PUSHING IT.

I'm busy learning new things over here.
I'm learning that it's true, you should never throw a painting away.
I'm going back now and painting over anything I didn't like, saving bits I did and pushing further.
If it was already ugly and/or boring- what is there to be afraid of? That you will make it more ugly or boring?
I'm learning that if it is boring to me, it is probably very boring to anyone else.
I'm learning that I'm tired of making boring art and I want to amp it up a bit.
I'm learning that I've got to understand more about contrast, composition, blah, blah blah, but GEEZ, it's so important if I want to make exciting art. I've got to get more technical and analytical. But I'm learning that when I'm painting- LET all that go and paint intuitively, trust my instincts and just let it flow out of me.

I add things.
Take away things.
Write on it.
Darken it
Lighten it.
Sew it.
Doodle it.
Digitally screw with it.
Use every medium I have until I get what I want out of my own creation!
I listen and learn and watch and see.

and i

SHUT THE FEAR UP.

I read somewhere (I wish I could remember who to give credit) but she said the SECRET to the only difference in why she stood out was that she took a project to a great point, the point where everybody would like it, and then she pushed it further asking, "How can I make this MORE unique and BETTER than the things I've already seen." AND she DIDN't stop until she LOVED it.

She JUST PUSHED IT FURTHER.

that's the big freakin secret

I can do that. I might not be drawing or painting to the level I want- BUT BY GOD, (literally) I CAN PUSH what I'm doing FURTHER. save it. Go back. and push it further. Until one day- I say, WOW, I LOVE IT!!!

Her headdress was a flower pin that I put in my copy machine and folded in half. and by george, it looked like feathers.

Be brave. Be very very brave in your art and your life. And don't give up until you get what you want.

EVER.

i'm still convincing myself of all of this....can you tell?

Where does your FANCY come from?

Tell me where is fancy bred, 
Or in the heart or in the head? 
How begot, how nourished? 
 Reply, reply. 
It is engender’d in the eyes, 
With gazing fed; and fancy dies
In the cradle, where it lies.
Let us all ring fancy’s knell;
I’ll begin it – Ding, dong, bell. 

Ding, dong, bell.  Shakespeare "The Merchant of Venice"

Where is fancy bred? I often wonder where inspiration comes from. Of course, I give God the credit for anything created and I believe because we are made in His image that each of us was granted creative powers. It takes connecting to the First Power to enrich your own God-given, powerful, artistic character. But we have to trust and we have to invest. That's just my opinion. 

Where does your fancy come from?

Still Practicing...

Tell me you see a tiny teeny bit of Botticelli influence and I will be be happy. I'm continuing the practice with textures and colors in my journal and having so much fun. Trying to work up the courage and patience to do a large painting. I'm forcing myself to do hands and more of the body. Really, I am. But those pieces are awkward still and don't want to come out of hiding.

I"m loving some new apps (for those who got new IPADs or IPhones for Christmas) called Master Pieces and Art Museum. These are art games that you can play while educating yourself about good art. I'm also hooked on Pinterest - a virtural dream image board that can give you loads of inspiration and ideas.

I'm also trying to clean out the clutter, organize the finances for tax season, and set goals and dreams for the new year.

I see beautiful images from your blogs everyday that feed my artist's soul and spur me on. Have I thanked you lately for being my friend? Because it's no small thing to me. I love our creative molecules bouncing all around, back and forth, like a gigantic game of art basketball.

I hope I'll have more to share soon.