We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful David Vollbracht. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with David below.

David, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I learned how to oil paint by sketching and drawing as a young person via encouragement by my mother and grandmother. They entered one of my drawings in the– Draw Me– category sponsored by Art Instruction Schools. Art Instructions Schools was a correspondence course which I completed during my high school years, since my small high school had no art classes. This course was very valuable in teaching me the fundamentals of Art. After high school I attended Colby Community College in Colby, Kansas where I had an excellent teacher, Ken Mitchell, who stressed the traditional representational art that fit my aspirations.
After finishing my college degree at Fort Hays State University, I taught high school Art for two years before embarking on a full time career of fine art. To further my learning in oil painting, I enrolled in art workshops taught by distinguished artists; Clyde Aspevig, Howard Freidland and Wayne Wolfe. These workshops were my first experience at Plein Air painting. Plein Air painting is the act of painting directly on the canvas while outdoors. This method has been very beneficial in truly seeing and simplifying the landscape. I feel that combining Plein Air painting along with studio work has accelerated my growth as an Artist.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I spent my younger years growing up on a farm in Western Kansas, which gave me experiences to observe and respect the land. When I had some free time from working on the farm with my Dad and brothers, I would take my sketchbook outside to draw subject matter around the farm. Thankfully, my parents supported my decision to take art in college. I spent my first time in college concentrating on watercolors I soon realized most of the artists I admired and studied were oil painters. Thus, I have concentrated on oil painting for over 50 years.

Along with my painting endeavors, I teach oil painting workshops. Which gives me a satisfaction that I can help others to learn about about the process of oil painting and how to improve their paintings.

Some of the major accomplishments in my artistic life include the following: accepted into several major art shows like Oil Painters of America, Mountain Oyster Club and the American Impressionist Society. Other honors include becoming a Signature Member of Oil Painters of America, and to have my oil paintings selected into the permanent collection of the Vernon Filley Art Museum and the Dane G Hansen Museum.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is to give others the ability to see and feel through viewing my paintings the beauty and value of Americas magnificent landscape. Being primarily a landscape artist provides constant inspiration and freedom to experience many places whether it be down a country road, standing in awe of the majestic mountains, walking among the trees of a forest or listening to the whispering of the prairie grass.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Many times there is a struggle when non-creative people do not understand that the creative life is an ongoing learning process. There is also the feeling that it should come easy, not realizing the time and effort needed to create a satisfactory piece of art work.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: David Vollbracht
• Other: www.reubensaundersgallery.com
  www.snwgallery.com
  www.vernonfilleyartmuseum.org