No Mistakes, Just Good Lessons.

(all of these photos are views from my yard this winter.)

My front porch in the summer.  Can't wait. :)

Despite my personal pledge to blog more often, I have found myself distracted by art more than ever before.  I spend every waking minute madly working, testing, trying new things, basically toiling away at work that has resulted in very few finished pieces in the last few months.  In the past, I would have been panicked, dismayed even, by my lack of productive results.   But for some reason, this year brings a different set of goals for me.  I used to paint with the goal to finish something each day, to feel like I accomplished something.  I thought that if I finished a painting, regardless of the quality or topic, I would feel complete.  For some reason, this year my mind has made a complete 180.  I no longer need to finish something every day.  In fact, I have many dozens of unfinished "somethings" all ongoing right now, whether it be in glass, oil, or ink.   I don't like the feeling of it, but I push it to the back of my mind telling myself that it doesn't matter;  all of those unfinished works in my pile of tears are Lessons.  No mistakes, just lessons.  I've learned something from every single piece. It's hard for me to believe that I have worked for so many hours every day and have so little to show that is concrete;  i.e, ready to sell.  But I know that every minute I have spent working matters, and will show for itself in time.  I think I am finally learning the art of patience and perhaps discipline.

  Soon, I will post my January and February pile of unfinished tears.  Some I will likely finish, some I will not and they go into the "burn pile".   For now, I am still toiling away, trying to find a solution for some, or giving some the final nod of goodbye.   Despite the harshness of this winter, I have found that it is a sanctuary of sorts for me.  I have had no choice but to hole up in my studio and bundle up in multiple layers much like I did in my youth when I lived in Vermont and New Hampshire. I remember so many early mornings of getting dressed under the covers because our heat was a wood burning stove that we didn't waste time or resources starting in the morning before school.  I remember riding the sled down the mountain, standing it upright in the snow pile to pick up on the way home for the next mornings ride.  I remember the long trudge up the hill on days like this, knowing that the fire would have to be started, and the house would be cold until it was "stoked".  I remember the bus rides, and the smell of sap in March when the sugaring started.  I long for the days that were so simple.  The power was out for a few hours today.  Not because of the weather, but because of a young careless driver who hit the pole in front of our house on a snowy day.  The quiet in the house was deafening, but I felt at peace.  It made me realize why I get agitated when there is so much noise and activity.  Often I thought it was me and over sensitivity.  Perhaps it's not just me.  

    The snow piles that are piled over 10 feet high covering my studio window give me comfort in a strange way.  Perhaps this is part of why I am in a good place right now, in the midst of all this snow and disengagement.  It's as if I've come home.   

#16-21

Nubble Lighthouse 5x7 oil on gessoboard panel $30 starting bid click HERE to bid

"Tiny" NFS

Mountain Hike 6x6 oil on gessoboard panel click HERE to buy

Magnolia Spring 8x10 oil on canvas panel click HERE to buy

Winter thaw 5x7 oil on gessobaord panel Click HERE to bid

"Colonel" 8x10 oil on canvas panel click HERE to bid

I've been terrible about keeping up with my blog since I've been so busy painting.  This 30 n 30 day challenge has been a God send though, as usually I am in the winter doldrums in January and February with "Cabin fever" and it doesn't help that I live in a log cabin!  I'm so glad I am "forced" to go out and paint and I feel like I have grown so much just doing it so religously.  How about you?

9, 10, &11

5x7 oil on ampersand gessoboard Click HERE to bid

5x7 oil on gessoboard click HERE to bid

11x14 oil on canvas panel, click HERE to buy $100

Here are my next 3 attempts.  I gave the palette knife another try on the iris....I still don't seem to "get" it so I went back to brushes.  The large white flower gave me some trouble mostly I think because I painted bigger than I'm used to (11x14).  However, the cows also gave me trouble as I painted smaller (5x7)  Next year when I do this challenge I will definately pick one size and stick with it.

3 In One Blow!

6x6 oil on panel $50

To buy click here

6x6 oil on panel $50

To Buy click here

6x6 oil on panel Bidding starts at $40

To Bid click HERE 

It seems like forever since I've painted when it's actually only been two weeks, but my head hasn't been in it since my boy left for boot camp, and now that it's over I'm BACK!  I have lots of catching up to do as I have several outdoor shows this summer and fall.  I decided to pick up where I left of after Dreama's workshop.  Our final exercise was musical easels and I decided that when I got home from the workshop I would try it out on my own using some of the photos she provided for the exercise.  I did each painting about 5 or so minutes at a time and then moved on to the next one rotating until they were all complete!  It was fun, and it helped to keep me from overworking each one.   I took a break between each pass of the three and was able to see where I needed corrections.....Now I have 3 little lovelies waiting for a new home.  Perfect Mother's Day gift!   Here's my son and I after his Pass in Review, he is now on his way to Pensacola, FL for more training.

Me and My Shadow

8x10 oil on panel

 Erika's 8x8 oil on panel

Today I had a studio guest and since it was a gorgeous spring day we decided to paint a fresh tulip in nice spring colors.....We both thought that the simple set up would be perfect.  Not so.  The tulip opened and blossomed before our very eyes, changing entirely by the time we were done painting.  Erika managed to salvage hers in a final act of desperation that involved a palette knife and firm ruler.  I, on the hand, not so much.  I do like how the shadow reminds me of when I was a kid and posing my shadow against the wall.  I thought I was a fashion model.  tee hee.  On the other hand,  It was interesting to meet another artist messier than I am.  She didn't even notice the paint she dropped until she stepped in it at least 20 times.

Palette Knife Therapy

This is a painting I painted a few months ago, and I just wasn't feeling it. I like painting large flowers, particularly irises, but after my 2nd go at it, I decided to put it aside and try again on a later day....That day was yesterday, and I threw all caution to the wind and pulled out the pallette knives...it was fun! I highly recommend palette knife therapy whenever you get into a rut...pull out an overworked painting and just have a go at it....nothing to lose but a little bit o paint!

First Bloom

April has been, without a doubt, the most miserable spring I can remember. I don't think the sun shined more than twice, and if it did it was accompanied by very gusty winds.....miserable weather for those wishing to paint outdoors....When I went to paint the first bloom in my garden it was bouncing and waving in the wind like a buoy in the water, so I snapped it's pic and painted in the safety of the barn.....