200 Paintings 200 Days - How it all began

"Paint every day" "Paint small 1 hour studies", "Paint 100", "Paint 400".
 

In the past year it seemed everywhere I turned, someone was telling me to become more focused and intense with my art. To paint on my first observations. To see color and mass without over thinking the details. To become more comfortable with my brushes instead of painting exclusively with my knife. To see and study dynamic light but also learn to appreciate the subtle light and color on a grey day. 

I knew all this was important. I have be studying Plein Air (or painting outdoors "in plain air") painting for almost 20 years. I began studying with Sammy Britt in the late 90s using the colorist method of Henry Hensche. Sammy taught me so much about color and light key and atmosphere and for that I will always be grateful, but painting strictly as a colorist was very restrictive to me. I tend to develop paintings too soon. I couldn't find the time to paint on the same location several days in a row while teaching classes and raising a young family which is pretty much a requirement with the colorist method.  I found myself stuck, restricted, to the point I almost quit painting and then a workshop with Kim English, an artist I greatly admired, became available within an hour of my house. I figured I had nothing to lose so I signed up and suddenly I was excited about painting again. 


What followed was a desire to paint like I had not had in years. I found a whole new community of Plein Air artists who were out there painting for the shear love of it. I realized it was okay to finish a painting in one session and then build a larger studio painting from that. I also realized that even though I may be taking a slightly different foundation, Sammy had given me an excellent foundation in not only seeing color but also light and dark and I would not have made the progression I have without it.

As I took another couple of workshops (one with Jason Saunders and one with Marc Hanson - both invaluable), studied books by Richard Schimd and listened to a multitude of podcasts, the subject of small 45 minute to 1 hour studies was continually talked about and how it was not just beneficial, but necessary. I made plan after plan to to focus on a daily exercise of painting these studies, but I always seemed to put it off. Then in October 2017, I received a CSA award from the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council in Oxford, Mississippi. What this award entails is, that as the artist, I present a project I would like to develop over the next several months and they help fund it.  

What better way to commit myself to the studies than signing a contract?? So in the one of the busiest times of my life (On top of my class schedule I had just accepted the position of Executive Director of our local art organization, The Charleston Arts and Revitalization or CARE) I committed to painting 200 paintings in 200 days. It is not only a commitment to painting, but to document the growth I see in my work, so that other artists can truly see the benefit of this exercise for themselves. The project runs through May 30th of 2018 and will end with not only an exhibit, but also a BOOK!

You can follow this journey on Instagram (@roarkstudios), Facebook (Roark Studios) or by signing up to receive this blog delivered straight to your email. The blog will officially begin on January 1st.  I am already about 70 studies in and so I have shared a few of them on this first blog, from now on the blog will be shorter and contain only the painting from that particular day.

 The cotton module studies at the top are the beginning, which is only fitting because they took me back to my colorist block studies from years ago. These were painted in October of 2017 and so you will notice the changing of the seasons as the studies continue. When the weather is not cooperating, there may be an occasional still life or figure painting thrown in, but each painting will  always be from life. The sizes of the studies are mostly 6"x 8", 6" x 12" and 8" x 10", all done in an hour or less.

Don't forget that this is just the introductory blog. Each day starting January 1st will contain the painting I painted that day and a few thoughts on in. Hope you will follow me on this journey and maybe even learn a little yourself.