Passions of an Odd Chick

Monday, April 12, 2010

A Warrior's Heart

This is a new little watercolor that I painted in my journal last night. I had tried several things but they were all too "heavy-handed". Portraits that turned out to be clowns because I put so much darks in, teeth too big, hair too garish. Watercolor isn't very forgiving once you start adding the darks. And the more I try to fix them, they just get darker and more heavy-handed. I look forward to the day when my touch has more finesse in it. So I just went for the bold color here in this abstract piece and I like it.

I get the bold strokes from both sides of my family. Let me just say that God did not give my folks the spirit of timidity. No soft spoken, gentle soul among us. You could hear my mother in the kitchen from clear across the house because she actually stomped her way around, and slammed cabinets as if she were mad and she wasn't. She's a trooper- and a loud one. We always knew she could run a company or be chairman of the board if she wanted to. You put my Dad on a project and he will die on that hill before he quits it or gives up. I have two brothers on either side of me that make up the brick fence that is my original family. We are loud and strong and bold and sometimes over-bearing. We are not shy about anything. We are like a bull-dog if you sick us on something. We pull ourselves and you and everyone around us up by their boot straps and slap you on your butt and say, "keep moving - no pity party today. We don't give up easily and we don't give in as soon as we should. It's not something I'm proud of.. but it's not something I'm necessarily ashamed of either.

It's true that I must learn to control my bold strokes with more finesse and my color to balance out my compositions and my life. But I won't give it up, I won't resist it. For it is a huge part of how I am defined and who I am. I expect this art thing to take me into my 90s. If you follow me there, you will see an old woman with a bold painting because I will still have my warriors' heart and my vibrant spirit. Life will fade my color a little bit, I accept that - and I should be just right by the time I hit and paint my last wall.

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Beautiful bold watercolor, I love it!

Kay said...

keep up your bold moves..we are who we are...or as Popeye put it..I yam what I yam!

Kay said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
danielle daniel said...

Oh sweet friend... I LOVE a WARRIOR...And heart, you have a whole lot of. It's so nice to know that I am not the only one who is able to tell it like it is...You have also been blessed with a gentle loving spirit that makes you one pretty amazing woman. I am so happy to have met you and hope to one day again sit across from you painting or drinking coffee... xox

L'Adelaide said...

thanks for the lovely words of encouragement on my blog...they are very much appreciated:)

and this? i am a woman after your heart, a bit heavy=HEADED if you know what i mean and so the art just follows the head, you know...ah well... that's the way i like it and i like this! if that made any sense!HA!

Poetic Artist said...

Wonderful watercolor.
Be who you are and just enjoy the ride.

Karin Bartimole said...

I am so with you!! and that may be why I've never mastered water colors, lacking the delicate touch that's needed :) Love your bold strokes, and no apologies appreciation of who you are!!

Micki Wilde said...

Thank you for your lovely comment on my blog, i'm glad my work made you smile!

I love this post you wrote, be proud of who you are and keep on keeping on :)

Micki x

Anonymous said...

Love the painting!

Cathy {tinniegirl} said...

I love this painting, and I love this post. You are a succulent wild woman for sure.

DALowe Artist said...

I love the watercolor and its boldness! I love the post. Well-said! It is what it is!

DALowe Artist said...

After reading Danielle's post and your blog - I sure would like to sit across from you painting and drinking coffee too! Perhaps in heaven...