THE STORY-Part Two

The whole warped canvas debacle had made me almost physically sick. I spent the better part of two days crashed on the day bed in my studio. I didn't want to paint. I didn't want to even move. All I wanted to do was crawl in a cave and stay there.


Forever.

However........

There was this Brandon made canvas calling my name.

So, very late on the afternoon that we met Brandon, I put that canvas on my easel. And something magical happened.

There is a very special place to me, which I've told you about in an older post. It's Canyon de Chelley, on Navajo land in northern Arizona. In the canyon is an incredible rock formation, known as Spider Rock.

Somehow, I knew I would try to paint Spider Rock on that canvas. So, I dug through all my photos and found one to use as my guide.

Here's the photo.

Here's the painting, as it progressed.

That took all of an hour, I think.

I was flabbergasted by what I'd done!

And terrified that I'd ruin it.

I called one of my dear friends, who is an incredibly gifted artist and spilled all my excitement and fear into her listening ear and open heart. I told you about our conversation in the post RIGHT BRAIN-LEFT BRAIN.

I set Spider Rock aside, but within arm's reach, and next day, I returned to working on Canyon Secrets. But a couple of times, I found myself putting some paint on Spider Rock, without even being conscious that I was doing so!

Spider Rock is still unfinished...and might remain so, for a while. I will return to her at the right time, I know.

Meanwhile, something is happening in me. There is a huge shift in everything I'm doing with my painting. It feels glorious!

And I am grateful!

Tomorrow, I'll tell you more about Brandon and how he has affected my painting. But for now, I've spent all the time I want to on this computer.

My easel...and a whole world of possibilities...are awaiting me!

I am grateful for possibilities!

THE STORY-Part One

After the Holy Trinity Monastery art show, I was tired. I needed some rest.


How do I rest and relax?

I paint!

I actually even started a new painting early on Sunday morning, before we left for the show.

So, afterwards, I went back to painting on that one for a day or two.

And then, I began one of two paintings for L & L to choose from. L & L are the nice couple who purchased one small painting at HTM and missed out on a bigger one they liked 'cause R and L bought it.

Several days later, we were preparing to put hangers on all of them.

I got L & L's out of the box, where they had been safely stored ever since the show.

OHMIGAWD!!!!!!!!!!

They are warped! The stretcher frames are warped!!!! BADLY!

We start examining all those big canvases I'd been so excited about and almost every one of them is warped to one degree or another.

I will say, flat out, that I felt devastated!

After many, many shows with very few sales, to have my moderate 'success' at HTM, turn into this horrid state of affairs...well...I just can't find the words to describe how low I was over it all.

Somewhere in the middle of all this, I reminded myself of this.

I believe that the more things you find to be grateful for, the more things you WILL find to be grateful for.


I felt a small bit of comfort from that truth. I knew, from experience, that eventually I would be able to see the blessing in what, at the moment, felt like a curse.

So now, what to do?

The choices were:

Somehow get canvases fixed.

Re-paint all four paintings on new canvases.

Refund Ron and Lori's money and tell L & L that I'm sorry but I'm never painting again!


Option #1 seemed the best, so I got on the phone and learned that it would cost $65 to have the canvases stretched on new frames. YIKES!

For some reason, I decided to check Craig's List.

And guess what I found?



I am moving to a new studio and I have a surplus of stretcher bar supports that I need to clear out (some just frames, others stretched with canvas and gesso'd).

I can sell them individually or make me an offer for the bunch!


I can also build frames to specific sizes by request (deposit required on large supports). All of my frames are artist grade, made of kiln-dried pine, perfect for anyone from beginner to professional.


I also have other items and frames of alternate sizes available in my studio that I did not mention. Come by and take a look, I am very flexible on pricing!

EUREKA!!!!!!!!

I made contact with this young man and we planned to meet at his studio the next day.

Somehow, the minute we met him, Chuck and I felt he was going to make everything all right. Not just 'all right', but all RIGHT!

