Daily Painting: Paint Small and Often To Become a More Creative, Productive, and Successful Artist

by Carol Marine

A unique system for jump-starting artistic creativity, encouraging experimentation and growth, and increasing sales for artists of all levels, from novices to professionals.

Too many artists find themselves in a frustrating rut: unable to sell paintings hanging in galleries, bogged down by projects they can't finish "or "abandon, and using any excuse to avoid working in the studio. Author Carol Marine was herself suffering from painter's block--until she discovered "daily painting." The idea is simple: do art (usually small) often (how often is up to the individual) and, if you desire, post it and sell it online. Today Marine is among the best and most celebrated daily painters, and the curator of the popular online gallery dailypaintworks.com. In her debut, "Daily Painting," Marine reveals the tips and tricks that helped her and other daily painters pick up the paintbrush and start creating beautiful, bountiful, marketable work.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Drawing, How To, Unfinished, Crafts, Reference

182 pages, Paperback

First published November 4, 2014

Reviews

[fleegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has some great advice/ideas if you’re currently having artist’s block. And if you’re fine right now, but you’ve had a block in the past so you KNOW you’re going to have one in the future (and let’s be brave but realistic about this, YOU WILL.) this book has some great nuggets of wisdom to help you get through your tough spots. I’m not saying it will fix your art brain immediately. (That would rule though, right?) But Ms. Marine does a really great job of explaining how simple (note: I did not say easy) it is to paint something every day (or more realistically, often.)

Her writing style is really relaxed and conversational making the book super-readable. She really makes daily painting feel like an attainable goal.

I do not think that this book would be as good for very beginning artists. Having some knowledge of what you’re doing and how paint and colors work would be best. That said, you could still be a novice and use this book to help build your skills.

I was not as interested in the online selling part as I was in the artist’s block part. Not only does Ms. Marine write about it, but she also has some of her artist friends write about it as well. It’s a really good mix of honesty and suggestions for working through the blocks.

If you’re looking for some new ideas for your art work, or having a bit of a block yourself, (and if you are having a block I am so sorry, please remember to be kind to yourself.) get this book and put it in your face.

[Elizabeth A · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having just completed of a daily sketching challenge in December, I'm already familiar with the concept of daily painting. This book was not what I expected it to be, and in that the fault is all mine. It does have some interesting background about the author and the Daily Painting blog/meme, but much of the book pertained to oil painting, which is not something I do. However, there are some general tips on composition, value, and color mixing that I found very helpful, and the art throughout is lovely.

[Angelc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is both informative and very inspiring! The author encourages artists of all skill levels to practice their art every day (it's ok if you miss a day!) to become better at their craft, and also break free from a rut.

The artwork in the book is amazing! The book features mini masterpieces by the author as well as many other daily painters. It's fascinating that each piece of art in the book was created, from start to finish, in one day. One way that the author is able to achieve this is by producing many small works, normally 6x6.

This book contains both practical advice on painting, with great information on supplies and techniques. It's not just an instructional book though, it also includes motivation to create every day and break free from a rut. I really enjoyed the section at the end where other daily artists chimed in with ways that they lose their artist's block.

Overall, this book is great motivator for any artist to get painting today!


book sent by bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for an honest review

reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently I've discovered the art of oil painting. It only took wanting to learn for about 15 years before I finally enrolled in an oil painting class! I've loved learning about this beautiful form of art so when I saw this book, Daily Painting: Paint Small and Often To Become a More Creative, Productive, and Successful Artist by Carol Marine, I couldn't resist!

This book is excellent because Carol writes in such an approachable, honest way. She made me feel that I could progress no matter what level of painter I was currently. After reading the first section of Daily Painting, I pulled out the last painting I'd been working on in my oil painting class and hadn't finished--and I completed it! It's only my second painting so yes, I could have kept working on it, but it brings me joy and it was better for me to move onto the next painting. I'm much more encouraged about the possibilities now!

This book has all the details that any artist might need from supplies to technique to motivation to BE an artist and do the work that creates joy. I love all of the examples from other artists included in the book as well as testimonials and stories about what Daily Painting has done to revolutionize their talent and career.

The format is excellent and I'm certain that I'll continue to study this book because there are so many excellent ideas to incorporate into my art.

