A Year of Changes

This will be an interesting and challenging post to write but it seems to need to be written.  Today is the one year anniversary of my website:  www.lizrderksen.com  It has been a good year.

I drew this "self portrait", a few years back when I was full of self doubt, and had feelings of very low self worth.  What I love about this person I drew is that despite the heaviness that seems to surround her, and weigh her down... there is a lightness, or a hope that seems to float off  her as well.  I remember as I drew her, that I had to give her one redeeming quality... that is her foot.  :)  I gave her a pretty foot.  LOL

I have done another self portrait this year, and it is a lot kinder.  It is a picture of someone who has more peace in her life.  I am learning that I have value, that I have something to give.  Someone once said that "Artists make the world a better place".  I'm hoping that I am someone who does.

As I look back over the year, I see so many changes, and so much growth in my artwork, and my ability to express myself.   I have learned so much from other artists, by trying and either succeeding or failing, and by just letting go and going for it.  By letting go, I mean letting go of the fear of something not working out.  My best times of growth have come from pushing through a "failure", or from just saying to myself, "just try it and see what happens".  

I think that being able to paint, to express myself and to share how I see the world... has saved my life.