The Painter in oil

practically no problem possible to in-the-house light which may not be worked out by
means of still life. The training in perception and representation, in composition and
arrangement, an in technique, which it will give you is invaluable; and most important of
all, while you can always make such arrangements as will interest you, because you need
place only such things or colors as you like, you are really studying nature herself, you
are looking at the things themselves, and the result you get is the product of your own
eyes and brain. The problem is entirely your own, both in the stating and the solving,
and what you learn is well learned, and represents a definite progress along the right
line.
You have worked for the sake of the working, and there is nothing which you have got
from it that may not be applicable to any future work you may do, that does not directly
lead to the great object you have in view, - to learn how to paint well.
Be Sincere. - But, above all, be sincere with yourself; don’t do anything to be clever,
nor because it pleases some one else. Painting is difficult enough at best. You need all the
interest and fascination that the most charming thing can have for you to help you to do
it so that is worth the trouble. Don’t take away the whole life of it by insincerity. A very
thoughtful painter said to me once that he believed that all really good pictures could be
shown to be good by the sole criterion of conviction. Can you think of any painting being
good without it? Can you think of any amount of cleverness and ability making a picture
good without it. And it is quite as important in study as elsewhere. Never do anything
except seriously; take yourself and your work seriously; only by series work can serious
results come.
Joy in Your Work. - Do it because you like to. But like good work and hate bad
work; and, above all, hate half-way work. Understand yourself: what you want to do and
why you want to do it, and then be honest enough with yourself to work till you have
honestly done what you wanted to do, and as you wanted to do it.