Lately, I've been thinking about flowers. I had 2 paintings in my head... one of sunflowers and another of poppies. So I started this week working on the Sunflower painting, (which you see to the left). I completed the sky, and the flower heads and started the foliage but had to stop to let some paint dry and I had already put in 8+ hours and know that I need to take breaks. As I was doing the foliage, I was feeling not happy with what I was seeing..... this is NOT always the best time for me to take a break because I cannot stop thinking about the painting and usually can't sleep. If I do sleep, I dream about the painting, and I wake up and have to stop myself from going down to my studio to work on it in the middle of the night. :)
So this morning, I got up and went for a GREAT hike with a friend. I started off feeling distracted and a bit grouchy because I was not with my painting.... (i know this sounds obsessive and I am working on it). About 1/2 hour into the hike, I felt those endorphins kick in and suddenly the world seemed to be a better place, and I actually was able to take my head out of the studio and enjoy the hike.
When I returned, I began to continue with the foliage. As I painted, I reminded myself that in every painting.... there comes a time when you feel it is not coming together and you wonder what the heck you are doing. I reminded myself as well, that if I keep going, push forward, I am 95% of the time very happy with the result. Once again... this was correct. I have heard this happens to a lot of artists. It is nice not to be alone. :)
So this morning, I got up and went for a GREAT hike with a friend. I started off feeling distracted and a bit grouchy because I was not with my painting.... (i know this sounds obsessive and I am working on it). About 1/2 hour into the hike, I felt those endorphins kick in and suddenly the world seemed to be a better place, and I actually was able to take my head out of the studio and enjoy the hike.
When I returned, I began to continue with the foliage. As I painted, I reminded myself that in every painting.... there comes a time when you feel it is not coming together and you wonder what the heck you are doing. I reminded myself as well, that if I keep going, push forward, I am 95% of the time very happy with the result. Once again... this was correct. I have heard this happens to a lot of artists. It is nice not to be alone. :)
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