Career Development Grant

I am gratefully requesting financial support to develop a collection of landscape oil paintings created “en plein air” throughout the city of Duluth and along the north shore of Lake Superior over the summer of 2019. I will be utilizing the opportunity to advance my painting career in a new genre, and to take advantage of mentorship input. I plan to achieve the following goals and outcomes in the time-period of this activity: - Understand and be able to execute the creation of landscape paintings - Create a collection of at least 25 studies and paintings - Utilize mentorships with Jeffrey T. Larson and Carl Bretzke - Become more familiar with the Duluth area and North Shore - Speak to new people about my art and give them my contact information - Learn a new painting method (outside, quick, on smooth Dibond panels) - Increase painting speed and accuracy - “See” color more truthfully and increase speed of paint mixing. I will evaluate the successful achievement of these outcomes by: - Counting the number of paintings created - Meeting with my mentors at specified times to evaluate my progress - Obtaining a letter of verification from mentors at completion By getting outside and painting every day, I will successfully learn how to create an effective landscape painting, will be able to show evidence of all of the paintings, and my mentors will hold me accountable to this with regularly scheduled meetings. They will provide me with instruction and feedback, and I will have the opportunity to take notes and ask questions to ensure that I am utilizing their time and knowledge. - Tracking the places, I paint, people I talk to, number of business cards distributed Searching for compositions to paint with an exploring eye will take me to new places – and by the public nature of Plein air painting, I will undoubtedly come into contact with new people. - Witnessing the progression of my work over the summer and in future studio practice - Seeking input from my mentors regarding the successful completion of “less-measurable” goals Through daily practice, I also expect that I will learn the painting method, increase my painting and paint mixing speeds, and that this will be evident in my work. When I return to work in my studio, I believe I will see the benefits. I also trust my mentors to truthfully gauge if I have been successful in making progress. - Submitting a final report to the Arrowhead Regional Arts Center.