My "Blush" With Greatness

NOTE: I published this blog on my old site in 2013. This story is such a part of my beginnings as a fine artist I couldn't leave the blog behind when switching over to my new website. Sorry though to have to leave behind all the touching comments I received.
 
I FIRST HEARD THE NAME, “Richard Schmid”, from Jerry Salinas in March of 2012 at The Scottsdale Artist’s School. Jerry was trying to comfort me as I shook in my boots in my first attempt to paint with oil. I had applied for a scholarship to SAS, where Jerry teaches, and was awarded with a seat in a Romel dela Torre workshop. I can tell you, greater hands than mine were at work when the school chose Romel’s workshop for me, based on my pastel portraiture. I opened my tubes of oils for the first time — and proceeded to make a colossal mess on my palette and canvas. That’s when Jerry suggested I march myself to the student supply counter and buy Alla Prima by Richard Schmid. He said to do the color charts and it would all make sense.

Jerry, is a genius.

I watched in awe as Romel’s optical illusions formed on the canvas and tried to take the best notes I could. It was hard to take my eyes off the demonstrations. This was more than a workshop! This was an experience, a hit of something I will never be able to get enough of — Romel was bringing paint to life.

Romel de la Torre, The Scottsdale Artist's School.

I followed Jerry’s advice and Alla Prima traveled back to Lee’s Summit, Missouri with me. I spent four straight weeks creating Schmid’s color charts. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed mixing those deliciously beautiful colors and giggled out loud when I made a new one, “I get it!” (Above: I proudly posted the charts in the background of my selfie. Lee’s Summit Journal article, “Living the Pastel Dream” written by Russ Pulley, spotlighting my 2012 commission by Mayor of Lee’s Summit.)

I HAD THE POWER! Now, how do I use it? Alla Prima became my student handbook. I opened it before starting any piece (I still do), I hauled it back to Scottsdale with me in January 2013 to see my third oil painting hanging on the walls of SAS in the Best and The Brightest Show! I bragged about it in Casey Baugh’s workshop that same week and hauled that hardcover back to Scottsdale a third time—in April when I was awarded with another scholarship, sponsored by RayMar Art to the wonderful Aaron Westerberg workshop.

Tina Garrett and Owner of RayMar Art, Cathy Dietrich presenting the scholarship in honor her husband, John August Dietrich.

But I’m skipping ahead! Somewhere in all that flying back and forth, my copy of  Alla Prima got at least sentimentally, more valuable!

IN SEPTEMBER 2012 I coerced a handful of friends to split the gas from Kansas City to Wichita. You would have thought we were on our way to see the Beatles! Five women squeaked and told stories of our first experiences with oil and how much we all had learned from Richard Schmid.

We watched the reveal of Abbotsford House and marveled at the sheer mass and yet astounding detail of it and thought, “I can’t believe I get to see this great work in person!”  Then I waited my turn in line at the Wichita Center for the Arts and Kristen shooed away the fan in front of me who had been chewing Richards ear for more than his allotted time. And then it happened: Richard said, “Oh! I want to paint you! You are a walking work of art.”

Of course Richard could never have known that I’ve struggled with my self-image and self-worth for years, that the pull behind my fine art endeavors was to help women see the beauty they may have overlooked in themselves, the beauty I see and to throw off those blinders myself or known that his statement to me would become an affirmation for me, so much so that my children will tell it too me if I ask them if I look alright.

So there it was.

A demonstration of the real power a truly great artist has. I had thought all along it was the knowledge in Alla Prima and Schmid’s DVD’s, or even in the ability to make such divine works of art — but the power, really, is the ability to spark something in another artist to share with them whatever it is that gives them the confidence to overcome their preconceptions about themselves and their talents and draw up the strength to do the work, the work that leads to great works. I stood there, all the questions I had flying from my mind, blushing, beside greatness.

Tina getting her copy of "Alla Prima" signed by living master artist and author Richard Schmid.

Richard and Nancy continue to share the power of sparking and encouraging beauty and art with the world through their works, network of fine artists, books and videos and with their warm and genuine personalities. Today, when I’m sharing what I’ve learned or painting a commission I’m trying with all my heart to pay forward the gifts I’ve been given and light the spark in someone else. In January 2014 I’m lugging myself and my husband of nearly 20 years to Scottsdale for the fourth time in two years. This time to experience seeing my humble piece “Handful of Sunshine” hanging on the walls at SAS in The Best and The Brightest Show and celebrate my 40th birthday. Sometimes people say they are surprised at how well I’m doing at oil having only taken a few workshops. I say, it depends on the workshop.

We watched the reveal of Abbotsford House and marveled at the sheer mass and yet astounding detail of it and thought, “I can’t believe I get to see this great work in person!”  Then I waited my turn in line at the Wichita Center for the Arts and Kristen shooed away the fan in front of me who had been chewing Richards ear for more than his allotted time. And then it happened: Richard said, “Oh! I want to paint you! You are a walking work of art.”

Of course Richard could never have known that I’ve struggled with my self-image and self-worth for years, that the pull behind my fine art endeavors was to help women see the beauty they may have overlooked in themselves, the beauty I see and to throw off those blinders myself or known that his statement to me would become an affirmation for me, so much so that my children will tell it too me if I ask them if I look alright.

So there it was.

A demonstration of the real power a truly great artist has. I had thought all along it was the knowledge in Alla Prima and Schmid’s DVD’s, or even in the ability to make such divine works of art — but the power, really, is the ability to spark something in another artist to share with them whatever it is that gives them the confidence to overcome their preconceptions about themselves and their talents and draw up the strength to do the work, the work that leads to great works. I stood there, all the questions I had flying from my mind, blushing, beside greatness.

Richard and Nancy continue to share the power of sparking and encouraging beauty and art with the world through their works, network of fine artists, books and videos and with their warm and genuine personalities. Today, when I’m sharing what I’ve learned or painting a commission I’m trying with all my heart to pay forward the gifts I’ve been given and light the spark in someone else. In January 2014 I’m lugging myself and my husband of nearly 20 years to Scottsdale for the fourth time in two years. This time to experience seeing my humble piece “Handful of Sunshine” hanging on the walls at SAS in The Best and The Brightest Show and celebrate my 40th birthday. Sometimes people say they are surprised at how well I’m doing at oil having only taken a few workshops. I say, it depends on the workshop.