Art As a Second Career
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It's difficult for me to explain how I, a songwriter for 40 years of my life, am now equally, if not more excited to write today about my painting.
It's odd. I had no idea that I had any real talent for painting. Honestly. I had tried it five years ago and after a few months of lessons and a few unexciting paintings I gladly returned to my music room.
It was now, well over a year ago when my close friends, Margie Perenchio and Ani Moss asked: if they built and opened a studio/gallery, would I support the gallery by painting there? It was so far in the future it was easy to say yes. You know that kind of 'yes!'
When I painted my first painting there; an abstract that I quite liked, Margie failed to share my enthusiasm.
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"Ani and I have been taking lessons for nine years. You can't expect to hang that in our gallery. You go home and paint a self portrait and then we'll see." She said sternly.
Never one to shrink from a challenge, I teamed up with their teacher at the time, Manny Cosentino, to learn how to paint a self-portrait. Although he was urging me to consider a simple apple or banana, or at the very most, the two together, I was determined to show Margie I could do it.
Most surprisingly it turned out reasonably well. Margie, I think, was quite surprised. But not more than me.
That was the beginning. With a wonderful painter and the head of UCLA's graduate art studies, Roger Herman, acting as a mentor, I set out on a journey that has already taken me further than I ever dreamed possible.
Roger turned me on to artists he had taught and thought I might try working with. I learned from Greta Waller and a few others. Out of some wonderful artists I seemed to work best with a graduate student of Roger's named Frank Ryan (a terrific artist currently exhibiting at Walter Maciel Gallery).
Like a sponge, with a few holes in my memory, I began to soak up everything I could learn.
As I said to Frank and Roger, I don't have time to go slow. I'm a late bloomer so I'm putting myself on the fast track.
My passion seems to be in portraits and abstracts; two ends of the spectrum.
I've shown some of my work at LA Art house, and I owe a real debt of gratitude to Margie for pushing me further than either of us thought I would or could go.
My paintings have already found their way into the collections of Michael Chow, Mo Ostin, Steven Spielberg, Joe and Irene Roth, Barbara Davis and Shelli and Irving Azoff, and Sandy Gallin.
Recently I have gotten to spend time with and photograph Eric Fischl, who I am currently painting. I am finishing his portrait this week, and the most amazing thing was being able to send him jpegs of my progress and receive his emails back regarding his reactions. It is so amazing to me that one of my all-time favorite contemporary artists and I are dialoging in this way.
I have just begun a painting of my friend, David Geffen. I am planning to paint David Salle, Ross Bleckner and April Gornick, another amazing artist and Eric's wife.
Others who I still plan to paint are, Nicole Kidman, Nora Ephron, my friend Sandy Gallin, Cesar the 'dog whisperer', Donna Karen, and Arianna Huffington. And in-between each portrait, an abstract to allow me to freely fall in love with the paint itself.
Months ago Roger sent me an article to read from Esquire. It was entitled "Late Bloomers", and spoke of many artists of all sorts, who discovered their talents later in their lives.
To me it only reinforced what I have always believed. If you want to do something enough, do it. If you can dream it, you will be entirely surprised at what may happen.
It all begins with daring yourself to take the first step. In my case it was dipping a clean paint brush in to some beautiful color paint and applying it to the canvas.
I would be very interested in hearing from some other "late bloomers".
It sure goes a long way in keeping our today's and our tomorrows exciting.
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I featured your wonderful artwork on my blog today. I think your drive to express yourself through a different medium is fascinating. Thanks for sharing your journey with us.
Here is a link to the post I wrote. I hope you can see how impressed I am with your talent and commitment.
http://dreamdogsart.typepad.com/art/2009/09/carol-bayer-sager-late-blooming-dog-artist.html
I have also started a second career as an artist and blogger after being a screenwriter (and hating it).
Thank you for the article.
I was an engineer for 25 years, and I quit that job 3 years ago to pursue an art career.
I have painted all my life, but never as a professional artist.
I have spent 2 years studying sculpting at a Community College.
Now I’m only painting in acrylics. I bought lots of books and like to study techniques by myself.
I was a refugee from that Bosnian war, and know how it is to have and than not to have
means to live. Now, I do not care for the material things I’m lacking, do to considerable change in my income: established engineer versa emerging artist. All I care is to pursue my inner calling; life is short and can end quickly. I have seen it in that horrible war. Thanks to my husband who agreed to be the only breadwinner, and to be poor once more, as we were as refugees, I’m able to do this.
Gordana Curgus
www.ArtbyGordana.com
I've been told by art teachers that I am a natural at drawing. Since I can remember, I've been good at drawing and now painting. The problem is, I don't have $$, connections unlike others who get to show their art work to their friends who already have $$$ and contacts.
It's not easy as it may sound, it is not about, "if you really want it, you can get it".....
This is very nice for you. As a professional artist of more than 20 years who is struggling in this economy, I am impressed by your connections.
