Saturday, June 27, 2009

Art Happened Here

This is the place where I've been painting for the past year and a half. I love the light.
It will be a nice change to not have share the "studio" with my dining room. I'm actually looking forward to leaving a mess and not worry about it. Just picking up where I left off. Still, this has been a nice nook. You really can create anywhere.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

My To-Do List

I have so much going on in the next week - at times it's definitely overwhelming but also quite exciting and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. So here's my to do list.

1. In less than one week I am moving here. (This is a pic looking at the backyard. Big Yard! Lots of mowing!I can not believe it. This is a huge dream come true. I'm actually buying my own house - all by myself. I feel both overwhelmed with fear and thanksgiving and I hope the thanksgiving eventually clobbers the fear in my heart. It's a 122 year old Victorian house with a third floor which I will use for my art studio. Yippee no more messy dining rooms!!!

2. I have three painting commissions that came about all last week!!!! All want them in the middle of July. I'm always torn about commissions - very stressful paintings for me - mostly because I'm having to work on a deadline, and I create in my head this intense pressure - I so want to please the client. I hate all that pressure. And, I've done LOTS of commissions, I would like to think someday that heavy dreadful feeling would go away. Come on, they wouldn't have hired me if they didn't already like my work. Maybe the pressure is good???? But let me end by saying I am thankful and always so completely blown away that someone will pay me for a painting.

3. I just started an on-line course and am so enjoying Marise's point of view and calming affect on my agitated creative spirit. It's been a god send and I'm so glad to meet other creative types. There are over 75 people taking the class and I want to visit every blog and website of my class mates.
4. And... I gotta work my job through it all.... hmmmm

But what a fabulous to do list huh????

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Charlotte Cox - Watercolor Artist and Friend

This week I've been encouraged to think about being true to myself and the artistic voice inside me while at the same time putting my work out to the world and doing so bravely and boldly. I find that spending too much time looking at other artist's sites and blogs leaves me feeling very down. And for me it's important to limit that time. I can feel my spirits moving from "wow" and really appreciating their work to making it about me and how "I'm not good enough" That stops me dead.

How do you look at another persons art and just enjoy it and let it inspire your art work? Why must I always compare?

One of the purest and most important times for me as a new watercolor artist was when I lived in Texas several years ago. I dived into becoming a better watercolor artist and took many classes. Through those classes I met many artists and created some great long lasting friendships. I would have to say that these friendships improved my art as much as the class.
(art work by Charlotte Cox)

One friend in particular, Charlotte Cox, helped me a great deal. That woman painted! She was learning too and dragged me with her to paint many of the area missions. We always had great fun and laughed alot. But besides painting more, she also helped me "see" my art better. She would point out what worked in my painting while at the same time offering helpful criticism. We had healthy competition yet, I rarely felt the cloud of comparison come over me. It has been years since I've had an artist friend like Charlotte and I'm hoping to find that again in my new hometown. It once again reminds me that we silly human beings aren't meant to be alone, that being in community is really the best way for all to thrive.


These watercolors are from Charlotte's "sketch book." She's working on an art book of San Antonio now and I can't wait to see it when it's done. Her website link is here. Enjoy!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

I Like You Already!!!

Before you even could open your mouth to prove you are good enough, rich enough or smart enough, what if someone said "I like you already" ... because you are present, you are smiling, you are you? Well I heard/read that today when I logged into to my first class of my first on-line course (lots of "firsteses" here.) Immediately I knew this woman, also known as Marise Haedike, could speak to me because she could speak to my heart and that's where I hear the best. Check out her blog here.
Sometimes us creatives need to get together, refocus and slow down and listen to that voice in us that told us to pull out the paint brush in the first place. I really need help in that area because over the years I've gotten a bit lost; working jobs to pay bills, allowing relationships to pull me way too far from painting, thinking this or that will bring me happiness. I'm finding the best days are the ones where I spend time creating. Even better are the ones where I'm painting while eating a chocolate cupcake. :) It's really that simple.

Friday, June 12, 2009

There's nothing like a Peony...

or the smell of them or sitting and painting them WHILE smelling them!