When we were young, my father, the artist David Gentleman, seldom provided guidance to me or my siblings. If we expressed a desire to draw, he would distribute pencils and allow us to proceed independently. His support was evident, yet he refrained from giving us guidance. If we were having fun, there were always extra sheets of paper; if we opted to engage in something else, that was perfectly acceptable. The concept of instructing others still unsettles him, making the release of his new book, Lessons for Young Artists, a surprise for all of us. At 95, he endeavored to encapsulate his experiences as a painter since the late 1940s into straightforward advice. These lessons aren’t solely intended for art students or older individuals aspiring to paint, but rather for anyone contemplating how to construct a life and career as a creative individual.
I haven’t inherited his artistic gifts, yet I’ve acquired other valuable lessons from growing up alongside someone who has successfully pursued a career doing what he loves for the last eight decades. Over the last two years, while he was writing this book, I spent many hours in his studio in Camden, discussing painting and drawing while assisting him in selecting images to visualize his concepts. Here are 10 insights I’ve gleaned from a lifetime observing his craft.
Strive to create a life centered on your passions
My father’s grandparents were both painters who connected at the Glasgow School of Art in the 1920s, making the notion of living as an artist relatively untroubling. He has consistently managed to meet financial obligations through painting, drawing, designing book covers, murals, stamps, and logos. His work ethic is extraordinary, but it comes naturally as painting and drawing are his true passions. As a child, I would fall asleep to the sounds of creaking floorboards above me as he worked late into the night. I chose a different path, aspiring to be a journalist. From him, I absorbed the significance of pursuing a vocation that ignites your enthusiasm, so work never feels like a burden.
Avoid procrastination and don’t wait idly for inspiration
At home, there was no talk of muses, nor were there leisurely moments spent waiting for brilliant ideas to come forth. Ideas emerge when you’re seated at a desk with a pencil in hand. This applies to most endeavors – initiation can feel daunting, but it’s essential to push through. Almost every day throughout his adult life, my father has risen early, brewed a cup of tea, and promptly started working. Lately, the five flights of stairs to his top-floor studio have become more strenuous; sometimes he needs both hands to grip the bannister for support, yet his commitment to continue his work remains steadfast.
However, do pursue inspiration by venturing outside
Taking time away from your work is crucial. Most days, my parents stroll through Regent’s Park or Primrose Hill. These walks are now slower than they used to be, but this leisurely pace allows time to capture photos of brutally pruned plane trees, emerging oak leaves, or intriguing bark patterns.
Value the sky
A significant portion of my discussions with my father throughout the years has taken place outdoors, gazing upward at the sky, relishing cloud formations, contemplating the somber grey hues of impending rain, observing the shapes carved by horse chestnut trees in summer or the outlines of bare trees against a crisp blue winter sky. I’ve come to share his frustration with tall buildings obscuring the sky while also nurturing his appreciation for the slender cranes on the horizon as construction advances.
Stay organized
I’m consistently amazed by the lack of artistic chaos in his studio. One drawer is stocked with sharpened pencils, carefully arranged. Additional drawers hold spare watercolour tubes, sorted by color (raw umber, burnt umber, yellow ochre, citrus yellow). Brushes are organized in teacups by size, various rulers hang from a large pinboard, and jars of Indian ink sit alongside spare nibs in labeled boxes. Everything is readily accessible; surfaces are clean and primed for immediate work. Disorder is inefficient. My own room? A mess of books and papers; I’m still on my journey. Tidying it up instantly elevates my mood.
Artistry extends beyond merely making visually appealing images
When I go upstairs to greet him, I can never be sure if I’ll find him sketching serene English countryside scenes or splattering paper with red paint to create bloodstains for anti-war protest banners. I admire his knack for drawing inspiration from the unconventional, whether it be derelict gasometers or forsaken World War II military fortifications along Orford Ness’s shores in Suffolk.
Maintain your curiosity
Never allow yourself to become world-weary. Painting necessitates keen observation and a willingness to remain enthusiastic about and aware of your surroundings. I vividly remember encountering my father, then in his 80s, amid the streets of Tottenham in 2011, after the August riots. I was there with a notepad for the Guardian; he was armed with his sketchbook, capturing images of burnt-out cars and buildings along the High Road, seemingly unfazed by the throngs of police and protesters around him. Rapid sketches made on-site can carry more impact than meticulously finished pieces created in a studio.
Avoid shying away from challenging projects
Every time I pass through Charing Cross tube station and see his murals depicting medieval laborers constructing the Eleanor Cross along the platform, I feel a surge of joy; I see my mother’s likeness in some of the figures. This was a monumental task, translating tiny wood engravings into grand artworks for a public venue. New challenging commissions expand your skills, even if they initially seem daunting.
Cherish blossom
During our childhood, we occasionally grew impatient with his daily efforts to instill in us his deep appreciation for the natural world. Indeed, another lovely leaf. Yes, another bird. More fool me; I still struggle to distinguish between starlings, swifts, swallows, and house martins. For reasons that escape me now, his intense fondness for blossoms always struck me as particularly humorous. Yet, with the passing of time, I’ve caught his enthusiasm for spring and developed my own fascination with hawthorn and apple blossoms. The onset of cow parsley season offers a splendid opportunity for painters, as it transforms the muddy banks of London’s canals into enchanting wildernesses that he sketches annually.
Continue experimenting and don’t be discouraged by errors
Don’t expect to be brilliant; improvement comes from hard work. Avoid destroying your work in anger if things aren’t going well. Instead, set it aside, relax in the garden, sip tea, read the Guardian for a bit. Return to your workspace. Give it another go.