And I'll admit it, I cried a little.

I cried in relief and gratitude for the blessings of warped canvases that led me to Brandon's tiny studio where I left my sick canvases and took home four good ones, built by Brandon.

Lesson learned.

I won't be painting on cheap canvases any more.

Period.

There's lots more to this story.

Tune in tomorrow, for part two.

And meantime, don't forget to be grateful in ALL things. What feels real bad just might lead to something real good!

WILD AND CRAZY

I got a big load off my shoulders yesterday. I'll be telling you all about it before too long, but I still have a couple of bricks left from the original huge load. As soon as I've been able to put them down, then I'll tell the story.


Meanwhile.........

Partly due to the influence of a young man who removed the biggest part of that load, I got out of bed this morning at 5 a.m. wanting to do something a little wild and crazy-for an old lady.

So I did this.

I'm having so much fun with it that I intend to finish it.

Am I saying I think it's good? Nope. What I'm saying is that it is pure, unadulterated, child-like fun and I'm not through playing yet.

Like most child's play, there is much learning to be had from the experience. I'm thinking this will help me grow as an applier of paint-in many ways. Most of all, it will help me continue to loosen up and be more consistantly free in my painting.

I'm diggin' it!

Thanks, Brandon!

I am grateful for you.

RIGHT BRAIN. LEFT BRAIN.

I have a long story to tell you....but not today. I'll get it all together pretty soon and share it but for now, we're going to talk about how much I love to paint!


Have I mentioned that?

Something happened that seemed bad. It wasn't. I think it was probably pretty good, actually. A lot of things in life seem bad and turn out to be pretty good, have you noticed?

So now, I have a nice supply of big canvases that I can approach as though they are disposable....like paper! That sure takes a lot of pressure off. It doesn't matter, one iota, whether it tuns out well. All that matters is that I enjoy applying paint to the canvas.

I simply love the beginning stages of my paintings. I am free and unfettered and fearless! And then, I ruin it all by starting to use my left brain to 'think.' Yes. That's what I do. Over and over and over again.

So often, I love a beginning stage painting and then I fall out of love with it.

I realized, thanks to a special mentor, that I needed to let myself stay in that 'playing' stage and banish the 'thinking' stage from the whole process. Creativity is, after all, a right brain effort for the most part.

Today, I grabbed myself one of those big, blank 'disposable' canvases and went at it! I used a big brush...actually one that you would use to paint woodwork or cabinets or something. Whenever I caught myself 'thinking', I would stop and get back into 'playing' mode.

When I am in this 'playing' mode, I find the brush putting paint on the canvas in a way I don't think about at all. It seems random...chaotic even. But, I'm recognizing, it's neither. I'm thinking it's my creative right brain taking over the reins and getting the job done the way I really want it done! I just need to learn to trust my right brain!

Oh, how I want this to go well! And, you know what?

I think it will...as long as I keep my self playing instead of working! As long as I keep my left brain quiet...until I need it...maybe for details...and maybe not at all...unless it's time to pay a bill, or something.

If it doesn't go well, it will be because I let left brain me take over. And if so, I will forgive myself and try again. I'm getting there. I really feel like I AM GETTING THERE!

And I am so GRATEFUL for that!

And I am so GRATEFUL for my mentor, whose advice I completly trust!

A LONG DAY

I just cannot get thus painting done to suit me and this morning, I got really frustrated and...well, I got down-right P.O'd!

So, after some good advice from artist friend, Joye, I put it aside and went to work a little in my yard.

After a bit, I felt relaxed and inspired and went back to work....on another painting.

I think I'll call this one CALLE DE COLORES.

Or maybe STREET OF DREAMS.

Which do you prefer?

I'm grateful for good advice!

And I'm grateful that I'm still in the 'excited' stage about this painting.

FOR SOME REASON........

I'm really tired tonight and for some reason, blogging just feels like a nice, relaxing thing to do,.

