How to Stay Motivated When Learning to Paint. You Can Do It! As I Paint a Mountain Stream.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

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[@borealiswan2363]

You shared a few nice thoughts about how to get help/motivation. Unfortunately, mentors are extremely rare and expensive, also they won't tell you everything because they're afraid you'll become their competition or worse surpass them, it's been seen in the past. For those of us who don't have much money, it's just Show Up and Do It. Don't even let your mind wander or wonder. Just sit as your workstation, easel, whatever, and start, then once the wheel catches one cog, it's easier to get to the next one and start turning. I usually plan the day before what I'm gonna do tomorrow so I don't waste time searching for a project. Ideas and materials are already laid out, diary (yes, write about how you feel, what you want to paint, how, and why), sketchbook, picture(s), painting pannel, etc. Preparing helps a lot and saves floundering, just in case you get up the wrong side of the bed. Thanks for the demo, I love your painting, maybe more so because it's the type of landscape I love hiking in and painting. Cheers !

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Those are great tips Art Life! I know, I know, mentors are not super easy to find. But they don't have to cost money. Like you, I watch every penny since I'm a fine artist. My mentor does it because he wants to help and would be offended I think if I offered him money. Besides, the amount of money I could offer would probably offend him, haahaa! And you're exactly right that just showing up and starting is enough to get those juices flowing and before you know it, the day is over. Great points. I can tell you're serious about getting better and are a self starter! Paint on!!

[@indianahoosier5794]

SO VERY TRUE. Life gets in the way all too often...

[@martimajor4766]

You are such a gracious human. Love your work. And watching you teaches me so much. very grateful

[@jptazzairbrushingjprice7250]

nOI SIR YOU GOT IT RIGHT....KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING.....

[@davidpinson7880]

0:04 Thanks for this video on keeping motivated. It’s the biggest challenge I face. Once I start painting or drawing it’s easier to keep going as you make those unexpected little discoveries in your art.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hey David, it's good to hear from you. Yep, I find that just getting started is all the motivation I need. Sometimes I'll trick myself and say that I only need to work on something for 15 minutes or half an hour. Once I'm going, I don't want to stop, and before I know it 4 hours have gone by.

[@stephendixon17]

Hey Steve, The one thing I noticed and took away from this demo was, you didn't do any blending! In my early works I spent a lot time blending, which led to trying to correct too many things unnecessarily. Not blending has made painting my last few pieces more enjoyable and less stressful!

[@johncollado1151]

Hi Steve and happy new year.... I find the most difficult part of motivation to be the "ugly" part of a painting or drawing. The time in between the drafts and the finished piece. I watched your process here and found a major portion of that effect. I have difficulty seeing the development portions at times and always struggle to reach the part that starts to fall into place. I find myself jumping from draft to finish and detail in a short period of time and if I am delayed during that "ugly" time then my motivation slows and sometimes stops me from completing the piece. I think this stems way back from when learning art in school, things just didn't move fast enough and if they were teaching something that I wasn't interested in, then I usually ignored them. This of course hurt me in the end and I had to later learn these things that I missed on my own, self learning. Ah, but that is life and as they say, it's water under the bridge. But I think it was because of that that I struggle today working on some projects. Thanks again for a great video and I hope you have a great 2021.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hey John, yeah that's a tough one. I struggled with that too, believe me, so you're not alone. The trick is trusting in the process and knowing it'll come together. Unless you feel like it's not under control and when you try to muscle it back to behave it just won't. I always tell Ann, my wife, that there's a moment in most paintings where it turns that corner and I know it's gonna work. But I've had plenty that haven't and have given up on them. The trick is learning when to keep going and when to throw in the towel.

[@johncollado1151]

@@SteveAtkinsonFineArt You hit that one right on the head Steve, that one moment where it pivots one way or the other. I also have a room full of those!

[@marywebb1138]

Even though this video is 3 years old, it is exactly what I needed. Except for the rap😅😅 thank you 😊

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

My apologies! 🤣

[@pavanpatel4590]

Thank you so much Steve!

