[Karin Wells]

I began to seriously draw with the Old Masters in 1994. I never painted a portrait or worked in oils before 1995. But by 1997, I had won first prize at an ASOPA competition for (my first) original oil portrait. So many people ask me "how I learned to draw and paint" so quickly....I tell 'em, but they don't really hear me. So I keep repeating it...

If you SERIOUSLY wish to become a pro, I urge you to set yourself a course of study....COPY and if necessary TRACE(exactly) the Old Masters in all literalness, leaving nothing out and putting nothing in.

Primarily, drawing (and painting) is a CRAFT that must be mastered. Drawing (and painting) is all about light and its manipulation. Copying and tracing the "big boys" will help you build a vast store of well-organized and useful information at a much deeper level than "reading" or "talking" about it.

"Making things up" is a natural step that comes only AFTER you have mastered the tools of expression.

Do not expect that making a "serious copy" of an old masterwork (even when traced) to be a breeze. It could take many weeks (or months) of hard work to do one and thus learn what that particular work has to teach you.

I know that it is difficult to muster the self-discipline to study in isolation. The results always come more slowly than you wish...but they do come in direct proportion to the time and effort you are willing to put in.

Life classes may not be available in your area. It would be wonderful to be able to find a living teacher, but don't hold your breath...there is a shortage.

So many of us need a "quick and dirty" way to learn (most especially if we are older and feel that we don't have that much productive time left).

In the beginning, I TRACED the Old Master drawings until I learned what they could teach me.

Now I TRACE (or GRID) MY OWN drawings onto canvas before I begin to paint...and yes, I do work from photographs for my reference.

Now I choose to earn my living by being a full time pro and considering my backlog of work, studio shortcuts make a lot of sense to me - for both financial and mental health considerations.

I love my work...but I don't love to make extra work for myself. I enjoy time outside my studio too. Suffering isn't for everyone and personally, I decided to give it up years ago.

I do not object if someone wishes to do things the hard way as that is clearly a personal choice...but I do not think that "the easy way" should be judged any less noble.

* Steven Sweeny, thanks for the quote.