CASE STUDY DJ
Q Share with us the many elements of your job as a professional artist.
A As an artist, the main part of my job is to create art and my favoured medium is painting. I have ever-growing collections of paintings that I produce for myself; these keep me inspired and passionate about my craft and are the reason why I love to paint. Commissions are a big part of my work too (currently I’m working on three different commissions) and I work on most subject matter ranging in all sizes from a miniature painting of 233in to large-scale murals, with the largest to date being over 70ft wide.
Teaching is another large part of my work as an artist. I run two classes a week that are open to anyone, and private students come to my studio at the end of our garden. I also give public painting demonstrations and run painting workshops, both indoors and in the great outdoors. I go into schools (all ages) to run painting workshops and have run workshops in hospices, worked with teenagers from disadvantaged backgrounds and worked with people who have mental health issues. I’ve taught painting courses in the UK and Bavaria, and hopefully will be teaching a painting holiday in France in September.
Another important element of being an artist is promoting yourself and social media is a brilliant way for artists to advertise their work on a global level. I try to post work on social media platforms on a weekly basis; during lockdown I did live painting tutorials on a Friday afternoon on Facebook. This has now progressed to giving Zoom painting demonstrations for art societies as well. I also write step-by-step painting articles for various publications.
Q What are your top tips for organising your working week?
A I find that I paint best from lunchtime onwards, so I usually plough through my admin work in the mornings. This can be answering emails, posting on social media, writing articles and processing photos for future projects. My classes, private students and online tutorials are generally in the afternoons or evenings, and when I’m not teaching I can spend time in my studio.
As a self-employed artist, I feel it’s vital to find a good balance between work time and family life. If I’m working from home I’ll take a break late afternoon through to early evening, and spend time with my wife and eight-year-old daughter. I head back up to the studio after reading a bedtime story. Exercise and fresh air are also very important (especially during lockdown) so I will try to squeeze in a daily walk of 5-10km, which helps to keep me fit and bring clarity, focus and inspiration too!
Q When are you most productive and what helps you focus?
A I paint most days and do some of my most productive personal work late in the evening through to the early hours. I find that this time can be very fruitful for me and I can get ‘in the zone’ for many hours with no distractions! I don’t usually paint on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday evening, though.
Setting myself targets and having deadlines really does help me to focus my energies on my artwork. Competitions are a great example of this. I make plans to enter a painting I have in mind into a competition and then I work towards getting it finished in time for entry. Submitting work into local art exhibitions is another good example.
Q Have you ever had artist’s block and how did you overcome it?
A I’ve had artist’s block many times and it can be very frustrating when all you want to do is paint something. Whenever I go outside in nature I always have a camera with me. I photograph anything that inspires me and keep these images stored on my computer for future reference and ideas. The quality of camera technology available on mobile phones now means that most people will have a decent camera in their pocket.
Go outside and paint – anything! I have found that painting outdoors will get me ‘in the zone’ very quickly and it forces me to paint fast as the light is ever changing. Rather than choosing a beautiful vista, paint something small and less dramatic, like a tree by the canal. As you spend time studying the tree, you will begin to see more colours, textures and details that would be missed with a passing glance.
Have a look at other artists’ work. Social media is brilliant for this as you can see what people are painting all around the world. Instagram has the best quality images for colour and detail. There are so many artists producing some really amazing work, you are bound to find something that inspires you and maybe helps to seed an idea of your own.
Q Where do you find inspiration for your work and remain creative?
A For me, my main inspiration is Mother Nature. When I immerse myself in the natural environment I cannot help but be inspired. There is such a wealth of beauty in our landscape and huge variety of painting ideas that sometimes I feel like a kid in a sweet shop.
I am constantly setting myself goals because this helps me to push myself out of my comfort zone. I tend to work on one painting I’m comfortable with and, at the same time, work on one alongside it to challenge me. This approach helps to keep me fresh and teaches me new ways to paint, which I can then share with other people through my teaching and public work.
I find teaching can be a huge inspiration. It encourages me to improve my own skills and knowledge so I can be a more effective tutor. I’ve noticed that I will teach best what I need to learn most – and that is very interesting. My ambition is to continue to make a living from doing what I love to do and helping as many people as I can along the way. It would be great to travel the world more and have my family join me on the adventure. In September 2021 DJ will be teaching a plein-air painting holiday in Charente Maritime, near Bordeux, France.
Next month: When should you turn professional?