Life is in the Details

Some progress on the canvas!

I moved my easel into my dining room last night (aka the kid's art room) in preparation for today. Ahhhhhh... the gorgeous natural light of a giant window. After delivering lunch to J's teacher for teacher appreciation week, I came back home, cranked up some music (The Black Keys), picked up my brush and got to work/play.

This canvas had been sitting idle for far too long (even before I hurt my back) and it felt so good to get reacquainted with it and add to the area that before I was too fearful to create. That fear kept me away, and I let it (!!!), finding other things to do that just delayed the inevitable. And it's a shame. It's just paint.

When I reminded myself of this - that it's just *PAINT* - I was able to get out of the way of myself. I was no longer worried that I'd mess it up. I opened myself up to possibilities, released the attachment to what existed and what *I desired to make it become*... and instead listened to what it wanted to become.

Every mark is there for a reason, whether to become another layer or to stand tall on the painting's surface.

Today was forward progress for me and for that I shout... OOOH YEEAAHHH!!!

Paint and doodles to get things flowing

Loosening up by playing with paints and doodles in my art journal. I relocated a bunch of my art stuff up to the kids art room (also known as our dining room) because I needed to be able to hear the doorbell earlier in the week (we were expecting a few servicemen to fix the cable and replace a part on our HVAC unit). Apparently, I really am in my own little world when I'm down in my art studio corner down in the basement because I can't hear the doorbell AT ALL!

The added benefit of the new annex location is I'm on the main level now so I'm closer to the heart of the house, the kitchen, so I can be cooking and keeping an eye on stuff while still creating art... AND the kids and I do lots of art together when they get home from school. There's also SO MUCH natural light that comes in through the bay window. Oh, how I *adore* natural light!!

In this page, I mixed soft body artist paint with the kids' craft paints. And can I just say that I love my Uniball pen!? Yes, it smudges (nothing thy fellow lefties aren't used to) but it rolls on so smoothly and writes over the paints really well. When I was growing up my mom used to carry a Uniball pen in her purse and there was always one near our phone for messages. I never liked them back then, preferring Bics or Papermates for writing phone messages (likely because of the smear factor... My mom is right-handed), but I've since come around.

Oh, and before I forget... I have finally discovered Words with Friends. :D

Today: My PT appointment got cancelled which allowed me to spend time in my art journal. It feels good to get back to doing this after a couple of months of being away. Between volunteer commitments, life, herniating a disc in my back, PT, massage, and not being able to sit/stand/walk comfortably for the last 3 weeks my mojo kinda took a vacation. I'm back though! And I'm drinking lots of chai tea.

I'm taking the kids to a new dentist today: a *pediatric* one, after a traumatic tooth extraction for Jessica last week at our general family dentist. Not doing that again!! She needs another extraction done and Ryan needs two (his first teeth ever to be lose... I feel so bad about it too, but we've waited 4 weeks like the orthodontist suggested and even with all his wiggling it hasn't come out yet). Eeek, my poor little peeps! Oh, and allergy shots for R and me. Give me more tea, please!

Canvas #1 - Many changes #bloomtrue

So I turned the canvas horizontally after all and got to work on making a bold change, taking the painting in an entirely different direction. I truly loved the bird but it I wanted to push past that and see if there was something else there in waiting. I laid on my basement floor and stared at this canvas for 40 minutes (!!). I got frustrated because nothing emerged. I stared some more. I moved further back to bring a greater distance between me and the piece. More staring. I took my glasses off. I squinted. I squinted harder so everything blurred. I put on some music. Perhaps I was pushing or forcing the issue a bit. There is some truth to that but I had to see what more was there.

Then finally it happened. The tail of the bird morphed into a butterfly wing and then I could clearly see the other wing emerge. So I let my beautiful bird fly, fly away, hoping that it revisits another time, on another canvas.

Once I committed to that change, I discovered what had been a leaf easily became the wing of a another butterfly. So now there are two.

I'm continuing to work through this painting as there is still much to be decided. Some things meant to be kept; others that will be let go; others still waiting to appear.

The joy is in the journey. Truth be told, it is not without frustration at times too. But without these frustrations there would not be as much learned from the whole experience and the joy would not be as sweet.

Canvas 4 - Layer 2 - #bloomtrue #painting #art #acrylic

So remember I started two new canvases so I'd have something to work between as canvas #1 & #2 for Bloom True evolve and get refined?

