“Next, how do you refill your energetic / creative fuel tank? How often are you doing it, and might more time be helpful?” -question from last week’s essay

April’s theme is all about harnessing restlessness, claiming your focus, and developing the momentum to propel you forward.

My creative goal, now that some of my eyesight has returned, is to spend every spare moment focused on Beauty. My favorite beauty is a well-executed watercolor. Not oil, not pastel, just watercolor.

I appreciate other art forms, of course. One of the painting styles I admire most is the Hudson River School. This movement flourished in America in the mid-1800s and was characterized by luminous atmosphere and exacting attention to detail. These paintings often feature the mysterious light created at dawn or dusk, making even familiar landscapes feel enchanted. Asher Brown Durand was one of the well-known artists from this era.

But this is not an art history lesson. It is an essay about how finding the right mentor can enhance your momentum. You need to determine which mentor will inspire you to a higher level of skill in your medium, not theirs.

I love the Hudson River School style, but their paintings were huge, created with multiple meticulous layers of oil paint. I love the immediacy and freshness of watercolor and prefer to work 11” x 15” or smaller, so I suppose I’m forced to find a different style to emulate.

Or am I?

Let me introduce you to Andrew Broussard, a contemporary American watercolor artist whose work is fresh, luminous, and highly detailed.

This magnificent watercolor, in all its glory, is only 6” x 10.5”. Broussard’s use of color and value to convey depth in a small space is masterful. Look again at the close-ups above and see how the detail stands up beautifully to close scrutiny.

“But wait, there’s more!”

Along with these luminous full-color paintings, Broussard has created a separate series of “tonalist paintings” fashioned after another group of American painters from the late 19^th century.

He offers an eBook collection of 20 works of tonal studies like these two shown above for a low price on his Etsy site.

Important Note: On Etsy all the “thumbnail” images are square format, which gives you no sense of the power and beauty of Broussard’s landscape design and execution. If any image catches your eye, be sure to click on it to see the full composition. I can attest to the fact that even a good photo does not do these paintings justice.

As if Andrew Broussard’s watercolors and eBook on Etsy weren’t enough, he also has a YouTube channel where he offers painting tutorials, as well as an affordable Patreon subscription site where you have instant access to his latest posts and access to info that is not available elsewhere.

What to remember, in summary:

1. Your inspiration tank will eventually run dry.
2. To refill it, find an artist/ creator whose work inspires you without intimidating you. If you are a beginner, do not select Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Perlman, or Paganini for your mentor – that is too far to reach. Pick someone whose skill level you can imagine achieving, with hard work, in a year. That will be a good stretch without risking pulling a muscle (or risking chucking your tools out the window).
3. Then see if they offer any learning experiences on Udemy, Masterclass, Domestika, Patreon, or YouTube. Try to find a way to hear their own voice and watch them in action. Don’t settle for simply reading about them. Make the experience visceral.
4. Make a passion budget. Plan a certain amount of money, no matter how small, to solidify your commitment.
5. Make that commitment in writing, on your phone calendar or your datebook, to set aside regular time to continue refilling your tank.
6. Remember, for now you are not producing, you are refueling. Don’t try to drive away while you’re still plugged into the charging station.
7. Set your timer for an hour and watch your mentor at work. Listen to them as they describe their approach. Keep an open mind, because they do know what they are talking about, believe me.

I can prove it. After some research, I located the tutorial film of Broussard creating the very painting I now own. When I was watching the video, I cringed and shouted at the screen, more than once, “Well now you’ve ruined it…”

Of course he hadn’t. I have the proof in my own two hands. He just knew what he was doing, and I didn’t.

When your tank is full to overflowing, you’ll know. You won’t be able to watch another minute because you’ll be so eager to get your hands on your own magic wand, be it paint brush, fiddle, harmonica, or wood planer.

Refueling fully may be the most productive thing you do all day. Good luck – I am cheering you on from the sidelines. Share your own story here in the comments!

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I hope you enjoyed this essay. Click on the “Word Cloud” at the right if you’d like to read more about a specific topic. Feel free to forward any of them to friends and family members who might enjoy them.

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All three of my books are available on Amazon in eBook and paperback formats.

The newest book, Look at That! – Second Edition, is also available as a beautiful hardcover.

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As always, thanks for spending some time with me “aloft.” Happy gazing and sketching!