Everyone I meet seems to belong to two large groups as far as their art ambitions are concerned: “I cannot draw a stick person” group and “I always knew I was an artist” group. Having been in art as long I can remember and teaching art for many years, I think that both may be wrong in many cases and the answer is more complicated.
What many people do not realize is that, with very few exceptions, most prominent artists that stood the test of time have been professionally trained and dedicated their life to perfecting their skills. The “I cannot draw a stick person” group may be surprised at what some dedicated training may do to their long-standing belief of not being talented, while “I always knew I was an artist” may be taken back by the effort required to bring out their natural creativity.
In my two paintings below the theme of a girl with a flower is explored in two different ways. Even though it may seem that the two approaches require different amount and type of training, the reality is that they require the same foundation.
Alissa’s Portrait, Oil on Canvas – 36″x24″
While the idea of work related to acquiring a skill may sound a little scary to some in this busy world, there are many rewards in going a little deeper and getting a clearer view of the founding principles of art regardless of the type of art you want to do.
One of the great benefits of having some art training is that it provides one with greater flexibility to be able to express oneself. For example, many people avoid painting faces and hands because this requires stronger technical skills.
White Lily Memory, Oil on Canvas – 12″x12″
Once people gain some foundation and training, their ability to do more creative work expands with newly found freedom of wider range of technique and tools.
So, yes, everyone is an artist. But you have to pursue it just like any other goal in life, with necessary time and dedication. If you have the natural talent, the road will be easier. If not, at the least you will still be surprised with how far you could go beyond the ‘stick person” and above all you will acquire a greater understanding and appreciation of art.
Image Credits
All Images Are © Sergey Malina
Sergey Malina Artist Bio
Sergey Malina started his artistic education at the age of five. He graduated from Art College in Kiev, Ukraine. In years that followed, he continued his education through private lessons with well known Ukrainian artists. He enhanced his traditional techniques by examining works of Old Masters and learned about contemporary methods at the same time. He tested his ability to work on the large scale when he worked as a theater set decorator in Kiev Operetta Theater. In his work Sergey uses wide range of materials and techniques including oil, acrylic, watercolor as well as printmaking.
His paintings are in private and corporate collections in Canada, USA, Germany, Russia and Ukraine, including private collections of Founder and Chairman of Magna International Frank Stronach, TFS (Toronto French School), baritone Kim Josephson of Metropolitan Opera, New York, Mayor of Mississauga Hazel McCallion, President of Hasbro North America Michael Hogg, Prince Hubertus zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg of Munich, Germany, and Mr. & Dr. Daphne Maurer, Distinguished University Professor. Sergey was commissioned by BBDO and Frito Lay to create portraits for ‘Mad for Doritos’ advertising campaign. He was interviewed by Pat Foran, CTV broadcaster and author, and featured in his televised special report about the art of the portrait on CTV News. He was also a special guest at “The Art of Fashion” event where he painted a portrait of Erin Davis, the host of 98.1 CHFI’s Morning Show. His Series of Portraits of Canadian wartime heroes are on permanent displays across Canada including the Warplane Heritage Museum at Mount Hope (Ontario), The Greenwood Military Aviation Museum, Queen’s University Memorial Room and Office of Chief of Air Command of Canada in Ottawa.
Sergey Malina has also been teaching art to adults and children for the past 20 years. Many of his students have eventually chosen to pursue a career related to art. In addition to private and group lessons, he has taught courses at the Burlington Art Center, York Region Public School Board (Adults Continuing Education) and at the Newmarket School of Fine Art. He has also held art workshops at IBM, Bank of Montreal, The Parkway Artist’s Guild, Willowdale Society of Artists, Richmond Hill Society of Artists, Markham Society of Artists, and York Region Society of Artists, and served as a juror at the Richmond Hill Group of Artists Annual Juried Exhibition.
Sergey Malina has been a featured artist at a number of charity fundraisers, including Literature for Life “The Art of Fashion” fundraising event, and Canadian Tire Art Calendar initiative. Also, he was a special guest at a Summit for SickKids and painted a landscape live based on a photo taken of Adam McClare, Hart Togman and Patrick Jordan at Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina. The painting was one of the items sold in the auction to raise funds for the cause.
Website: Malina Art
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