Paint Happy! by Cristina Acosta
Introduction -- 
©2002, 2004, North Light Books
I painted for many years before I realized
that I was chasing a myth. Somewhere along the way, I came to
believe that to become a good artist, I needed to acquire an
ever increasing knowledge of methods and techniques. My
attention to technique garnered me a job as the production
artist for a billboard company.
After a couple of years painting
billboards, I could copy any image given to me in any style,
from simple cartoons to photo-realism. By that time, the holy
grail of technique seemed disappointingly empty. I had given
nearly all of my attention to developing the skill to paint
whatever I wanted and very little attention to discovering what
I really wanted to paint.
For a few years, I taught college drawing
and painting classes. While the students gained "the basics" I
noticed that for most of them, consistent academic study didn't
seem to encourage innate joy and enthusiasm for painting. I
knew that if I didn't teach any basics my students would be
adrift, eventually becoming frustrated by their lack of ability
to correctly mix the colors they needed or to understand what
they saw in a painting. I thought that there must be some way
to teach artistic skills without getting in the way of a
student's unique vision of the world.
Surprisingly, my epiphany came with the
experience of motherhood. By the time my daughter, Isabella,
was eighteen months old, she was painting every day with me.
Watching her, I couldn't help but notice that her experience of
painting was entirely different form mine. She painted with
complete abandon. She was never hard on herself. In fact, when
she finished a painting that she really liked, she'd put her
brush down and clap and cheer? If she didn't like, it, she
quickly pushed it aside and moved on! She never tried to paint
like anyone else (especially her mother!).
Whenever Isabella finished a painting, she
would show it to me. I'd look at the piece and very clearly
tell her what I admired about it. Her natural style of learning
augmented with my minimal positive insights enabled her to
learn quickly and define her won style.
During Isabella's toddler years, I was so
inspired by her obvious happiness while creating that I decided
to take an hour or so each day and paint in the same fashion.
The more I opened my mind to painting with the attitude of a
child--albeit a very "experienced" child! - the more my work
evolved. Within a few months, my style of painting had
completely changed. My work flowed so naturally that the images
seemed to paint themselves. I became passionately excited to
rediscover that creating could be so simple. My images
reflected my joy, and "paint happy" was born! Learning to paint
happy was the key that opened my creative soul.
Whether you're a new painter or an
experienced artist looking for new energy in your work, you
will enjoy learning to paint happy. My book guides you to
connect with your playful inner spirit while you learn the
basics needed to become technically proficient.
I don't intend for you to permanently paint
images in my style. My style is the result of my particular
life experiences. You may wish to copy my exercises as closely
as possible, then taking what you've learned, immediately
create an image of your own. With practice, your innate sense
of design and personal style will develop.
So open this book and enter a world of
color. Follow along with your paintbrush in hand, and chapter
by chapter the beauty of the world around you and within you
will be revealed through your painting.
Enjoy! Happy Creating, Cristina
See Exhibits for selected images of Paint Happy!
Subscribe to her Newsletter for once a month news, or get more on her Blog.