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hiya Pavan, I hope this was even a bit helpful for you. Go get 'em!! Thanks for watching =0)

[@debevans2842]

Thanks Steve, love this painting and your chat. I’m a relatively new landscape painter living in Colorado and appreciate your insights! Your paintings are phenomenal.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Thanks Deb, I appreciate that! Thanks for watching and congrats on taking up painting. Paint on!!

[@tombryan720]

Beautiful work and great commentary

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Thank you Tom. We're lucky to be able to have such a great thing like painting to give us direction. Happy painting!!

[@TheArtisticBiker]

I've been in Houston for just over five years now and have not been able to break into an art scene. On top of the, the last YEAR has kept us all apart. The only places I've even found to share my work is on Facebook and Instagram and those are HEAVILY moderated. The lack of motivation stems more from "what's the point"

[@jonathanhall3894]

THANK YOU STEVE for making me feel better about not liking oil paint additives. I have a bottle of Liquin Original but I'll probably have it till kingdom come because I'm on the same page as you. I think maintaining the natural structure of the paint and, as you said, just painting a thinner coat, is far easier to work with as the painting progresses! I apologise for my excitement; you're just one of the first artists I follow who didn't make me feel like I must not be doing it right if I don't mix my first pass with a medium. I paused the video to drop this comment, that's how eager I was. I can't wait to see where this one goes! I love all your work 👍

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hey Jonathan, you're welcome. What I've come to discover is that the right way to paint is the way that works for you, no matter how everyone else tells you they do it. Happy Painting mate!

[@MASoaresFineArt]

Isso é que é um trabalho de mestre!!😊💖👍🖼🎨🖌👏👏👏

[@sanae8275]

You're really hilarious!😂 Thanks for the free laugh! That's uplifting in itself 😄

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Thanks Sanae, glad you had fun!

[@kellylaher7512]

Soo beautiful! Thank you for the pep talk!

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching Kelly!!

[@mbrownie22]

Great painting thanks

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

You're Welcome 😊

[@crisalidathomassie1811]

Hi Steve, first of all Happy New Year and I wish you all the best and more in your career. Thanks so much for this video. It is great coming from someone like you. Motivation can be very challenging for anyone. If this is your full time job then, I think it is a a bit easier because you have deadlines. Personally, I love to paint, but daily life issues get in the way and there I go, putting my painting time aside and suddenly I haven’t painted in two weeks. I decided to look for a mentor and hopefully things will get started next week. I truly appreciate your advice, very true. Blessings, be safe and all the best for each day.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Best of luck finding your mentor or paint buddy! It's true that motivation can come when you realize that the amount of money that comes in each month has to do with keeping new work in front of people. But there was a time when I was working toward the dream and wasn't selling. The thing that kept me going was knowing that I was working toward that dream. Success does have a bit of luck attached to it, but then it's like that old saying, the harder one works, the luckier one seems to get. Happy painting, and you'll get there one day! S.

[@brianpite0893]

Yanni? 🤔😄 , another great painting and informative video. Thanks

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Haaaha. Yep, Yanni, lol!! My pleasure, thanks for watching Brian. 😊

[@thebelyahvlog7059]

Please tell me what are the colors you're using. Thanks for all the encouraging talks. God bless.🥰

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hello Belyah Vlog. Here's a link to my one minute video detailing the colors I have set out for every painting. Hope this helps: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oInGl4aYgs-jbNk Thanks for watching!

[@stevenwmclean]

Great video Steve. Lots of ideas to get moving. Love the painting too. I think, at least if you're less experienced, the fear of failure is the biggest obstacle to painting. Maybe it's better to have the mindset of 'I'm going to explore and experiment with my paints today' rather than 'I'm going to paint a masterpiece today'. It's mostly mental, right? I think anyone can learn to paint well if they have the right attitude and work at it.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

You're right Steve. So much of it is just showing up and seeing where it takes you. Taking the pressure off yourself to produce something frame worthy is a great way to make progress in your art. Hope you're getting lots done and having a ball. Happy New Year buddy!!

