2022 is over and now’s a great time to reflect on what went well, what went wrong, and what’s the plan going forward.
I did this back in 2020 but missed 2021 (consistency isn’t my strength).
What Went Well
Here’s what went well during the year:
- I produced less work but of a higher quality. I seem to be taking longer to finish my paintings. I think one reason for this is that I have tightened up my technique and given myself less room for error. Another reason is that experience allows me to see so many more options to improve the painting that I was naive to before.
- We did family trips to Kingfisher Bay and Noosa. These were my favorite holiday locations when I was a child. It’s nice to see Elora experience the same childhood joys. Hopefully, she will enjoy fishing as well!
- I started portrait painting. It’s challenging, particularly in the sense portraits are less forgiving than landscapes. People can tell if you don’t get the nose just right or you make the hands a touch too big. But this makes it exciting.
- We hung many of my paintings around the house. We also developed a good relationship with a local framer and had several paintings framed.
- New posts: 18. My favorite is Susan Goddard: Advice on Watercolors and the Art Life. The comments on this highlight just how kind and encouraging the art community is.
- New paintings: 21. Below are my favorites.
What Didn’t Go Well
- Hardly did any drawing. Time has been limited and I have preferred brush and color over pencil. But, if I want to keep improving in painting, I need to keep drawing.
- It was the year of illness. I’ve never been so frequently sick. I’ll chalk that up to Elora’s first year at daycare.
- Didn’t read many new art books.
- Kobe still struggles with the stairs.
2023 Goals
My goals haven’t changed:
- More painting, drawing, and writing.
- More fishing.
- Keep being a good dad and partner.
Your Turn
What went well? What went wrong? What’s next? Feel free to share in the comments.
Again, thanks for everything. It’s a pleasure to create art and share my findings with you.
Happy painting!
Dan Scott With Chontele, Elora, and Kobe
Draw Paint Academy
Reading this made me feel some type of way (a good one)! To me, it was more drawing and less painting. I produced 1 painting in my new style, started a second one in the hope of producing a body of work that reflects my persona but well… wasn’t my best year in terms of balancing work, studies and art. On the other hand, i visited many museums, got very consistent with posting on my blog, travellee to the netherlands, launched a new cultural project and hosted 2 workshops 🤍
HKaoula, I was enthralled with what Dan had written above and saw again the wonderful works he has done in recent years. I read your comment and clicked on your name. How impressed I am with the Blog you have put together so professionally, and filled with great information on just about every aspect of art. I haven’t read it all, of course, and would have to give up my whole time in doing so, but I have scrolled down through your heading presentations, and just wanted to congratulate you on giving us a place to call our ‘resting place’ when we need time out to just sit back, relax and enjoy what you have put before us. Thank you.
This newsletter is so packed with goodies that I have to come back later to read it carefully (early in am, still dark and on first cup of coffee). That said, will pass this info on for your Kobe since you are so generous with giving tips and helpful guidance. Don’t know Kobe’s age but my eleven year old Golden needed some help so I put him on Platinum CJ — a supplement made by Platinum Plus, a company that makes top grade supplements for horses that many of us use. In addition, he gets a teaspoon Trixsyn, a hyaluronan supplement once a day. Made a world of difference. Hope it helps. As for the art, I’ve done the same as you mentioned except in reverse. It’s been a year of mostly drawing for me and I’ve discovered all sorts of new ideas and techniques. Time to paint.
Dan, Enjoy each day with Kobe. I just lost my golden Sandy whom would have been 12 the day after she passed. Our home is so empty without her.
I am an 85 year old watercolorist and look forward to your lessons. You have a gift at teaching thank you for sharing.
Beautiful paintings! I especially like ‘Boats at Wynnum’ – the shadowed dark side of boat provides a break in the texture look you do so well. I hesitate to give my opinion at all because I’m NOT an artist! But, I can express what an average eye first sees. Does that make sense? Anyway, I thank you for all of your lessons- and can tell through your honesty that your love for art and obvious talent goes deep!
What beautiful girls you have!
Judy
I think your comments were spot on. Your eye is connected to your heart.
Thanks for all your efforts Dan, you are a gold mine if information!
All the best for the new year and be assured that I will be reading your posts.
I have had a prolific painting year, finally managing to develop a style of my own. even managed to win a regional prize this year, and continue to experiment with various mediums and styles.
Time for me to update my dream board. Just had my first solo show here at Mr John D Rockefeller ‘s Ormond Beach , FL home on the 13th! It went se well!
The result of many inspirational tips from people like you, Dan, who write about a multitude of subjects and can make me dream! May you continue and enjoy what you ❤️
I love your work. My favourite
is the Maleny, white purple and blue flowers. I am just getting what I call serious about landscapes and I have been bogged down in detail. I paint because I love color and this painting was inspiring to me .Lots of detail and still painterly.
