Hello 

 

  I want to start out by asking you, how many of you when you show someone your painting get asked how long did it take for you to do that painting?  If you have been an artist for a while, I'm gonna guess that you hear that question quite a bit. I'm not quite sure why it is so important to know how long it has taken an artist to paint a painting since the speed at which an artist paints doesn't really have anything to do with how that painting was created. That is unless you are a speed painter artist, they are those artists that do a painting in front of an audience in the time it takes a song to play. Then I guess it is important. I have done a few of those paintings and it's weird I never get asked how long did it take you to do that painting. I guess that's because they saw me paint it in 3 to 5 minutes. You can see one of those paintings HERE or see the video below.

I am bringing up this question because I have been getting emails about my new live videos on Facebook telling me that they can not keep up with the speed at which I paint. I then reply back stating to them that they should wait until the live video has ended and replay it again and stop it at any point you feel you have to catch up to the next step. If you can keep up with me in the live video then I believe you already have 35 years under your painting belt like I do, because that is how long it has taken me to get to a point where I can do a painting under 30 to 60 minutes.

Much of the speed at which I paint comes from being an illustrator for over 35 years and having to meet deadlines for company meetings. Now as a fine artist the speed at which I paint just transfers over from the days I had to get projects done by a certain time. But now when I paint in my studio I love that I can take as much time as I want to finish a painting and it really doesn't matter at what speed I am painting.

As I teach students I tell them it doesn't matter if it takes you a half-hour to do your painting or a month to do your painting. Most all the elements of learning to paint are not based on the time it takes you to learn the process. It also depends on what it is you are learning to paint. Lets say you are learning to paint a crystal vase where you are painting every little sparkle on that vase and compare that to a loose landscape, it is obvious that the vase will take longer then the landscape. Then there are different kinds of styles in painting, some take longer then others, but again it doesn't matter how fast you do that painting compared to another artist's speed, unless you are racing, and I don't recommend that for the teaching process. 

I think the reason that questioned is asked so much is because that person is trying to put a value to the painting based on the time it takes to paint a painting. I was told by my mentor/boss/teacher Irving Shapiro that when someone asks you how long it has taken for you to do a painting just answer back how long you have been learning and painting, because that is really how long you have been painting that scene. It's all about your experiences that you learned from painting all those years that make you the painter you are today. So when I get asked that question or I see that a student is struggling to keep up with me I just tell them it has taken me 37 years to finish every painting I do. 

Have fun painting and don't worry about how long it takes you because it really doesn't matter. 
David

WORKSHOPS and DEMOS of 2020

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DEMONSTRATION_DILLMAN'S FEST at my Gallery in McHenry, IL. May 3rd  Now ONLINE at NOON

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WORKSHOP Dillman's, Lac Du Flambeau, W/C, Wisconsin, June 29th to July 2nd INFO HERE

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WORKSHOP Vermont Art Event, W/C& Acrylic, Burlington, Vermont, July 27th to July 31st CANCELED

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WORKSHOP Thousand Island Art Center, W/C, Thousand Island, NY, August 4th to August 6th INFO HERE

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WORKSHOP Goshen Painters Guild, W/C, Indiana, August 13th to August 15th INFO HERE

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WORKSHOP Dillman's, Lac Du Flambeau, W/C, Wisconsin, Aug. 31st to Sept. 3rd INFO HERE

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WORKSHOP Artisan Expo, W/C & Acrylics, Santa Fe, MN. Sept. 24th to Sept. 26th INFO HERE

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WORKSHOP Sangamon Watercolor Society, W/C, Springfield, IL. Oct. 9th to Oct. 12th INFO HERE

Online Facebook Live demonstration paint-along
Saturday May 2nd at 9:30am CST on Facebook Live

 

Painting Above is what I will be painting this coming Saturday May 2nd at 9:30am CST on Facebook Live

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For any other info please email me at david@davidrbecker.com