Read anything by John Berger. Right now Ways of Seeing comes to my mind. Then you will see what you need to see in order to paint (and live) better. Painting is not about paint, studying, being a student etc. It is about seeing. That's all.
After working for years as a Graphic Designer/Art Director I decided to finally follow my love of drawing and have embarked on a new direction in life and having a blast while making progress too. Always love hearing about other artists and seeing their work. Thanks for sharing Carole.
www.grantart.com
It's probably pretty easy to have a second career as a painter when you still have royalty checks coming in from all of the popular songs you wrote! Otherwise, fine art is generally not known as a job that will get you through hard times...
Being well connected in the art world is half the battle.
Creating is a great and important part of life and should be encouraged for all to participate in, at any and every age. I decided to be an artist long before I could do anything that I myself appreciated with any great degree...but I struggled on. It would be five years from that decision to having my first art showing of sixteen portraits but at the end of that evening all sixteen had found homes. I was on my way, but I am feel equally a novice today as I did in those early days because I don't lock myself into styles or tricks. I have fun and work at it. Still the fates have been kind and I have sold many hundreds of paintings but I firmly believe my best paintings have yet to be painted...and that is what is so exciting about creating...it is a journey that can go in any direction and is only limited to ones imagination and determination. I love it.
I encourage all to go grab a 25# bag of clay or go buy some colored pensils or paints and have it...you may amaze yourself and others, but also keep in mind that most babies crawl before they walk and usually it is a few more years of effort before anyone would call that child an athlete.
Have at it, have fun, good luck, don't be afraid, be excited and daring.
http://bobbruman.com/
I wish she had some other subject matter. Old white guys in glasses are not what I would want on my wall. No offense to old or to white guys, but is there a message somewhere?
So anyway, I was scarfing down some pizza with the Pope over at the Vatican and he says to me, "Hey Rembrandt" (he calls me Rembrandt) "How 'bout a portrait?" And I say, "Whatever" and he says, "I can talk to some of my peeps and get you hung -- in fact my boy Jean Phillippe over at the Louvre owes me a big one, I can get you in there." So began my foray into the arts. I must be good because my stuff is in all the right places, and they wouldn't be there unless I was really good, right?
HA!
Yay!
That last one is not so bad. The composition is sophisticated, and I especially like the placement of the vertical black line with regard to the subject's head. I'd work on getting the abstraction level more consistent across the work (the chair in the background is not abstract enough for the rest of the composition, ditto the facial features of the subject), and less pastels in the palette. The abstraction of the subject's clothes is very well done. Good handkerchief.
Beautiful work. Aside from tapping into unrealized talent, patiently honing your hand/eye coordination, developing technique, having enough dinero to purchase the materials (not insignificant), access to generous instructors, and possessing a vision, congratulations for conquering that nasty little beast in the closet that always asks, is what I am painting of any significance? For myself, painting as a first and third career, that little jerk just won't go away. As with flowers, when you bloom is insignificant. It is whether you have soil, nutrients, water and a lot of sunshine.
WOW! Carole, your paintings show an amazing feel and touch for the PAINT.
Spooky sense of space...you are INSIDE your own universe! Cool!
I'm a 49 year old musician / recording engineer who has bailed on the rediculous music industry for the time being. Switching over to writing a novel, an amazing new world has opened. Applying techniques from music over to a new medium is intoxicating! For me the manuscript of a fictional novel has become my first real orchestral score. Before, I could read and write music...now I'm Frank Zappa reincarnated! Cut and paste, we need more violins! HAH!
I totally relate to your current method of alternating between abstract and realistic works. FOLLOW these instincts, for your Art teachers probably won't understand most of them, unless music is in their lives too.
I think the poster who suggested you give Joni Mitchell a call was spot on, mostly because I feel her works are also so PHYSICAL with the medium itself as well. Ignore the celebrity/distopian static; you EARNED IT ALL girl! Nobody gets it; the time to share your gallery space with others is AFTER you get the sea legs, celebrity influence be damned. Your works feel as if they are cut from a simular canvus as Joni. At least take a look at her works from Yellowstone Park, and I think you will find something worth exploring here. AVAST!
My second career is as a painter too and self-taught too - what would your teacher make of that one hesitates to think. Unfortunately my first career was as a novelist and since the corporate publishers are so myopic, I've had to publish my own work,...so guess what? I'm broke in both careers and have to work a wage slave job to survive. I do these things because I can't live without creativity in my daily life. I cannot begin to tell you all that I have sacrificed to fulfill these drives. They are both as essential to me as thinking. It's nice that you've had all those advantages and so much support emotionally and financially. It's nice that you are endeavoring to help struggling artists who really do need the support. But your experience is the exception. My work has to be satisfying in and of itself, because it sure isn't useful for earning a living. At least, I feel as though I am fulfilling my purpose and with that I am decidedly content.
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