A Path To Follow
I want to introduce you to
Darla Myers. Besides creating beautiful pieces, Darla is a really interesting person. Darla splits her time between being both a committed fine artist and an emergency RN. So when Darla isn’t painting, sipping great wine, watching a fantastic film at the Bear Tooth Theatre, or on a trip in Spain, she may flying to some remote part of Alaska on an emergency medical call.
So here’s a bit more information on Darla and her thoughts regarding her art practice.
In regards to your art practice, do you have any particular process or rituals?
I don’t have a specific ritual-other than working best in the morning before my brain is cluttered with the outside world. I commit myself to working on my art whether I “feel like it” or not. I often listen to podcasts while painting as it then makes me shut off my inner critic and listen and create. (and I get to learn all kinds of interesting things.)
Darla, what’s your biggest fear?
Besides burning down the house with the flame from the encaustic torch? I think really it is not being able to portray something that I have the desire to paint.
When did I decide to be an artist?
It was a secret longing since my earliest memory, however I did not have the natural talent to draw so I believed that I could not be an artist as I did not have the “Gift”. Upon taking a watercolor class as an adult where we did drawing exercises from “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” I realized that I could learn and sharpen my drawing skills and use my sense of color and shape and indeed become an Artist.
Bright Happy Fall
There are many that I admire, but if I have to choose one I would have to say Georgia O’keefe
Your ideal day?
It would be sunny and blue skied, spending the day split between making art and hiking with my dogs Allie and Oso, then a warm evening cooking, eating and drinking good wine with good friends and conversation.
In 100 words, what do you do?
I am primarily a fine artist, painting currently in Oil and Encaustic. I use color and shape as the primary focus of my paintings. Most of my subjects are from my observations of the natural world and sometimes the interplay of
objects (boats) with the landscape. My color choices are intuitive and may vary a lot from what I actually see. I am happy to be developing my own distinctive style based on my use of color and subject matter.
How has your practice changed?
I started painting in watercolor, and then acrylic. I have also experimented with Casein (milk based opaque paint) and combining it with watercolor. I have moved to primarily oil, loving the creamy lush colors-but learning to plan way ahead due to drying times.Encaustic painting while timely has a sense of immediacy to it as the wax sets almost immediately. I enjoy the mix of the two distinct practices. I have also learned to put more of myself and my
personal interpretation into my art and have also embraced plein air (outdoor onsite) painting when ever possible.
Confetti Trees
I read and look at Art books about Artists I admire, surf the internet and go to Art Museums and galleries when even I travel. Also going to local art shows and sharing with other artists.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
I would like to have the ability to function well on very little sleep. That would give me an extra 4-6 hours a day to use for Art!
What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Put something of yourself into every painting, from my good friend and art teacher Kate Kiesler
Also when painting from a photograph (my own of course)-know when to put the photo away and paint what the painting needs as a Artist, I think that was from Stephen Quiller
Thank you Darla.
Sunlit Devilsclub
You can learn more about Darla and her work at:
Darla Myers Art (facebook)
www.darlamyersart.com