If you've always wanted to learn more about painting whether it's oil or watercolor, or any medium, you should check out this book. Because I'm a writer, so much of Carol's tips resonated with me, especially when she talked about how it takes at least 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert in something. She talks about how we must practice to get better and just like we wouldn't expect to be able to sit down and just play a concerto on the piano, we can't expect our first tries to be perfect in painting.

I love the feeling that she exudes to be forgiving and accepting of your efforts as you work toward your goals. This book is definitely a keeper!

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

[Arlitia Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun, practical and inspiring book about making art. I am a writer, not a painter, but I am exploring how different artists approach their process and craft. The daily paintings remind me of those times I have committed myself to write daily poems. It's about showing up and being open to what's there. Experimentation and repetition are also important. This allows for growth. The best thing about this book is her attitude towards creating: the act of making art should be filled with passion and joy. This book definitely reflects that approach.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I read this book when I started painting. This book is not only about painting daily but about everything! Values, color choices, contrast, composition and so on. I learned things my art teachers were supposed to teach me but obviously didn't. If you are serious about becoming a painter, this is the book to get started. (And if you are already experienced, it's a good one to refresh your memory)

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of juicy information for artists

[Hend · Rating 5 out of 5]

In love with this book!!

It's very rich, motivating and satisfying. The paintings and illustrations are incredible and informative and Carol's sense of humour makes the tips stick. I will probably read it again to soak up every piece of precious advice in it.

I loved and looked forward to every single chapter in this guide but the section about art blocks was particularly on point and clicked with me. Being currently in one and learning about other artists who went through the same thing not for just a week or a month but for years and came back gave me hope.

The fact that she arranged and simplified every single aspect of not just the painting process but also the preparation for it and the after-painting stuff like advertisement and selling makes it so light and humble i honestly felt like i was having a little talk with my artist friend in her studio. Very recommended!

[Kachina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be much more inspiring and motivating than most other books about art. I'm planning to buy a physical copy to keep in my studio.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

For most of my life I could neither paint, nor draw. It didn't bother me much until I started homeschooling my kids following Waldorf curriculum and my artistic ignorance started to get in the way of good education. Oh for sure, I have stood in the Louvre in front of Mona Lisa and looked at Titian’s Bacchus in London’s National Gallery. I studied Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel in the Vatican and admired sunflowers in the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. I liked art; I just couldn’t will my fingers to produce anything that could even remotely be called a painting or a drawing, and I was finding it hard to instruct and inspire my kids through our art curriculum. I finally took some art classes and learned that ability to paint was a learnable skill. Not everybody can paint masterpieces, but everybody can learn how to paint the basics. Ever since my discovery I’m on the lookout for good how-to art books.

When I saw Daily Painting by Carol Marine I knew that I had to read it and I’m glad I did. At the center of the book is the idea that painting on a regular basis, using small canvas, will help you grow as an artist. Painting small pictures has many benefits: you are less worried about screwing up, more inspired to experiment, it fits easier into your schedule, and you enjoy the process more. It doesn’t have to be daily, but “paint daily” is catchier than “paint often.”

For me (a recovering Perfectionist) the most important lesson from this book (and it applies to all areas of my life) was the realization that instead of concentrating on making something perfect it's better to give myself a deadline, do the best I can within that time frame and then move on to the next thing. There is almost always opportunity to make something a little bit better. I would be so concerned with improving things that I would get stuck with just one thing. Now I tell myself I have two hours, I give it my best and move on. It certainly made me more productive, happier and actually more creative.

This book is great for beginners (like me, but not absolute beginners) and for more seasoned artists. The writing style is conversational and Carol Marine writes with humor. The book is 182 pages long and is filled with beautiful full-color paintings by the author and by many other daily painters. The book is broken into 11 chapters and I will briefly summarize each.

Chapter 1 How Daily Painting Changed My Life (and can change yours too).... read more on my blog Kid Minds http://www.kidminds.org/2015/05/daily...

[Puddlyduck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dislciaimer: I received a copy of Daily Painting from netgalley.

Daily Painting is part guide, part 'blog'. I appreciated reading about the history behind the concept and it was also interesting to read about the author's successes in addition to technique.

I noticed, when beginning to look through the section about materials, that some of the chapters in this book are not as beginner friendly as the blurb I read claims. However, I liked hearing the author's personal recommendations. I felt that this helped the book stand out from other guides.

The section containing tips on getting the best from your subject was the most beneficial for me. There is plenty of clever advice on creating a suitable photo to reference from.