These two were for letting loose... well, I liked what I did with the first layer of mark-making (technically layer #2) and now I don't want to paint over it! So I'm allowing myself to keep it and live with it a bit before letting it go and painting over it.

Evolution of painting on canvas #2 #bloomtrue #art #painting

This week we've begun to focus on what's working for us in the painting and building upon that. This is such a great perspective. So positive... and it makes such sense! In a big YES(!), let's shift and focus on what IS WORKING... in painting... in life. Then it will be easier andb ecome more apparent what to do with what *isn't*. The what IS working will spill over into the what isn't until what isn't, isn't any more. And all that's left is what is.

I spent some time on Tuesday afternoon starting this week's lesson with this canvas trying to block out the shapes that I do like... there are some areas that I'm still not at all sure what to do with. There are some that I like that I want to become SOMEthing, but what thing? I don't know. I will leave those be for now and bring my attention to other areas.

Evolution of painting on canvas #1 #bloomtrue #art #painting

I was really hoping this painting would emerge as horizontally oriented as I had just the place to put it but so far it's wanting to be vertical.

I saw the first little birdie (in black in the left flowerish area... very small relative to the overall canvas. Then I saw the larger  bird appear. The tail feathers could go either way... first, the way I've outlined it. The other pops up a little larger when I peek over at it while working out in the basement. Not sure which way it will go. It depends on what appears the next time I look at it. 

Doodling and dribbles

The title just means I'm watching the Heat/Knicks game and decided to draw for a little bit because I didn't get any creating time earlier today. (I could have, but wasn't feeling it then. I, instead was filling up my creative well by looking at art by some new artist and illustrators that I've discovered). I stopped doodling right after I took this photo...to continue another day. As soon as I began to draw, the Knicks started to fall apart. When these two teams play each other I want them both to win. The Heat is team I cheered for growing up (being raised in South Florida). I also have ties to NY, as that's where I was born and where my husband is from. So tonight I'm torn. Off to watch the rest of the game. :D

Updated to add: Man, these photos from my phone are stinkin' it up lately. I think I have multiple scratched on the area where the lens is because everything is blurry. Boo!

Canvas #2's Evolution... So Far #BloomTrue #FloraBowley #Painting

This is a visual evolution so far of this still-in-progress painting but I thought I'd show it from the beginning until last week before I get started adding to it again this week.

Lots of turning of the canvas and mark-making going on.

The focus is on fun and playing.

Adding black and white for value contrast.

Sorry for the bad lighting. All photos were taken in my art cave (my basement) with poor lighting and my phone. I hope to take these babies outside to capture their true color before the next transformative layer.

Two small canvas reminders

I made these two 4"x4" paintings a few weeks ago to hang in my bedroom (colors were used that already coordinate with that room). These are simple and cheerful with a nice splash of color.

I fully believe that surrounding yourself with uplifting sentiments (and people) can make a positive impact on your attitude and outlook and how you interact with everyone else you touch in your day. Also, *how you feel* directly correlates to how you treat others. We have the ability and the power to radiate kindness, support, and encouragment... or we can nitpick, complain, and wear (or tear) people down. It's a conscious choice. And I know which side I want to be on.

I've been drawn to painting, drawing, and planning uplifting messages in my art (and the art of others) as a means of having reminders around my house for myself and my family. And eventually, as I build a larger collection, I will place more artwork up for sale.

If we all said the things to OURSELVES that we TRULY need to hear, the world would be a much better place. And if we could tear down our ego and then tell others the same thing the effect would be exponential.

These little reminders to take time to *nourish your soul* and *enjoy the ride* were just the sort of thing I wanted to see each day.

Small painting study: perfume bottles

Here's the second in my small daily painting study series from a couple of weeks ago. It is also on a 3"x5" canvas panel. I used the same colors from my fruit line-up study. The exact same colors actually. I used my stay-wet palette so that yesterday's extra paint didn't go to waste. Whatever colors that were there from the previous day's painting was left overnight and then got mixed and remixed and used in this one. I love being able to squeeze a generous amount out on the palette so that I'm not afraid to mix colors and make a mistake and that none of it ends up going to waste.

What I love even more is that I've made art a regular enough practice this month that I'm starting to know about my likes and dislikes as a budding artist.