Inspiration Friday..You are an Artist

'Into the Moody Marsh'       8x10       pastel     ©Karen Margulis
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"If you hear a voice within you saying 'You are not a painter', then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced"   Vincent Van Gogh

I love this quote by Van Gogh. If you paint or create art ...you are an artist.  You may be new at painting or you may be at a cross roads in your journey but as long as you continue to make art I believe you must consider yourself an artist.

I often see hesitation in my students to refer to themselves as artists. Perhaps they believe that they aren't good enough to be able call themselves artists. But this hesitation can prevent growth.  In order to grow as an artist you must work hard at your art. Being afraid of failure or of not doing it right or not being good enough can be paralyzing. This fear stops many from painting.

I am going to give a copy of this quote to my students. I want them to believe in themselves and know that if they paint they are artists. The more they paint the faster their skills will grow.  Thanks Vincent for the inspiration!

the underpainting for 'Into the Moody Marsh'

Today's painting is one that I have had for awhile. I had done an oil underpainting but put it aside. I didn't want to cover up the interesting drips. I used a very light layer of pastel to preserve the underpainting.