About Me: The Messy Painter - Capturing Nature's Whimsy on Canvas
Greetings, fellow art adventurers! I am The Messy Painter, a spirited landscape oil painter with a palette full of dreams and a heart full of wanderlust.
My love of nature traces back to my days as a wide-eyed Boy Scout, venturing through forests and scaling mountains with a heart eager to learn the secrets whispered by the wind. Those early encounters sparked a fire within me that has carried me across continents, from the rolling hills of Europe to the misty mystique of Asia. Each step, each culture, each sunrise has infused my art with diverse shades of wonder.
My artistic journey began like many people who grew up watching PBS in the 80's and 90's – by eagerly mimicking the masterful strokes of none other than the legendary Bob Ross. As a wide-eyed apprentice to his televised sorcery, I learned that a happy little accident isn't just a blip on the canvas; it's a magical doorway to uncharted artistic realms. Early on certainly had plenty of those, but I knew that I could improve with just some practice and some teachers who could provide feedback.
With Bob's mentorship and a dollop of cosmic coincidence, I soon found myself under the wings of two incredible artists who radiated passion like sunbeams at dawn. Steve Ross, the embodiment of his father's legacy, guided me through the wilderness of oils with a twinkle in his eye and a whisper of encouragement. Dana Jester, a true maverick with a brush, filled my artistic sails with gusts of inspiration and the courage to break the mold.
Steve encouraged me to continue studying and recommended several well known contemporary artists. Among them was another famous TV artist, Robert Warren. Robert, like Bob, learned under Bill Alexander. If you have never heard of Bill, search him online and watch some of his shows. Bill had a great passion for nature, beauty, art, and life. He was not the most elegent, but he was passionate! Robert continued to develop over the past 4 decades and has become excellent in both his technques and instruction. Serendipitously while taking some classes with Kevin Hill (Paint with Kevin), I connected with friend who knew Robert and gave me his contact information. I signed up immediately for his seminars and they were beyond what I could imagine. I expected to learn, but I was truly enriched. The loyal group of artists who paint with Robert have followed him for decades and their presence just enhances the entire ambiance.
As my brushes dance on canvas, I seek not just to capture the grandeur of landscapes but also to harness the fleeting whimsy that nature weaves into every nook and cranny. It's the sway of a blade of grass, the secret conversations of trees, the wink of a star peeking through clouds – these are the moments I strive to immortalize, to share with you.
Through my art, I aspire to whisper to your soul the same stories nature has whispered to me. I yearn for my paintings to be windows into the untouched places of the heart, where awe and reverence reside. So join me, dear kindred spirit, on this whimsical journey as we dive headfirst into the messy, magical, and utterly beautiful tapestry of the natural world.
With a canvas in one hand and a brush in the other and likely some paint somewhere it shouldn’t be,
The Messy Painter