[@taylorvanbuskirk8040]

When I was young, I never struggled with motivation. Now, I know what I want to do in my head, I just don't do it. I think the main reason for me is because I don't have a studio like you do. So, that means I have to set everthing up on my kitchen counter, and when I'm done, I strike the set, so-to-speak. It's a pain in the neck, so I just find myself doing nothing.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hey Taylor, that does suck! Having to set up and break down everytime, I hear you. But doesn't it feel good on those days that you end up with something you can say, hey, I did that! I showed up and created something out of nothing. No one can take that away from you, ever! Keep on keepin' on Taylor, it does matter!

[@taylorvanbuskirk8040]

@@SteveAtkinsonFineArt, yes, it does feel good and I will keep trying.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

@@taylorvanbuskirk8040 Attaboy, that's the spirit Taylor!! ;0)

[@ChaosOrZen]

Hiyyyyyaaaa. Lol. Well done.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Fuiyoh! ;0)

[@briancarroll3288]

Steve if I prepare my tinted canvas and sketch and seal with Gamsol and Liquin as shown in one of you video's, is it then okay to paint using Acrylic's ? Just got my studio and supplies set up looking to do my first painting following you advice on video's, hope you are able to find a moment, would be a great help. thanks for the video's.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hi Brian, the use of Liquin to seal the drawing is only for oil paintings. Don't use it under acrylic paintings. I haven't done an acrylic painting for a long time, but when I did, I'd seal the drawings with a thinned down coat of gel medium. When that dries, you're ready to paint. Good question Brian, and happy painting you lucky dog!

[@space.tel-e-grams]

Steve, I always thought you were cooler than the other side of the pillow but the nod to Uncle Roger gives double cool points. Fuiyoh!

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Haahha, I'm so glad someone got it... thanks Space Telegrams! I've been binging on egg fried rice and msg videos lately. Fuiyoh!

[@ruthbosveld449]

Hi Steve, this may be a silly question - so many fine artists started in illustration and were desperate to move on to fine art. What are the issues with illustration that make it attractive to start in and unattractive so people want to get out of it? How many people make the transition and are able to make an income? Thank you!

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hi Ruth, that's a great question. I've had a lot of people say to me when I tell them that I started as an illustrator, "Of course you did!" There is this perception out there, especially in the western art world that so many of the most well known artists started as illustrators, and I suppose that's true. To just name a few, Howard Terpning, Fredrick Remington, Charlie Russell, Tom Lovell, James Reynolds, Morgan Weistling, Mark Maggiori, the list goes on and on... I don't know why other illustrators wanted to move into fine art, but I can answer for myself. There was a time that I LOVED doing illustration, I lived and breathed it. I started as an advertising agency storyboard artist, moved to an illustration house for a couple years, then freelanced and then worked as an in house illustrator for a package design firm. After doing this work for 25 years, 40-70 hours a week, I was burned out. I got bored and tired of working for clients that were determined to take all the life out of any illustration because they were designing by committee. I needed a change and loved being able to paint pictures of the things that mattered to me and motivated me to show up and work hard again. Story paintings. And I wanted something that would be around after I was long gone. The issues with being an illustrator come down to 1) You have to bring someone else's vision to life. Often times it's a project that you can't get excited about. 2) As a freelance illustrator you have to be willing to work long hours and work weeks. You never know when that next job will come in and so you try not to say no very often. If an art director gets told a couple of times, "I'm sorry, I'm too busy to take on your project", they stop calling. 3) There's always someone out there that will do the job for less than what you are willing to do it for. Especially after you've been working for a couple of years and won't work for little to nothing after a while. Oftentimes, clients don't care if you'll do a much better job, they will go with the lowest bidder. Illustration, at least when I did it 83-2008 was a great way to make a living. But now there's so much stock illustration out there that the illustrators who sold to these stock houses have managed to kill much of the need to hire and illustrator. Unless you're in the concept art world working for film or games. I hope that helps Ruth, though I know that's probably more than you wanted to know. I still love illustration and still take assignments from time to time. In fact, I just finished 6 book covers for a Penguin Random House western series. Those were a blast to do!

[@ruthbosveld449]

@@SteveAtkinsonFineArt Great answer. I appreciate that so very much. Blessings, Ruth

[@claygreen4723]

It's like Henry Ford said: If you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Amen to that Clay!