Learning And Artistic Growth

"Learn and grow all you can; 

serve and befriend all you can; 

enrich and inspire all you can." 

~ William Arthur Ward

10 x 8" Yupo -Watercolor (left) and Alcohol Ink (right)

8 x 10" Yupo - Watercolor (top), Alcohol Ink painting (bottom)

I have been painting in watercolor since childhood and added alcohol inks to my skill set only 15 months ago. Each painting, process and medium is a doubling back, a spiraling process of regrouping and building on what has been before. Continuing to repeat previous paintings and studies, I believe each piece is a building block to the next. Criticism for changing my "style, substrate and medium" and for leaving behind what some have loved, comes with the territory. To me, being a life long student of art means constantly learning, growing, changing and evolving. One of the reasons I don't do many commissions is that I learned a long time ago, that the surest way to my unhappiness is to try to please everyone else. 

I believe:

"One of the worst things an artist can do is

stagnate into a certain style or genre for life. 

It's all about growth, and the growth

of the artist should never stop"

~ Dorenda Crager Watson

How do you readers feel about this topic?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Have a great day,

X ♥  O