So, I will.

Maybe blogging twice in one day will help make up for my absence here.

No...it's more about visiting with my friends.  You gals and guys add so much to my life!  And I thank you!

One of my newer paintings is making me crazy.  It's all but finished and I just cannot seem to get a bench painted so that it looks right.  ARGHHHH!  Correcting the bench means re-painting the wall behind it and the flagstone floor it is sitting on.  I wish there was an eraser for paints...just remove what you want gone...and voila!....start over without REALLY starting over!

But there's not.  So, I am in the 'screw it up, try to fix it, screw it up again, try to fix it again' doldrums.

Maybe I'm just tired.  After all, I've been up for 14 hours...and painting for lots of that time....painting...and re-painting....and re-painting again.

Starting a fresh, new painting energizes me.  Trying to finish one which just doesn't seem to want to cooperate drains me.  This one has a St. Francis statue in it.  You'd think he'd try to help me out here, wouldn't you?

I have made a decision.  A big one.

Actually, a Grand one!

Tomorrow, when my new canvases arrive, I am going to begin a painting of the Grand Canyon!

Everybody paints the Grand Canyon.  But I never have tried.  These wonderful new colors which have found their way to my palette seem absolutely perfect for it...and also for Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelley.

I might just bench the bench for a time. 

Actually, my canvases won't arrive till pretty late in the day, so it will probably be Wednesday before I explore the big canyon idea.  I'll let you know how it goes.

I also have another Tucson area landscape I want to try.  I need to have two choices for my lovely people who wish to purchase one of my big paintings.

So many ideas....so little time.........

Have I mentioned I really am GRATEFUL for painting? 

Oh.

I guess I have.

My wish, for each of you, is that you are enjoying something as much as I'm enjoying painting!

Love to you all.

SIZE MATTERS!

Hi everybody!

I thought that after the show at Holy Trinity Monastery, I'd get back to blogging.  However...........

I didn't.

I got back to painting.

I actually didn't even wait til the show was over to get back to painting because I woke up early on Sunday morning (the 2nd day of the show) with an idea I just had to get onto a canvas. 

I'll show you the finished painting in my next blog entry.

To catch up a little, I'll tell you about how the show went.

Saturday, the weather was perfection.  It was cool enough in the morning that I needed a long sleeved shirt and never got very hot.  Even better, the forecasted wind didn't blow in! 

My dear friends, Lori and Ron, came to the show and bought these two paintings! 

CASITAS DE COLORES  24 X 36

THE VIEW  24 X 36

Before that, however, a couple had purchased this one...a 16 x 20...

and were seriously looking at this one.

They went off to another booth for a few minutes, but then returned, intending to buy the bigger one also.  Unfortunately for them, it was already sold! 

Those brightly colored paintings I'd done sure did get lots of attention!  And they made my booth look really good, I must say.

THE ARCH  16 X 20

THE CHIMENEA  11 X 14

THE FOUNTAIN  16 X 20

THE GATEWAY  16 X 20

Sunday, the forecasted wind came with a vengence.  It was not a great sales day, but Saturday's sales had made it a profitable weekend anyway.

When we got home Sunday evening, there were both a voice mail and e-mail message from the couple who had wanted the bigger painting asking if I could paint another similar one for them.

OF COURSE!!!!!!!  LOL

I am loving painting on these larger canvases so much that I may never paint another small one again.  At least, for a while.  I feel somehow freer with more space to 'play.'  I have another 6 pack of them due today or tomorrow....and the ideas to go with them.

When we were driving back from St. David on Sunday evening, Chuck asked me if I am still excited about painting.  The truth is, I'm more excited than ever.  It seems that I've arrived at a new and gloriously fun place in my learning process and I truly think these bigger canvases are part of the reason.

I have lots more to tell you...and show you...., so I will try to be a little better about blogging.

Meanwhile, believe me when I say.......

I am truly GRATEFUL for the joy of painting!