What to paint?

I Didn't Choose It, It Chose Me! 

Like many artists/crafters, I've tried my hand at many and most mediums.  I became quite proficient at sewing, quilting, lampworking (aka glass bead making) and hand built ceramics.  I've tried numerous other things throughout the years; watercolor, photography, scrapbooking, the potters wheel, ceramic tile making via plaster molds, a variety of jewelry making techniques (chainmaille, resin, metal stamping etc...), linoleum block printing etc.... You get the idea!  Until, some life events forced me to re-evaluate what I was doing with my life.  Through lots of prayer and reflection, I finally came to the conclusion that God was calling me to focus on this gift of creativity that He so generously gave me.  Fortunately, I was able to quit my job and focus more on what I felt God was calling me to do at this time in my life - paint!  It's a bit of a long story on how I came to this conclusion but it is a really cool one at that.  I asked the Holy Spirit in a very bold way to let me know what God wanted of me and He did in an awesome way.  Maybe someday I'll share it here but if you ask me in person I'll not hold back.

Hunh? Paint?  I hadn't really painted since my college days.  Where to start?  Hmmm, I think I found a mini mixed media lesson of sorts online.  I had all the supplies (scrapbooking paper, acrylic craft paint, stencils, stamps) so I sat down and painted "my guardian angel" as the tutorial suggested.

It was lots of fun.  So, I did another and another and another - all angels.  I kept painting angels because after painting this angel, I started thinking about my guardian angel and how little attention I had given her/him throughout my life and it got me thinking about angels and their presence in our lives.  This in turn lead me to reading a lot more on the subject.  I LOVE to learn and wanted to know more about this subject.  Then reading about angels lead me to a deeper understanding of my faith which then lead me to the Saints.

Reading, painting, reading, painting - 

-now mostly the Saints.  Reassurance from family, friends and eventaully etsy sales kept me going.  However, the more I painted, the more my style evolved - what was in the beginning very stylistic, simple, folksy (like the online tutorial taught me) started to become more realistic.  I didn't plan it that way, it just evolved that way.

The subject matter chose me! 

I never, ever would have thought to paint portraits.  Portraiture is intimidating and difficult, at least that is what I recalled from my school days.  Yet here I am still drawn to painting portraits.  In my next blog, I'll share with you how my newest love, PASTELS, chose me. I did NOT choose them.

What to paint, you ask?

Let it find you!  However, you can't just sit back and wait for that magical moment.  You have to do the work.  May I suggest a few things to get the ball rolling:

1. PRAY about it - not just once or twice - consistently, especially if you are a faithful, God trusting person, (or even if you're not) try it anyway!

2. Search the internet for how-to's and/or tutorials to try something new.  I love Ivy Newport.  She has such a great variety of classes that are fun, inspiring and affordable.

3.  Take a class at a local art center

4. Read up on a subject(s) that excites you or that you always wanted to know more about.

5. Just do it - don't let fear of failure stop you!

I know I am guilty about waiting until the moment is just right, until I have all the right supplies, the right space, until I've read up on the subject, and until I have to have the right amount of time set aside with no interruptions etc... those are all excuses.  JUST DO IT!  

Creative Growing Pains

"Unless you do something beyond what you have mastered, you will never grow." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

My newest art obsession - Painting with Pastels - 5x7 practice

Do you have Art A.D.D.?  That is my term for someone who wants to try anything and everything related to art.  The internet is a dangerous thing because when I search for something (usually an art supply or maybe a tutorial), it inevitably leads me to some new product, gadget, art supply or technique that I never knew existed but looks so cool that I want to try it.  It is a good thing and a not so good thing.  It's good in that it gets me thinking and experimenting with new things but it is not so good in that it distracts me from really diving in deep and mastering one medium at a time.  It also costs me money because I usually need new supplies. I suppose you need to break a few eggs to make an omelet, hunh?

First painting exploring mixed media (2015)

I discovered lampworking (making glass beads) years ago when I took a jewelry making class (Yes, I was searching for a medium to be passionate about and master) and someone mentioned hand made glass beads.  Of course, I needed to know more about this, so I went home and researched the internet and hence the obsession began.  However, it was a good one.  I ruled out the desire to make jewelry for the desire to make beads.  I focused strictly on bead making for 15 years until I felt my creative juices for this medium drying up and a nudge to try something else.

Exploring ideas and things I am

passionate about. (2015)

That said, I think we always need to be in a state of curiosity if we are to truly find our passion and grow.  So, I began painting.  Something I had not done since college.  I called on what I knew from my experiences many years ago.  It really is like riding a bike, you never really forget but you are a little wobbly and uncertain for a while.  Once you develop a little confidence you start taking risks.  I'm not a big risk taker.  I take little risks at a time.  Just big enough to push me somewhat out of my comfort zone but enough to see if I can succeed and that in turns gives me increased confidence.  If I fail, so be it, I stilled learned something, can't grow much without it.  I think that is one reason why I like art.  It is a tangible way to see growth.

St. Joan of Arc.  Mixed media  (2017)

So, embrace your art A.D.D., but always with a focused goal in mind - to find what you are passionate about creating and do it!