30 Paintings in 30 Days - Reflections

What a month it has been. Looking back over all of the joy-filled art and happy (mostly) flowers I am so glad that I had the courage and dedication to embark on this project. Whenever I'm feeling like I can't do something or that I don't have the time I will look back at this collection of art and be reminded that I can. I absolutely can.

What I learned in this last 30 days of daily painting:

• Showing up really does work. I created 30 paintings that didn't exist in this world before I willed each one to be. That's BIG.
• Not every painting will turn out how I want. Thanks okay. If I remember to enjoy the process and the lesson of each painting session, then it is all worth it.
• Sometimes the paintings that I don't love are other's favorites. How strange but also unexpectedly delightful. It's an unpredictable world out there and I'm glad that I didn't throw some paintings in the garbage that I wanted to because they brought joy to someone else.
• It's completely okay to gesso over something and allow for something else to be reborn on an old canvas. Sun Blooms is proof of this. I gessoed over an old mixed media collage canvas panel and it became another layer but a beginning to something entirely new. The underlying texture of that painting is a result of my art recycling efforts and I'm so glad that I don't have to look at what was covered up ever again.
• Some days I won't want to show up even though I know it works. There will be a heavy resistance to do something else but when I go downstairs and stand in front of my easel anyway, put on some music, and let things flow as they will... magic happens. Sometimes colors blend into one another is a way that I hadn't seen before. Sometimes it's just a lightening in my spirit that makes it worthwhile. Each day is different. But there's a sense of exploration and wonder that keeps me coming back for more.
• The days that have struggle and pain make me appreciate the days where things gel effortlessly that much more.
• When in doubt or when frustrated, paint an abstract. No rules. No expectations. Just C R E A T E.
• On those resistance-filled days, put on some Coldplay, pick up a brush, and see what happens. There's an alchemy in the combination of music and painting. Thank you, Chris Martin.
• Making time for rest is incredibly important. Resting my gaze, resting my mind, resting my body, and resting my soul. It gives me the time and space for filling up the well of inspiration.

Comments

[Trysimplelife]

You accomplished such an amazing feat, completing 30 paintings in 30 days! And they are so beautiful alone and grouped together :) Every time I look at them, I see a new feature in one of them that I missed the first time. I am so structured when I quilt, I think that is what draws me to writing - the freedom of expression that can flow in any direction you want, like your painting.