Dustin Van Wechel left a successful career in advertising to pursue his passion for fine art. He has earned numerous distinctions and has been featured in leading art publications. Dustin's journey began in his late 20s, and he started his career as a wildlife artist. He initially worked with pastels before transitioning to oils. He emphasizes the importance of painting from life and constantly learning and improving as an artist. Dustin's process involves creating thumbnail sketches to develop composition and narrative before starting a painting. Dustin Van Wechel discusses his process of creating wildlife paintings, including the importance of solving problems before starting a painting, using reference photos and sketches, and constructing animals using Photoshop. He also shares his approach to marketing his work, including writing press releases, establishing a brand, and using social media. He advises artists to avoid comparing themselves to others and to live below their means. Dustin also mentions upcoming workshops and shows he will be participating in.

Transitioning from a day job to a full-time artist requires sacrifice, dedication, and financial planning.

Painting from life is crucial for developing skills and capturing the essence of the subject.

Being a professional artist requires discipline and meeting commitments.

The process of creating art can be challenging and not always enjoyable, but the

passion for the craft keeps artists going.

Developing a strong composition and narrative is essential for creating impactful artwork. Solve problems before starting a painting to avoid difficulties on the canvas

Use reference photos and sketches to guide the composition

Construct animals using Photoshop by combining different elements

Write press releases and send them to media outlets to promote your work

Establish a consistent brand across different marketing channels

Live below your means and have tight control over the pricing of your work

Participate in workshops and shows to expand your market and network

Dustin Van Wechel, career transition, fine art, fine artist journey, fine artist, wildlife art, pastels, oil painting, painting from life, composition, narrative art, wildlife painting, problem-solving, reference photos, sketches, Photoshop, art marketing, press releases, brand, art pricing, art workshops, art shows