One of my art goals is to be able to paint scenes like the ones I’ve admired in other artworks. Now that I’ve begun using my pigments in oils, I feel as if I might actually be able to reach this goal eventually. I’ve made some progress in learning how the oil paints work with my pigments, but I haven’t really taken the time to attempt or experiment with the type of landscapes I really want to paint.
Here’s one that I love by Alfred Augustus Glendening, Sr.
Art Goals
In 2024, one of my major art goals is to paint more landscapes, and of this style. I also want to learn how to paint better humans, so I’ll work on that, too. I enjoy painting a range of subjects, and also want to paint more of my raptor series. So, overall, a lot of painting, as usual. And then I also want to do some plein air. So, no shortage of painting goals, as you can see.
Other Goals
I haven’t even begun to talk about the other goals for next year. One of them will consume a lot of my time, but also opens up the possibility to meld with my art goals. I’m taking classes to get my real estate license. Some of the landscape or homes could become paintings that would be great gifts for the buyers or sellers of properties. Why real estate? Well, my daughter is a broker and I will be working with her. It’s a job that allows me to (hopefully) still have time to paint. My art so far isn’t earning enough income to do without another source of money, so there you have it. Keep me in mind for next year if you’d like to move to this area! I’d like to specialize in properties suitable for sustainable or off-grid living.
This doesn’t take into account my homestead goals. Mainly, that is to grow a better garden and work on a trail up to the water tank.
Previously Unsure I Could Reach this Art Goal
A while back, I posted about the kinds of art that I love to look at and wish I could collect. Then I contrasted my art art to that kind of art. At that time, I didn’t think I would be capable of painting scenes like the one above. That post from 2020 is linked here if you’d like to see it or refresh your memory.
Now, I do think I can at least get a lot closer to reaching that level of skill. The scenes I want to paint aren’t European countryside, though if I ever get back to Europe I would surely want to paint some of them, lol. But I’d like to apply this same technique to painting the scenes of our Ozark countryside. And there are a few scenes from the Colorado Rockies I’d like to paint one day, too.
Contemporary Artists
In that 2020 post, I showed paintings by the old Masters, but there are contemporary artists who paints the types of visions I love, too. Eventually, I’d like to take some of the classes offered by some of these artists so I can learn more quickly how to do certain things. Giving the illusion of rocks under the water is a challenge I haven’t mastered but want to, for example.
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While I’m still not on the level of painting as the art I admire, I can see that I’m slowly, baby steps slowly, beginning to come around to seeing similarities in my own.
Where are the Women Artists?
I’ve noticed something, though. There are no women in that list, and I’d like to change that. I find the art I love from contemporary artists through posts on Instagram, mostly, and sometimes on YouTube when I’m browsing for tutorials on certain techniques. So this is not bias on my part, I’m simply following through based upon what I see, not on whether the artist is male or female. So I’ve started watching for work done by women that encapsulate my art goals, too. They do exist. It just hasn’t been as easy to find them.
Is it because women are just less visible in their practice, or that there’s not so many painting in this style? If you know of women artists who produce the sort of work I’ve highlighted in my 2020 post or in this one, please comment and let me know where to find them. I’m interested in contemporary or Old World art that captures this feeling described in the caption to the photo above.
Here’s are some of the women painting in this style that I’ve discovered through my searches. I’ll add more as I find them, and if you’re an artist painting in this style or know of one, please leave your link in the comments of this post.