I'm
starting a large painting for our living room and
what I have in mind is a drastic departure from how I
normally work. For one thing, at 36" x 24" it's much
bigger than any painting I've done in a long time. My
work is usually tight, controlled and realistic. I'm
picturing something loose and impressionistic ... a
painterly interpretation of trees with fall foliage.
The kitchen is gold with olive countertops and it
flows into the dining and living rooms. We just
bought a couch, love seat and chair in a rust color
and I'm thinking of painting the walls a sage to
olive green. I'm hoping I can use this painting to
tie it all together. If I get it done and like it
enough to actually hang it on the walls. Stay tuned
as I post my progress ... or lack there
of.
Funny that
I feel that way and yet keep coming up with stuff.
Sometimes an object will grab me and I feel like I
have to draw it. Often on those occasions, it's one
of the kids' toys and usually it's because I just
stepped on it.
Most recently, though, I feel like I'm struggling to
find something that holds my attention long enough. I
don't want to draw flowers, even though I love to
draw flowers, because I fall back on those when I
can't think of anything else. Flowers are my cop out
object.
So today I decided to draw my utensils since I was
bored watching water boil anyway. I think I liked
them better before I added color.
Now call me crazy, but isn't the fact that I'm standing here "proof of birth"? And even if I did hatch from an egg as some people have accused, I was still born, wasn't I? It wasn't like there was a puff of smoke and suddenly I was lying on my parents' couch. I know, I know, they probably meant a copy of your birth certificate or maybe even a social security card, but then why not say that? Proof of birth indeed!
So I stole a huge bulletin board from my husband ... probably 30" x 20" ... put on some fresh cork and viola! A new home for all of my photos, quotes, project ideas and keystroke command cheat sheets. My favorite is a quote I copied out of Danny Gregory's book The Creative License that's perfect for my insecure artistic soul.
Need to be YELLED at? Read This:
For God's sake, have a little backbone!! Stop indulging your weakest instincts and do the thing you know you want to do. A little short-term sacrifice of time and energy (while doing something that's fun, by the way) will unfetter your life and make you a lot happier. You just have to stick to it, suspend judgment, and keep practicing. Now stop sniffling and give us a hug. Get back to work.
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Just a quick notice that my website and email might
be a little intermittent during the next few weeks.
I'm in the process of upgrading my hosting service.
Thanks for your patience.
Everyone got a haircut this weekend, we looked at furniture again, made two trips to Lowe's and one to the Home Depot, went to church and out to dinner (and had a nice time even with the kids ... go figure), got a new lamp for the living room and drapes for our bedroom, caught up putting photos in albums, fixed screens with holes, mom did a little clothes shopping and got in a Starbuck's trip, washed & waxed the car and van, talked to my brother-in-law and almost sister-in-law about invitations for their wedding, did laundry, went for a walk, played basketball, read stories, did a little drawing and (saving the best for last) took a nap.
It would have been perfect if we just would have gone someplace kids like. At least, according to my kids.
____________________________________
Just a quick notice that my website and email might
be a little intermittent during the next few weeks.
I'm in the process of upgrading my hosting service.
Thanks for your patience.
I came home feeling pretty good and then pretty much crashed. I wanted to draw something, so I decided to check out Illustration Friday. The word was geeky and that led me to leeky and I ended up with this little guy. I doodled. Yeah for me!
I sat looking at my sketchbook last night, realizing not only hadn't I drawn, but that I really wanted to watch the ball game instead of drawing. So I decided I'd doodle. And then proceeded to obsess about what to doodle and where to doodle and on and on and on. Really ... I need to just carry a plank around in my back pocket to smack myself with occasionally. It'd be more convenient than trying to find a wall. They're doodles already! Lighten up and put the pen on the paper already!
I'm just happy to be working through it this time. I've been doing this sketchbook thing long enough that it is part habit now. I think that's good, even if I have to make myself find something to draw.
Sunday, July 1 and Monday, July 2 ... Cherries that look A LOT better than they taste.
Saturday,
June 30 ... drawn while waiting
for my daughter's birthday cake to cook already.
Friday,
June 29 ... Drawn during the
10:00 p.m. news after realizing I hadn't drawn yet.
