One Way to Measure Your Progress As An Artist

One of My Early "Masterpieces"

Hi-

Have you done this lately or ever—that is, go back and look at some of your early artwork or paintings and then compare them to your latest work?

I have, and I guess I should be happy—very happy—that there is a marked improvement, or at least that’s what I see.

But how awful those early paintings were and still are. What was I thinking? I remember feeling so pleased that I was getting back to my art, and, oh wow, weren’t these great?

I also remember reading from an art teacher and long-time art fan how new artists almost always think their art is not only good, but that it’s exceptional.

I sure did. I remember glowing with pride and standing back to look at my masterpiece(s) and thinking, “these are really good; I can’t wait to enter them in something or get them in a gallery.” Well, I’m still waiting, on the gallery anyway (I did get a ribbon for a watercolor in a local show).

In those early days when I started painting again, and that’s not all that long ago, I was trying a little taste of everything—pastels, graphite, oil pastels, oil, acrylic—you name it.

As the saying goes, “youth is wasted on the young,” and as in life, early art is wasted on the inexperienced.

What I’m getting at in today’s blog is that with time and experience comes perspective and I’m not talking about the horizon-line art kind either. Looking back at your early work should make you feel both humble and proud—about how far you’ve come.

I sure do; just look at one of my early paintings above—OMG!

Until next blog…