What Im Working On:
In the beginning of 2022 I was introduced to Sorcery Contested Realm as produced by Eriks Cureosa. The game was meant to have a nostalgic feel. Every card had traditionally created art created by one of a number of gathered artists in Acrylic, Oils, Pastels, Colored Pencil, Ink, Watercolors - or anything as long as it was made by hand.
I was immediately enamored.
At this point in time, the only painting I had done was of my woodworking pieces, or of resin models used in board and wargaming. I had created works in colored pencil, and a few sketches to this point but nothing like the art that was catching my eye. I was hooked, and working overnights – I needed a quieter hobby to work on my days off than running heavy shop saws and sanders.
I kept looking up tutorial videos on the internet to see how difficult the process could be. I realized I could try to use the large number of Vallejo paints I had amassed in my mini painting, and that I even had a few brushes suited to painting on canvas. The more I watched, the more I thought I could do it, and my reluctance faded away.
On September 22, after reading some interviews conducted by Mike Servati (Collectorsarthouse) into the artists of Sorcery, I decided to jump in. I went to my local art store and picked up a pack of 9x12 canvas panels and a few brushes and went to town. I titled my first painting “The Farm at Sunset” and I was off. I enjoyed the process, and although the work was not spectacular – I felt it had promise.
Over the next week I completed a few more simple pieces, and I grew hungry to improve. I purchased 8 or 9 books on painting with acrylics for beginners and tore into them. I found a book called “Learn to Paint in Acrylics with 50 Small Paintings” by Mark Daniel Nelson. The paintings were simple, impressionistic, and were fantastically organized into an order designed for skill building.
Then: I was off. I completed about half of the paintings in the book in the next month. Often I was completing two to three of them in an evening. I enjoyed the projects and I started understanding the basic techniques and skills of painting with acrylic. I started painting my own projects, and each project I pushed myself to do something new, to push my skills, or to learn a new one.
My real boon was Mike Servati and his Collector’s Arthouse Discord Group. The focus of his group was on the art and artists of Sorcery Contested Realm, and the group was filled with art enjoyers and aficionados. They were also a captive group of people with a discerning eye for art; so I put them to work. Every few weeks I would post a picture onto the group – something I had been working on recently – and I would ask for critical feedback on what was good, what was bad, and what was “off”.
I spent the next 12 months working on my skills and creating some awesome pieces (if I do say so myself).
Then I got to go to one of the coolest events I have ever experienced: IX Imaginative Realism show in Reading Pennsylvania. I had 2 portfolio reviews scheduled, and I was slated to be at the show attending from Wednesday to Sunday.
I had the opportunity to swipe an extra portfolio review from a participant who had something come up, and I made fast friends with Drew Tucker, a showcase artist and contributing artist for Sorcery! Drew also went through my portfolio, and spent almost an hour making critiques and giving me advice on how to work some of my pieces a little differently to make them much stronger. I also got to enjoy 4 days of speaking with professional artists about their processes and techniques, as well as seminars run by lawyers on copyright information, art collectors on selling pieces and running an art business.
I was again inspired. I realized that I had a shot selling my work, as I have a few dedicated admirers and a few customers who had asked for commissioned pieces already in my portfolio. Added to the information I gained at IX, I decided to shoot for the moon.
So here we are: I incorporated Ozminkoski Creative Works LLC and I am excited to capture my journey on my new website Ozminkoski.art. I hope you will continue to join me as I continue my push towards excellence.