Some of my other favourite tips include:
"Paint what you see and not what you think you see."
Use your viewfinder to compare angles.
Advice on composition was demonstrated from paired pictures - a before and after if you will - which helped get across the point very clearly. This definitely helped a beginner like me!

Daily Painting is peppered with plenty of examples from Carol Marine - the author - and fellow artists, literally illustrating her points effectively and attractively. Coupled with examples of exercises to try out, I'm sure many a painter (professional and otherwise) would enjoy this book.

3.5 stars for an interesting read.

[Shelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read for painters looking to progress along their path. Although chock-full of various technical approaches with interesting, personal interpretations by the author, the real breakthrough of this book is the suggestion to create one small painting *every* day – and to put it up for sale! There is plenty of instruction and support (not just within the book, but online as well), and given the number of people quoted in the book and the number of participants online, many artists have had success with this approach. I'm thoroughly convinced that the painting-a-day practice (and resultant mentality) is a sure-fire express lane to improved technique and sales. 4.5 stars; I'm only taking off 1/2 a star because there's a small chunk of the book plus minor details throughout that apply only to oil painting, but I definitely recommend this book to acrylic painters, too.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insight on how to paint daily, use it for profit is you so choose, learning to play with colors, textures, styles, etc. this is a great tutorial from beginner to expert.

Don't be afraid to express yourself!

[Caryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book to get a person started in a daily painting habit. I enjoyed it a great deal and will probably retread it in the near future. Carol Marine is a gifted artist and shares many ideas about how to maintain and improve as an artist and painter.

[Peter Voyvodic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the idea of short 'Design-Build-Test' cycles and this book (without using that terminology) applies that idea to the world of painting. Instead of needing to ramp up Herculean efforts of motivation to take on a giant canvas, the idea to is done one small painting every day, or almost every day. In the process, we learn from our mistakes much faster than spending a much longer time on a big project.

Did I follow the advice? Not exactly. I had wanted to do a larger (maybe 20"x30") painting of the view out my window at the end of the month. So I thought it would be a good idea to do lots of little things to improve before taking it on. But then my schedule got out from under me, I only did a few small paintings, and then struggled a lot with color mixing at the end. So clearly I should take the advice from the book and get back to the small.

The book is more focused on professional or semi-professional oil painters looking to sell their work, so keep in mind that if you are a true beginner than some things may be harder to get. But in general it is pretty approachable for all levels.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was skeptical when I picked it up - what is there to say about daily painting except "paint every day"? But the book is part instructional, part inspirational. There's a lot of great practical advice about composition and setting up your work space. But the main focus of this book is to suggest that if you're struggling creatively, try creating smaller pieces more frequently. You'll feel less overwhelmed by a 5"x 5" canvas than a giant wall-filling one, and customers are more likely to buy a smaller $20 piece than something that's worth a month's salary. The author even has a unique sales model: joining with other artists to sell small pieces on a website. The whole read was cheerful and inspirational. It's good advice for people working in all creative avenues: if you're feeling overwhelmed or blocked by a larger project, try stepping back and working on something smaller.

[Ulee ☄︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why I keep reading more drawing or painting books when the majority of the time, 90% of their information are all the same. I will say this book was different in that most instructors tell students who paint with opaque media, to paint dark to light. The author instead suggests that if you are painting wet on wet, paint saturated hues, shadows and then highlights. This all depends on the subjects matter, but this was a change of information and has to deal with muddying colors. She also points out the best way to paint shadows which is not to just use black. There is also a discussion about art block, being burnout, and some tips from several other artist on how to deal with it.

The book is geared toward oil painters, but can be applied to most opaque media (acrylic, gouache, etc)

[Judy Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great info and motivation

Some great information, some we know already (Paint constantly!) but, let’s be honest, we need that reminder sometimes. I am currently enrolled in an art mastery course, I want to grow beyond my current skill set, and I’m learning oils. They always teach dark to light, I struggle with some mud issues, the author shares her method of working in oil and it resonated with me. I also like the idea of painting small, allowing yourself to play, not be worried you’re wasting a big canvas, a lot of paint.
Overall I found this to be a great read, it’s my day off painting and I would say it was well spent. I will be taking some of these tips into my studio tomorrow for sure.

