Lessons from Lent

So I've had 40 days of minimal internet contact. I didn't un-install my browsers like I had planned, although I should have because I cheated occasionally.

The first week was definitely the hardest. I'd check my e-mail and keep hitting the send/receive button thinking..there has to be more! My computer is upstairs and before Lent I'd come up to check e-mail and browse from 7-10 times during the day. I found the time between e-mail checks began to slow down (only so many times I can hit send/receive til it sinks in there is no new e-mail!). I even *gasp* went a full day here and there without checking at all!

I mentioned that I cheated occasionally. Not once did I log into Facebook, my blog reader, or Twitter but I did give myself permission to do check things here and there that I felt necessary. My son moved from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts and the new troop I needed to do some on-line training, get permissions slips, etc. The worse times for me was when Russ & I would be researching something. At first I'd just look over his shoulder..that got annoying real quick. Then I just "jump on Google to check" for myself and I'd find myself wandering around on tangents again. But..as soon as I realized what I was doing..I would stop.

Probably one of the hardest things was getting friend requests from Facebook and Twitter follows. Some of the people I had e-mails for and was able to explain..the others I hope will not think I snubbed them.

Anyway..so what did I get out of this? quiet, lot's of quiet

No, I don't need to turn my speakers down. I mean mental quiet. I love information..from people, books, blogs..anywhere. I still read books (lots in fact..I got a lot of reading done the past month and a half) but I'd have quiet interludes during the day to just think (while catching up on much needed housework!). I could get an e-mail and not immediately jump to Google to find 20 solutions to the problem..I could just think for a while, figure it the solution myself. Which is probably the same solution I would have come up with after 40 minutes of web-surfing anyway.

How did this fit in with my word of the year - Renew? It definitely helped:

Intellectual - As I said before, I did a LOT of reading. Some educational, some just fun (I read the 4 books from the Twilight series last week). I also got my acceptance e-mail (and then letter) from the University of Texas in Arlington. I'm heading back to school to work on a Masters of City and Regional Planning. More on this later.


Artistic - I did get some painting done. I finished a pet portrait commission and a flower painting. I'm finally starting to relax when I think about painting instead of the "who would want to buy this" panic I'd go into. Again..blog fodder for another day.

Physical - This is going well but slow. After doing a 13 mile hike with a group of scouts, I decided I'd really start pushing my workouts to the limit. For almost a month I did weights a minimum of 2 times a week and did some sort of cardio (running, elliptical, biking, etc) for 30 minutes to an hour 5-6 days a week. I really felt the difference in my body but my weight loss ground to a halt. Mentally, I need to see some progress so I've back off the intensity. I'm sill training to run a 5k though.

Spiritual - My Bible in a year goal is still going too slowly for my own satisfaction. I found myself writing arguments against the workbook author in the workbook I was using so I decided to switch tracks. I bought The One Year Chronological Bible and the guidebook. I haven't used the guidebook but it does help to have daily goals (that I can see I'm missing ;)) I'm almost to the end of February and I'm sure I'd be much further along if I wasn't so engrossed in the Twilight books last week. The mental quiet I talked about above also gave me a lot of time to think, ponder, pray and a philosophize which is one of the main reasons for breaking bad habits during Lent.

Emotional - Getting stronger every day. I've made the choice inside myself that I will change and hence my life is changing to fit.

So..enlightened, lightened, and lit up! Ok..so that's corny but I can't think of a funny or sage way to end this blog but from my several "more on this later" comments..I'd better sign off and get to work!

Fitzi, 7" x 5" acrylic on canvas, sold

The Making of Einstein

A previous client commissioned me to do a pet portrait as a Christmas gift to his parents. The subject was a beloved family pet from his youth. Einstein was affectionately described as a "big pile of fur." I worked from 4 photos taken about 15 or so years ago.

I tried to take photos each time I stepped away from the easel for a drying session, but towards the end, I got time crunched and forgot.



Step 1: The base coat of Flexible modeling paste and acrylic applied with a palette knife. Water-down acrylic is then used to draw the outline.

Step 2: Paint background. I chose a neutral, non-objective background to keep the subject prominent.

Step 3: I blocked in the basic color and value of the subject paying attention to large masses of color.

Step 4: Fur and details start to emerge. From this point until the end, I forgot to photo. After I got slightly past this point, I realized the background was too vague and needed almost a "wall" or implied space behind the subject. I deepened the colors and the shadows around Einstein. I also spent several sessions getting the fur right around the face. Towards the end, the client viewed the work in progress and made suggestions towards fur coloring, facial shape, etc. The final step was to take a small, liner brush and add spots of tiny fur ends to really help the fur take shape.

The final Einstein is a 20" x 16" acrylic. The recipients were so pleased with the result that they have commissioned me for another family pet.

Einstein, acrylic on canvas, 20" x 16"

PAD before midnight! and I'm a ??

Okay..vacation is over..back to studio time. I got today's PAD done in the morning instead of last thing before bedtime. This is a small study in acrylic of a cat of which I'll be doing a full-size portrait of in the next couple of weeks.

I'm still not painting other things because of lesson planning for next week's classes. My first adult class starts next week & I'm very excited. I have two students signed up so there is room for more! I also am doing projects with a local preschool this month so I have quite a bit of planning (plus art supply buying!) to do. I don't have anyone signed up for the Wednesday morning Collage Class, which is disappointing since I LOVE doing collages! I'm considering keeping that time as my own "collage" time.

Not doing collages is part of a artistic "career dilemma" I've been struggling with since I jumped back into art full-time this past fall. Most successful artists have a "look" or theme by which they are recognized. Other artists also label themselves this way as in "I'm a pastellist." or "I'm an oil painter." or "I'm a portrait painter." I am interested in way too many things to figure out my look or label.

So far, I have identified that I am an artist. I also do pastels and watercolors fairly well. I'm struggling and learning with acrylic paint, but I know I'll get there. Plus, I enjoy collages a lot..for me it is the "fun" side of art! With subject matter, I lean towards coastal images but I also enjoy animals and some landscapes. Throw a few still-lifes and people in there and I'm all mixed up!

We've all heard the phrase "Do one thing and do it well!" but what happens when your "thing" is art and "doing it well" means following your heart and creative inclinations...even if it is all over the spectrum of mediums and subjects?

Finding a look for myself is a focus for me this year. I'd love to hear your input! (You don't have to be an artist to have an artistic insight!)