How I went from no painting skills to professional artist.

What was your biggest 'phase' of artistic growth?! LMK👇🏻Don't miss my course The Art Within! We cover sketching and watercolor fundamentals, discover creative style, and how to get into "flow state" for optimal creative mindset. Check it out: www.jennarainey.com/the-art-within // If you want more monthly watercolor tutorials, I offer ad-free Patreon-exclusive tutorials and live art classes on my Patreon. www.jennarainey.com/patreon

I'll be 72 years of age in 6 months. I started my Watercolor journey the beginning of last year. I love it. I spent several years doing professional Acrylics and grounds, and find that I absolutely love working with Watercolor more. Unfortunately, fortunately, my art journey is Part of my Therapy. I'm Physically disabled, single, no family except my daughter who lives in another state. I'm dirt poor, have lost count of all the surgeries I've endured since age 17. There's no one to "pick up the slack" and I have to keep pushing forward every day. Right now, I want to just sit and draw/paint. But I have to give my energy to what needs be done here. Hopefully my body will allow me some paint time when all this is finished. Sometimes the pain is too much, and I can't sit and paint. Life is very frustrating. A day at a time.

I am at a stage where I no longer feel like I achieved a lot by copying another artist when painting along a tutorial. Because the real challenge lies in creating a painting of my own where every decision is made by me - subject, composition, mood, colours, application etc. I still feel like a beginner, but an advanced beginner. I know I have so much to learn and practice, but it's exciting. And I sm confident that I can learn it all - but it's going to take time and effort obviously. ❤️

I’m still in my obsession phase… I started this in October 2022. I’m 74 yrs old and retired elementary teacher! Thank you!

When I commited myself to finish my 100 day project. That's when I really grew I just painted everyday as much I could for 10 mins a day and now I have turned my art into a full time thing :) and yes pushing boundaries... New subjects, mixing mediums, scaling up or down my paintings etc those pushed me.

You’ve made some really important points here, there are so many free resources and tutorials on the internet now, we really should make the most of them 😊

Thank you for this real talk! What really drove it home for me was to create everyday, even when it sucks. But mostly to put your blinders on when it comes to social media. It is so easy to get discouraged when scrolling through social media and seeing all these incredibly talented artists. What we don't get to see is all the hard work and endless hours they put down, and all the failures they make. So it's easy to forget that they probably have the same struggles as the rest of us. To this I want to add a tip: Follow artists whos work you don't really like or that you think is kinda bad. To me, this is very motivating. Because it reminds me that, if they can publish and succeed with their shitty art - why not me?

I remember when I wanted to learn something new, as my Gran only did landscapes and that is what she taught me. There was NO internet and even buying books was out of reach for me as someone without a job! I discovered a limited assortment of art books in the library but that is where I started go go outside of the rules my Grand had set down for me. I did learn by trying to copy the Audubon Society plates on birds and even plants. I learned by trying to copy others and failing most of the time. I eventually discovered the way for me and even today when I am feeling a bit dry, I go back to florals and birds or plants and just start painting sometimes without even a sketch! Yeah I almost never start a painting without sketching ideas out to get started! Nice video Jenna, Thanks!

I’m obsessed & I’m 73 but it makes me so happy! I’m a widow so it fills my days!

I am in that obsession phase, but I seemed to be more obsessed in buying Art supplies because I never feel the supplies I have are good enough. I have started the testing and researching phase, but I still do not have confident in actually painting. One reason is that I don’t seem to be creative enough, no imagination and definitely no skills. Even if it sucks, keep the flame alive! This is Excellent advice!

I was never ever that “art girl”. Back when I started oil painting it was in response to a traumatic experience. But I stopped painting once I felt better. Only picked up my brushes a decade later after experiencing stress. That’s when I discovered you and tried Watercolour

I’m a toddler in water color. And I’m 68 so I better get a more on. It’s so much fun and daunting at the same time…thanks for the encouragement

To see where you started to where you are now is seriously the most motivating thing I could see. And OMG the comparison thing…so real. Creating everyday…really key. Even though my drawing and painting is not nearly at the level I want, I have to believe keeping at it is crucial.

I had a bit of a struggle with validation! I've been teaching art for 19 years and started last year creating and trying to sell my watercolor paintings as digital downloads. I originally thought a very close art teacher friend would have been my biggest support but that really hasn't been the case. She'll do things like change the subject when I bring up my paintings or what I'm working on. She'll look away when I'm talking about it in a group setting. I don't even bring it up much at all, especially anymore but it still happens. I notice she gives a lot of support to other art teachers verbally and otherwise who are trying to create and sell. I realized one day that she probably just doesn't care for my art. At first it hit me hard. Then, I decided that it was a good challenge for me to become my own biggest fan. It took a while but I'm there! I have other family and friends who are excited about what I'm doing and it feels good, however I try to stay grounded in my own truth as an artist beyond the support or lack there of. It's been a good learning lesson for me : )

Daily art and creative practice is most definitely one of the best ways of dealing with an anxious world and improving practice. Thank you for sharing.

This has been SO helpful! I'm a homeschool mom and in our co-op i teach bookclub activities class and one of the activities was watercolor. I got obsessed with it after that. But I have 4 kids and I struggled to have time where I wasn't exhausted to keep going. I've put it down and picked it up here and there but I really want to get better at it. I also go into drawing at that time and want to get better at that too. The thing that you said that helped me the most in this video was to keep painting everyday even if it's just for a little bit or even if it turns out terrible. That's great advice that I'm going to work on.🌷

I really needed this. I am just starting and I see tutorials on YouTube that I don’t feel I can follow through or that my paintings don’t look as good. It’s so refreshing seeing people with beautiful skills like yours, started just like me. Thank you for sharing

I needed to hear this today ❤️

Your mom was a gardener AND an artist??? How did she find time for both??? I am a gardener and have been in love with watercolors for 3 years now. I started watching the watercolor YouTube channels during the Covid lockdown. I just can’t seem to fit both hobbies into my day. The flowers need deadheading, the weeds need to be pulled, the beds need to be edged, fertilized, on and on. Gardening is never ending, but I love it! . I keep saying that I’m going to play with my paints today when I finish doing this task in the garden, but when that task is over and I’ve had my shower, I’m exhausted. I have to mention that I am a retired kindergarten teacher, so I have the luxury of staying home. How did your mom juggle both loves??? BTW I am watching all of your free online lessons on watercolor. You are fantastic! Thank you for sharing your love of watercolor painting! Denise

Thank you, can truly relate. I’ve always been a hobby artist since childhood. Always equated artist to “ starving “ do didn’t see it as a career path. Even at 62, I want to create from all the ideas I have. Love your content, can’t wait to take the entire course.