Rose Study

Still practicing

Reference picture is from Richard Schmid

richardschmid.com

Springtime in Watercolor

Had fun playing with watercolor. Spring is so pretty.

Setting the tone

Take a long look at paintings from one or more of the Old Masters, and just stare...it's ok, no one will care, just stare. These masters set the tone for what art is... "A feeling". Everyone at some point has stared at the evening sky when the sun is just over the horizon and how the sky just glowed with light and such beautiful colors. It made you feel good inside, so good you pulled out your camera or phone and took a picture so you could keep that feeling with you.

That's only an example of what I mean by a feeling. Each artist had his own style but what ever the style, the feeling you get from it is what keeps you looking. 

John Singer Sargent

 JMW Turner

 Winslow Homer

It's a skill

Anyone can draw or paint.
Drawing and Painting is a skill, some people are born with it and some had to learn it. If you have the desire to learn this skill you can make great works of art. It takes long hours and a lot of studying and practicing to be good at it. How long exactly? I don't know...I guess it depends on how hard you work at it.
I'm still learning. I'm no expert artist but I strive to get better and better through practice, and study. I only have high school art classes under my belt, but reading art books and watching video tutorials has helped me improve. However watching video's and reading books only get you so far. Actually putting paint to canvas or pencil to paper is where your skills will improve. You don't have to start out doing a master piece, just start small doing little studies, that way if it doesn't turn out right it's ok because it was just a study.
So get out there and get your painting on! You can do it!