I have not been able to do much painting due to family painting and I am resolved now to care out blocks of time daily instead of waiting for hours of free time.
I am new to art so drawing is a skill I am very weak in. 2023 is the year of drawing for me.
Thank you for your inspiring work and your teaching methods.
Loved all your honest remarks and loved all your paintings. Well done. The texture in your paintings make them very interesting and alive !!! Yes drawing is so important but hard to get to sometimes. Wish we had more hours in our days as only practice makes perfect. Happy New Year to you and your family and may it be a productive one for all of us. Merry
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us. I am going to go back and read it again and try to do the same soul searching. Your paintings are beautiful, and I especially loved the lush colors of Maryvale Cows, the mystery of Maryvale Overcast, and the tenderness in Chontele and Elora. I could almost feel the bark on the trees of Mount Tamborine and step into the picture for a walk on that path. Kudos! You clearly love what you do and your willingness to share is remarkable and much appreciated.
Best wishes for 2023!
Thank you so much for sharing, teaching and encouraging. Such a joy to see your work.
2022 was a grat year for me, I went back to painting after a long time and did 24 paintings this year, mostly seascapes and olive groves. It happened because I discovered you and attended your Landscape Painting Masterclass.
I hope to continue the same way, I cannot draw but see the world through color and painting makes me happy.
with your greeting,
Happy painting
Dan, I love this post and your personal reflections. Thank you for sharing them. I think you’ve had a wonderful year in 2022! Your work has been so inspiring to so many, including me. You are surrounded by beauty in your daily life, and it comes through in the serenity of your paintings.
Keep spreading your light in 2023!
P.S. I love your boats.
Dan-As always, thanks for sharing. I just love your brushwork. The looseness is something I am striving for. It’s hard to pick a favorite of the works you shared. I love them all. And I can’t believe how big Elora has gotten. Enjoy these years. As a grandmother of two, aged 19 and 17, I can’t begin to tell you how fast the years fly by. I am looking forward to what you have to share with us in 2023!
Thanks for sharing this Dan, it’s been an honor to have “shared” this past year with you, I’m looking forward to the time ahead. Happy new year to you and your family – Dorian
Hi Dan,
I love reading your letters and being inspired by you! Your personal paintings have improved so much over the past year, and I wish you all of the very best for 2023.
Kind Regards, Andre
Thank you Dan for sharing yourself with your art community. I am proud to be a part of that.
I have been a professional CARICATURE artist recently turned Painter. It’s been an interesting transition. Your tutelage and support I’ve been extremely helpful.
My number one favorite among your paintings is Maryvale Cows. I think I saw a breakthrough there in your work. Brisbane City Mist was my second favorite, love the beautiful blue color in the foreground. Boats at Wynnum is probably my third favorite but all of the paintings are very strong and beautiful.
What went well for me in 2022 my first year as a full-time painter is production. I produce the quantity, the quality was not there as of yet. Lots of learning.
What went wrong for me in 2022, hard to say. I’m very grateful to become a full-time painter. I am a bit shy with sharing my work right now. I aim too much for perfection instead of enjoying the journey. I am a bit too hard on myself. As a senior citizen getting old definitely has its advantages and disadvantages.
What’s next for me this year is much the same. Painting painting painting, learning learning learning. I would like to change my website to let go of my CARICATURES (hard for me) and get some strong paintings in there. Enter more competitions, go on more group painting expeditions. And most importantly enjoy the journey.
The very best to you and your lovely family.
Thank you!!
I hope to have more time this year (in spite of helping look after 2 year old grandson) to learn from you – and create!
Thank you, Dan, for sharing your work and life with us.
I painted a fair amount this year, but little drawing. I submitted my work for an art exhibit this summer, but my work was not chosen. That has kind of thrown me into a bit of a funk about my work, so my goal is to move past that disappointment and get on with it.
My favorite was Fraser Island, End of Jetty. Second would be Chontele & Elora in the Garden. Love your vision and lush style!
Thank you for sharing your talent with us!!
Dan,
Thank you for sharing your wonderful paintings. I finally got up from my computer seat and stood 6-7 feet away and was blown away. My very favorite Chantele and Elora, I was WOW. Absolutely awesome. Both, Mt. Tamborines, Bisbane City Mist and End of the Jetty.
Absolutely amazing works of art. More painting in ’23, be the best you can be;
Thanks for helping us continue to grow. Enjoying my journey.
Christine
absolutely
A time ago, you mentioned there are many professional artists and when you find one you like, stick with them. Well, I did find one I like and that is you. I am new to the art world and still shy about sharing my work (which is not very good, very critical of my work, needs to be right) I read every article and lesson you send. In 2022, work and home did not leave much time for painting or drawing (which needs alot of work). For 2023, my goal is to make more time to draw and paint and remember even nature is not perfect, yet she continues to produce the most beautiful things. Thank you for being my inspiration.