[Beth Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book saved me from a VERY dark place in my life as an artist. By "dark place", I mean I was thinking about giving up and selling everything in my studio. I am now painting almost every day, enjoying the process, loving most of the results!! When I paint something that doesn't work out, instead of beating myself up, I chick it up to experience, wipe it away, and start fresh the next day! This is SO MUCH BETTER than my previous habit when I painted a "dud" which entailed eating too much chocolate, moping around, and acting like a grump. Ha, ha. Anyhow, enough about me. Buy the book already!

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A generous spirit

Carol identifies for her readers our own fears, insecurities, visions, and joys...because she's been there. Then she shares hard-earned wisdom about how to turn all that creative Pandora's Box into a successful life as an artist. Throughout she manages to carry you along, showing you the work of many other artists trying to walk the same colorful trail, and finally convinces you that you can do it too...that it's damn well worth trying (ok, Carol, committing to).

[Wonko · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Our second non-fiction pick for our book club. As an extremely - extremely! - amateur artist, and a beginner at that, this was clearly not aimed at me. In many ways, I found it somewhat disheartening as her examples of “poor” work are so much better than anything I’ve ever done. I can see how it would be really useful and helpful for intermediate and above artists (and yet some of the chapters, like value and colour mixing seem too fundamental for that audience?) Overall, I think a useful book for someone who is not me.

[Nikki Embry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid little book that makes you feel like becoming a better painter or artist, no matter what that looks like for you, is within reach. The writing style is comfortable and has the feeling of pulling up a chair with a cup of tea and chatting with a friend.

I think overall, the book is laid out pretty well. You're invited to explore Carol's personal path to art success, and then begin charting your own. At the very least, it shows you how to make your art a more centered part of your life and become whatever you want to be or do with it.

[Glo Sollecito · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daily Painting is probably the most helpful book I’ve ever read about art technique. This one is mostly focused on everything with regard to developing an oil painting practice. It’s clear, concise and very well written. I started reading the ebook which was subpar because the illustrations were in black and white. I ordered a paper copy and was not disappointed. The samples are very helpful. Since this book is now over ten years old, some of the last couple chapters dealing with photography and marketing are a little dated. Regardless I recommend it and will continue to refer to it.

[Mark Bourdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a beginning or even intermediate artist, this is a wonderful resource. Easy read, good information and tips. Although the author uses mostly oil paints, most of the books information applies to all mediums. I wasn’t considering smaller paintings, but after reading Daily Painting, I will definitely try. The author also shares creative blocks and shares other painters experiences. I am definitely glad I read this book.

[Marian Hornsby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my! Best book to learn the basics of painting ever. I reread a section at least once a month. The more I paint the more meaningful this book becomes. Even if you never read a word, the illustrations alone are worth every penny you spent. Gorgeous and brimming with breathtaking color yet Carol Marine’s subjects are approachable in their simplicity. If you are realist painter you’ve never heard of Daily Painting, COME ON! Get with the program, man!

[Jackson Tejada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Guide for the Daily Painter

As someone who has only recently begun dabbling in oil painting, I found this to be an excellent resource for my next undertaking of trying to paint something every day. This book has tips for materials, subjects, and even for what to do when you're blocked. I highly recommend this book.

[Katelyn Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this book the junior year of my high school experience. It helped me to gain an intitative towards doing art daily, a practice I definitely do not uphold to this day, but try to. Give it a shot!! Has beautiful examples of what it looks like to be a productive, and mindful, human being. Thank you for the lesson Carol! <3

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daily Painting is an informative little book that covers a newish trend -- painting or drawing one work per day, obviously on the small side. The author explained the process very well in this book and gave examples of her own work. She also covered color and value that were very helpful. I have a degree in art myself but I was not familiar with some of the information the author shared.

[Stefania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall very informative book. The artwork is fantastic, and I found great tips on everything from composition, brushstroke, color mixing, and (my favorite) selling your art online. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for an absolute beginner, but (as a somewhat beginner myself) this book truly inspired me to give this "daily painting" business a try ;)

[IrinaPaints · Rating 3 out of 5]

Блики (обязательны!) - как авторский почерк. Будто птичку послушала: о том о сем почирикала (про рисование - 1 страница, про обработку в фотошопе - два абзаца), покрасовалась, других птичек упомянула, картинок показала и дальше полетела. Начинающему - мало подробностей, продолжающему (мне) - ничего нового, мастеру - зевота.