For many working professionals, creative passions often take a back seat to career and family responsibilities. For Dave Power, however, watercolor painting became an important way to slow down, recharge, and express his experience with golf through art.
As a full-time business professional, Dave spent his free time painting memorable golf courses. While photographs could capture a moment, watercolor allowed him to capture something more—the feeling and personality of a place.
Eventually, he realized he wanted to grow as an artist.
Full-time business professional Dave Power spends his spare time painting his favorite golf courses using watercolors.
Taking the next step
After taking local continuing education classes, Dave wanted more structured instruction from experienced artists. But with a busy work schedule and family commitments, attending an in-person program wasn’t practical.
Instead, he enrolled in an online certificate program through RISD Continuing Education.
“I really wanted to take it to another level,” Dave says. “RISD is kind of the gold standard in art around here, and I wanted to expose myself to different teachers and different ways of creating art.”
Learning online—and learning more
Like many prospective students, Dave wasn’t sure whether art could be taught effectively online. He quickly discovered that the virtual format offered just as much opportunity for meaningful feedback and learning.
“It turned out that doing these classes remotely really wasn’t a barrier,” he says. “You’d be surprised how much detail you can see when you’re looking online at people’s art.”
The weekly schedule also fit comfortably around his professional and personal responsibilities, allowing him to steadily develop his skills while continuing to work full time.
A selection of Power's illustrations through the RISD Online Certificate in Natural Science Illustration.
A community of artists
One of the most rewarding parts of the program was learning from both instructors and classmates.
For the first time, Dave studied with professional artists who challenged him to slow down, think differently, and pay closer attention to process and detail.
He also benefited from a rich diversity of critiques from classmates around the world, each bringing their own perspectives and creative goals.
“I really liked seeing what other classmates could do with the same assignment,” he says. “You’re not going to meet people from Alaska, South America, and Europe in your local classroom.”
The diversity of ideas and experiences helped expand his creative thinking while reinforcing the fundamentals of composition, storytelling, and artistic technique.
“Each of us was exposed to different media, a different way of thinking, about composing, different ways to create detail, and the imagery of creating, you know, in two dimensions the idea of pulling the story of nature into our artwork.”
Power working on illustrations in his home studio office.
A renewed perspective
Today, Dave continues painting the golf courses that first inspired him, but with greater confidence and a broader creative perspective.
“I feel a little more like an artist than when I started the program.”
His experience is a reminder that pursuing creativity doesn’t require putting life on hold. With flexible online learning and a supportive community, it’s possible to continue growing as an artist while balancing work, family, and everything in between.
For anyone wondering whether it’s the right time to invest in their creativity, Dave’s advice is simple:
“You can do this. There are great teachers and great supportive classmates. I’ve always looked at art from a distance thinking, ‘That looks really cool, but I don’t really have time for that.’ I’m glad I made time for it.”
Inspired to take the next step in your creative journey?
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