Practice, practice, practice!

Been clearing the ol' brain cobwebs with some more sketching recently. It's been great fun.. and there's been a lot said for practice.

  'The more consummate his technique, the easier the artist will find it to free himself from all dependence upon a subject. What he uses to fill his canvas with is not so vital. What is vital is how he does it. It is sad if an artist becomes a slave to the object he seeks to portray. The portrayed object must serve as nothing more than an excuse to fill a canvas. Only when the subject passes through the filter of his creative faculty does his work acquire value for an artist...'

Nicolai Fechin "Notes on Art"

Speaking of practice and technique.. Here's a link to a clip of David Leffel teaching at LAAFA commenting on how to make brush strokes, and how to hold a brush... each stroke carefully thought out and 'finite'. I think it's great advice as I admire traditional method, however it's not for everyone.  Enjoy =)

David Leffel
LAAFA
Nicolai Fechin