Learning from Others

As I noted, I had the opportunity to attend PAUL JACKSON's workshop in Ocean Springs MS. Paul has been a renowned watercolor artist for years.

I wanted to include his bio information from Squidoo because any description I HAVE WOULD NOT DO IT JUSTICE...but on top of it all...he is an incredible, down to earth person who loves teaching other artists to find their gift:

Paul was honored by the American Watercolor Society with signature membership at the age of 30. He is also a Signature member of the National Watercolor Society. Paul was the Grand Prize winner in the "Paint Your Way to Paris " competition and has been featured as one of the Master Painters of the World in International Artists Magazine.

Jackson's artwork has been on the cover of the Artist's magazine four times in recent years. Other media featuring Jackson 's work include: American Artist, Watercolor magazine, Watercolor Magic, Watercolor Artist, Forbes Magazine, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, NPR, CBS News, The Baltimore Sun, The St Louis Post, The Kansas City Star, and TWA's Ambassador Magazine.

Many of Paul's works hangs in private collections, but you can see some examples on display in museums and public buildings.

Although Paul Jackson has an unequalled passion for watercolor, his creative genius has not been limited. In 2001, Jackson unveiled a 30' diameter tiger mosaic on the University of Missouri campus. Paul led hundreds of volunteers in assembling more than 420,000 Italian glass tiles for the project. Jackson 's painting, "Not Exactly Front Row Center" was recreated as the stage design for the musical "Porterphiles" at the York theatre in NYC. Paul has also thrice designed Easter eggs for the White House and he designed the Missouri Commemorative State Quarter for the United States Mint.

In 2008, Jackson was the featured speaker at the International Watercolor Masters Invitational in Lushan , China , during the Olympic Games. In 2009 he served as the invited juror for the American Watercolor Society's 142nd annual international exhibition.


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Years ago I attended his first book signing. Throughout those years I continued to create acrylic paintings, using bright, fully saturated color but could not seem to get the effect I was looking for when painting water and glass.

This year, next month actually, I turn 45. While reading through my journals I was reminded of the impact Paul's work made on me, more probably then as a writer than an artist, when I lived on the Gulf Coast. My son who is now 17, was five years old.

After researching his whereabouts I saw that he would be holding a PAINTING LIGHT AND GLASS WORKSHOP near my hometown, not to mention on the Gulf Coast. I felt it was a GREAT opportunity to slip away with my husband (we have four children) AND fulfill a life dream...or at least something that had been giving me a huge "nudgin" over the years.

So I went. And since I returned home I have been transformed as a painter, even look at trees and leaves differently.

Two weeks after going to Paul's workshop, I guess because of the '45" thing, I attended an acrylic workshop taught by a fellow artist in my hometown of Birmingham.

www.melaniemorrisart.com

She has a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STYLE AND TECHNIQUE. I loved her texture and layering of color.

Once again, in my studio, I found myself looking at MY work in different ways.

HOW EXCITED I was to find an artist site called FINE ART AMERICA where not only can I sell my work, create a blog, a web presence, but
I can CONNECT AND LEARN FROM OTHERS. (Click on the title of this blog to go there)

The internet can consume us, I find myself engulfed in great ideas every day.

The KEY is to ABSORB influences from others but the CRUCIAL PART is to TAKE IT TO THE 'DRAWING BOARD/easel/pad" and
MAKE IT YOUR OWN.

Blessings to my fellow CREATIVE ARTISTS. I look forward to learning from and sharing with you here and on fineartamerica.

Allison Adams