting with friends".  Painting at one of their favored spots, or trying a new one they "had on their list", yet wanted to go paint there with friends. 

They will be a short post away from so many friends, that they won't feel alone.  Lots of new friends will be painting at the same time, yet their will be a calmness that comes from the familiar.

Yes, this may be my first OPA Wet Paint Competition.  Yes, I may be new to "Working Virtually" or "Virtual Working".  And, yes, this may be my first OPA Convention.  Yet, I see this Convention as a Blessing.  I see this wet paint competition, as a way to make new friends virtually , and to see posts from those that have welcomed me at other paint outs.  Thank you Eric Rhoades!  You have made a painter very happy!  

I have begun my short list of en plein air locales near me that are "in the field", yet familiar enough to find without getting lost.  Those that are close enough to home, that I can "go get" what I may forget to pack.  I have my new field easel for 2020, as well as my french easel, and won't have to choose which to pack, due to luggage space

 limitations.  I am set to grow during this event, as well.

I have my headphones, at the ready.  The ones that make me look like an airplane pilot ready for flight!  I'll be listening, and learning all the next weekend at the convention!  Taking notes and taking names, from the comfort of my home.  So thank you again, Eric Rhoades for thinking of how to help us through this year of unknowns,  in our world of painting!