Jane Dunnewold on Seeking Grace

This summer I took Artist Strength Training (an online course) with Jane Dunnewold. I've been fortunate to take a couple of in-person workshops as well. She is a really thoughtful, kind artist with whom I've always felt privileged to entrust my own ideas and struggles.

On her website is an inspiring talk called "Seeking Grace" (recording). She talks about a lot of things I suspect many artists think about, from our feelings of vulnerability in making art to creating work that is authentically our own. She summarizes many of the ideas we discussed in Artist Strength Training: cultivating trust in yourself, raising your energy in the studio, creative stamina, and, of course, seeking grace.

I highly recommend listening to her recording (it's about 30 mins.), and I hope it will send you all into 2015 with fresh determination for art making.
http://www.janedunnewold.com/seeking-grace

Building Blocks of Watercolor

Tony Van Hasselt has a great tool for reminding ourselves of the important principles of painting in any medium.  The "Building Blocks of Painting" he has developed is very helpful in planning, executing and evaluating our work.  Check out his web site for details:  http://www.tonyvanhasselt.com/paintingtips.html

Google Art Project

The Google Art Project provides files of artworks that allow the user to get up close and see details. For example, this link leads to a John Singer Sargent watercolor:
http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/rio-dei-mendicanti-venice/jQE_xiWg2QdRIA?projectId=art-project

There is a small box on the right in which you can zoom in/out (- and +). You can also click and hold in that mini-image to move around the painting. Thus, you can really zoom in and see his painterly brushstrokes.

You can look up other artists, too, of course.