So glad to hear (sorry) that I’m not the only one who has slacked off this year. Fell flat on my face regarding drawing & yes I know how important that is to improve paintings. Wonderful trip to a gorgeous huge lake in Ohio but did I I draw – no. Now it’s at the top of my list this for this yrs visit. Also there is a bridge right outside my back yard. Another ‘22 intention gone awry. 1st on my list this yr – get going Ellen.
Dan,
Another wonderful post. Thank you so much for sharing your artwork. My two favorites are Vivid Flowers–after that beautiful flower in the foreground grabbed my attention, my eyes worked their way up through the rest of the painting, especially to the scratched stems; The trees and flowers in “Mist” work so well together.
2022 was a prolific year for me, with lots of small works and two larger ones that earned places on the wall. My project for the new year is learning to paint faces. You might check out Hashim Akib. I think your style would really work well with his techniques.
Hi! Dan,
Loved receiving all this valuable info. After slowly digesting much of it, I began to
realize how much your paintings are like that of Renoir’s. The technique and inclusion
of so much subject matter to fill in each painting is reminiscent of his works.
Appreciate seeing and learning,
Charlotte Huebner
Thank you Dan for your talent and for sharing it with us! And as someone commented, the beauty you see through your eyes, we get to see through your beautiful artwork and incredibly written posts. May you and your family stay well in 2023 in Jesus name!
What a great finish to the year of 2022, sharing your painting experiences.
I love the parents garden painting, you are very generous with tips and
insights. Not everyone is keen to share so much of their knowledge. Your
love of art expression is inspiring. Thank you Dan.
HI,
I really enjoy seeing your work and also your tips which I find very useful.
You’re inspiring.
I often struggle with my own art but always encouraged by your tips and wonderful art.
Cheers
Christine
I love your generous lyrical nature that is expressed in your art and your friendly art blogs. You always leave the door open for magic to happen which seems like the right way to do art.
Your favorite paintings are a delight to see, and you inspire us with your struggles and efforts to keep learning and improving. Your work shows a depth of understanding, and a great eye for what works! May we all develop that too, with time.
Hey Dan,
I think your work is getting better and better. I have been watching you struggle over last few years, learning from the masters, applying the “rules”, but not quite getting “there”.
Always thought you were a good teacher, because you really had to nut things out and then try to explain it to us, as you went on the journey yourself, and didn’t find it easy. Feel like your work is now catching up with your knowledge. Your emotional and creative side is now finding your technical side and producing some amazing paintings. Well done to you and feel like my belief in you is now truly paying off, as always thought you were great teacher, but was never sure you were going to make it as a great artist. It’s happening, so seize the day, and we can join you on the journey.
Thankyou for sharing your gorgeous paintings with us…and for your really helpful insights into famous painters, styles, colour, perpective, how to choose subjects/ references to paint and so much more.
I look forward to another year of you art and your perspective on it.
Cheers
Sue
Thank you very much for sharing your paintings with us. They look great !
Wish you have a wonderful year coming !
Good health and happiness. Enjoy your lovely kids !
I am very sorry I couldn’t join the class, I almost lost my wife she stopped breathing turned blue before the ambulance arrived she was resuscitated and did it a couple times, I finally got her home and she is okay for now the doctor said it was respiratory infection related to Covid. Hope you all well. Ron and June!
We are sorry to hear about your wife’s recent health issues. We hope she is on the mend and we wish you a healthy 2023! Dan and Chontele
Hi Dan, I love all of your paintings. The information you share, & helpful tips on painting are so appreciated. This past year, I was focusing more on drawing. Really enjoy the black & white, grey tones. This year 2023 I want to finish some paintings that I stated, I enjoy colour so much, that I always end up going back to those paintings for variety, & the many challenges of working with colour. All the best to you & your family in 2023.
Thank you for all the updates and honesty on your posts! Your emails and posts have helped me in so many areas throughout the years. I’m especially enjoying the year summary. Such a great idea!
I’ve struggled with accomplishing much painting or drawing wise this year, but I’m homeschooling my 4 children and become more involved in that community, as well as working on my home. I feel like I’ve done a lot of mental work, study, and have been working on organizing and streamlining my home and feel ready to finish potentially started paintings, paint & draw more consistently, journal, etc.
I did do a few drawings, and started some paintings, took a digital art design class, and directed a few paint nights for different groups of people. And I directed some art classes for our homeschool co-op. So I guess I have been doing things. I just feel like there’s not a lot to show for it.
My main goals for this year are to have a place for everything so I can easily get things out and put them back, be more consistent with drawing and finishing paintings, finish all commissions, paint what I’m interested in, sell some paintings (instead of giving them away), make and sell some prints and products with my art on them, and paint a large landscape or two.