Hello from Iceland!

I am Steinunn from a small island called Vestmannaeyjar a few kilometers south of Iceland.

I gratuated from TAFE Art College in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia as Visual Art and Design artist 1995.

I have since been teaching art classes in autumn and winter since my return home to my island 1995 and also done short workshops in various places on the mainland.

I joint The Complete Artist to be able to converse and get to know other artists. I am also hoping it will push me to paint more and become better artist.

Richard is a terrific teacher, so giving and sharing all his knowledge for the world to learn, thank you Richard.

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Permalink Reply by Denise Maxwell on June 18, 2012 at 14:34

Hello Steinunn,

Denise here from VAA there are a number of us over here now having fun with Richard, glad to see you here welcome. Am I correct we have met before? I haven't been that active on VAA for a little while but starting to try and get going back there again.

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Permalink Reply by Steinunn Einarsdottir on June 18, 2012 at 20:06

Hello Denise,

Lovely to hear from you again and that you are also with Richard. It is the same with me, I kind of stopped being active on VAA instead I started with DPW and still am a member there and now it is the Complete Artist with Richard where I am adding to my knowledge. VAA has changed, has it not? I would like to go into Plein air painting especially in summer time, it is quite a different approach don't you think. How is it going with you? Would you like to be my friend on the Complete Artist Denise?

Best wishes....Steinunn

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Permalink Reply by Denise Maxwell on June 19, 2012 at 8:41

Yes Steinunn, be my friend!

I still have my account with VAA campus but I think that runs out in August and then I suspect it will jump in price for me. I am debating still how I will handle that extra expense especially as I don't follow the assignments very diligently there and I'm not sure that I can afford it with all the other things I'm now doing and supporting myself now on my art alone. That will take a little while to get going it seems I went full time in Jan '12 and I can't believe how time is flying by.

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Permalink Reply by Steinunn Einarsdottir on June 19, 2012 at 8:52

Thank you Denise!

We seem to be on similar boat Denise, struggling to survive. I have been doing that for ever it seems but life is fun all the same and I do love my art. I did not really understand how the VAA changed and am like you, I am not sure if I will continue. I think there is a lot to be learned from Richard, it is just being able to afford some of his great programs as I can only do so much each month...

Looking forward hearing from you again Denise.

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Permalink Reply by Denise Maxwell on June 19, 2012 at 9:53

I'm trying to keep to my goals and setting up schedules of work every month and that is really hard as I fall behind what I think I can manage and what life hands out. I just learned something about beating yourself up though, it doesn't work and only makes it worse, so I'm learning to forgive and nurture myself and next month I'll get there. It seems to work, go figure!

I decided to take the next 2 years and pay myself to learn and build my skill level and get my art business off the ground. I worked for other businesses and gave my talent and energy to them and helped make them successful for the last 30 years. Yes I made an OK wage and got by but really got little of the rewards that they managed to get and when I think I practically ran a small business for an owner for 5 years as she went tripping around the world, why couldn't I manage my own business. I'm finally investing in myself, I'll be on a tight budget for awhile and I can't take too many courses that I would like to right now but that investment will pay off and it's also the best place to put back into your business, on your learning! Well that's what I'm thinking anyways! I think Richard' Workshops have been the best for me in combination with my VAA studies and from the get go that has been a truth.

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Permalink Reply by Steinunn Einarsdottir on June 20, 2012 at 5:53

Hi Denise, I was looking for a long time trying to figure out how to reply to you and found it at long last. I am still trying to get used to this.

I had a look at your website and it looks beautiful, you must know what you are doing. I love your work and I can see how you get stronger and more confident in your approach. I started with Weebly a while back and then got side tracked as I so often do, yes, too many interests....

I admire you for your dedication Denise and your are a worthy artist. Yes, working for other just gives you enough salt on the table, it is long proofing. I am so proud of you to take the leap.

I am trying to discipline myself and finding it easier after I started with Richard as I receive such positive comments from other members, one does not feel so alone anymore. I work from home and in summer I do open my unit up to tourist and locals and occasionally I do make a sale, sometime a painting but more often small paintings and cards, it certainly does help the pension.

Did you see the painting lesson Richard put on the DPW, a real good one and of course I bought it...

Happy painting Denise :)

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Permalink Reply by Denise Maxwell on June 20, 2012 at 16:45

Hello Steinunn, thanks for your reply and kind comments.

You got a great painting of Richard' is it the one with the apple and orange slices? I loved that one when I saw it. The ones I worked on with white objects I found to be really tough I must keep trying though.

Looks like I'm going to get away for a little while to paint on our West Coast it's an amazing place, I'm so stoked to go. Hope to be on the road Friday I have a lot to do to finalize my repairs on my place as I'm doing some upgrades and I have to make some color decisions be sure everything can go without me being here.

I like the Weebly tools I found it was pretty quick getting the web pages built preparing photos and sizing took more time to prepare. Now it's all the other stuff like getting an e-mail list started and how to do a news letter I find much more daunting. I'm trying to get things like facebook and twitter started also but I've been really resistant to all that social media stuff.

So I'll catch up with you soon.

Denise