Getting back in the painting groove - getting over loss

This summer has been one big blur. I feel as if I am awakening from a dream, a bit of a nightmare really. It started in winter when my mother-in-law, whom I love dearly, fell and had a major break in her pelvis. Then she fell again which resulted in an even worse outcome the 2nd time.

I am so grateful that I spent time with her in May. In fact, as I cared for her, I spent time painting, which she adored. She was so very proud of me for being an artist. She always made me feel as if I was very special.

So I digress, the nightmare that I refer to is the eventual loss of this sensitive and loving mother figure in my life. She was so tired of living in pain, and in a way, I know she wsa ready and even embracing the idea of death, but I was not ready. No one who knew and loved her was ready either.
Once all the initial shock and pain from the loss sunk in, I decided to interpret it in a painting, simply called "Loss."

I feel kind of selfish just discussing my pain, but after all, this IS my blog. I do feel I should mention that my husband, and his immediate family who lost a precious jewel from their lives as well, but for now I deal with my pain in the only way I know how. I can't presume to know the depth of their loss, but I do know how I feel.

Still Painting!

I got a lot accomplished yesterday. Still haven't photographed the works, but will I promise. I LOVE the new look to my page. Even though it's a template, it FEELS like my kind of art. I love the colors and may have to go paint a "Meditation MINI" to match it.
I'm inspired! I'm going to my studio to work right now. More later...

Preparing for Saturday - Skylines ART Mart

I have to say, I'm not really sure what to expect for the Art Mart this Saturday. I am in the process of trying to print out some greeting cards and small prints to sell there.

With things as they are, I know buying art is pretty much the last thing on anyone's mind. I just love doing it (creating art), and can't stop. So I keep on trying.

I am excited about the "Meditation Mini's" I will have ready. I plan to spend this afternoon painting my heart out as I listen to music for inspiration and dig deep into my texture medium. Do I feel like wild'n'crazy colors, or am I in the mood for soft and subtle. I'll find out when I get started.

It's interesting that having a deadline does inspire me to create more. I guess we are all procrastinators. Why is it we put off doing the things we love? For me, it goes back to a lot of old training from my early years.
"You can't go play until your room is clean"! How many times did I hear that?

Anything fun must be put off until all the chores are complete or so that voice in my head tells me. Are they ever all done? Not in my house...

So I have to give myself permission to do what I love. How crazy is that?
Oh well. I'll have my fun this afternoon. (after my chores are done). HA
I'll try to get some pictures up. I want to get them on the website.
Or MAYBE, all of them will sell this Saturday, and I'll just have to do more & more! Yes, I'm sure that's what will happen.

See ya' Saturday everyone.

My Abstract Art Group - The Chromazones

Just got back from a meeting with my Abstract Art Group, The Chromazones. We are a diverse group of artists who all love to paint abstracts. It's the most unusual group I've ever been in as far as artists go.

It seems that in the past, every time that I get together with a bunch of artists, there are a lot of big egos that try to take over. With The Chromazones, it seems that everyone is in it to support everyone else. The energy is great, and it is fun to show with them.

We are in the process of working out the details on a few upcoming exhibits, and it's amazing how well we work as a group.
I look forward to more shows with them.

GC5 Art Reception

 

Show at GC5 Vintage & Gifts FRIDAY!!!

I am really excited about my opening this Friday at GC5 Vintage & Gifts in downtown Wake Forest. Hope to see a big crowd. For those of you who weren't aware, Wake Forest has a great "Art After Hours" event every 2nd Friday. They have free horse drawn carriage rides and lots of art and fun downtown. I put up part of my show today, and Amanda, who owns the shop is the greatest!

She loved my work (said it made her feel happy). Friday should be a lot of food, fun and "happy art." I'm glad I had such a positive experience there because I was pretty bummed about some other things going on in my life right now. Feel like I'm on a roller coaster sometimes, but I just have to keep focusing on the ups and not the downs.

So a big THANKS to Amanda and all my other supporters out there who keep me going.

I DID IT!!!!

For someone so technologically(is that a word) challenged, I can't believe I finally completed my website and was able to point to old one to the new one. I guess for many people out there, that's a pretty (yawn) boring accomplishment, but it wasn't that long ago that I didn't even know how to do email. Computers terrified me.

Now I realize they are just a tool, and for an artist, one that is hugely important to getting my work out there. I'm learning and trying to keep up with what's popular this week. So I blog, I twitter (not much), I Facebook, and post notices on anything and everything. I think the final frontier for me is to begin to market to a target audience about my meditation art and my expressive art classes. That's really where I want to go with it.

Now I believe the foundation is there and the sky's the limit as far as where I can go. I feel so accomplished, and I'm doing it myself! For a long time I thought the way to go was riding on someone else's shirtails, but I realize I can only be happy doing it the way I want to do it.

So I am following my dreams and things are beginning to happen. I feel a little like Dorothy in the last scene of the Wizard of Oz. Now I know I have had the power all along. I just needed to find it in myself.