Muffling, Shuffling & Chafing...Free, free at last!

A few weeks ago, a friend sent me an email with the opening caption - "I’m bored. Let’s go!" - and invited me to an event, Meet Your Guides & Angels.

We arrived at a beautiful house and was ushered into the ‘parlour’ and sat amongst other guests. I think about 30 minutes into it we began – with a smudge (burning of sage leaves) to clear negative energies, then a quick rundown from the hostess, where she advised us to simply close our eyes and observe what unfolded – we started meditating.  

I was no stranger to meditation and so fell easily into my pose. Instantly on closing my eyes, I began experiencing unusual physical and visual stimulations against my closed eyes, if this makes sense to you. I won’t go into details on the experiences but suffice to say, I received the awareness that the path I had set myself a few months ago was the right way, that the choices I had made was what was needed.  

I left the event feeling lighter, less burdened and even more focused on what I needed to accomplish and was looking forward to facing it all.  

In the following weeks to come, I felt an immense sense of connection, almost like an electric current running just beneath my skin. Doors began opening – my creativity expanded, contracted and filled me whole.  

And what came out was this sketch below…painting to follow - “Freeing Eden” – a piece I will be doing for Twitter Exhibit. The idea came from an earlier drawing I did called “Broken Eden”. I wanted to speak on the idea of 'Eden' and what it may truly represent.  

"Freeing Eden" (Initial Pre-Paint Sketch)  

I sense that with “Freeing Eden” heralds my awakening of sorts, my first of first, where the quiet, unused parts of myself was slowly being freed. [*Huh…just occurred to me as I am write this blog that maybe subconsciously it’s about me -- A moment of...EUREKA!]  

Was this all happening because of that one event I went to? I like to think so. A moment of connection with the Universe, and I was FREED.

T

“Say wh-aaat? Condoms you say…?”

A couple of months back, a friend sent me a link for an art competition in Vancouver – he thought it might be perfect for me. It was.

The contest asked for an art piece to be used in conjunction for an upcoming safe-sex campaign, it had to be ‘sex-positive’ and use religious imagery.

Tall order. And...I love new challenges, and aside for the paintings, I wanted to try out new art forms – I decided to go digital with this.

And this past weekend, October 31, I received an email at 2am…

“…Dear Tina,
Congratulations, your entry has placed THIRD in the YVR Sisters Art Contest! We thank you very much for your entry, and are thrilled to have your art on the covers of our upcoming condom packages... “

What an incredible feeling! Not only did my digital piece placed 3^rd but it will be used in their condom packages as part of the “We Care Red Ribbon World AIDS Day Celebration.”

Totally Godsmacked… :)

So, below is the 3rd winning digital design. 

Many of the images used has specific and particular meanings. Before you scroll down pass the image, to continue reading what I meant it to be - what does the below image mean to you? What does it say to you? Just a fun, cheeky poster, or something with  deeper meaning?

"Come Dressed For The Party" (Digital)


Besides the obvious imagery and text you see, the center cherry contains a very subtle, loosely based 'sacred heart' with a bite-shaped as it 'bleeds' a cross to mimic the shadow cast by the condom hanging off the cherry stem - and in the middle, a question mark.  

Aside from creating a 'fun sex-positive' design, I wanted to convey a very important statement, safe-sex SHOULD over-shadow any religion dogma, and not vice versa.

Okay. Putting some serious away for now....... 

HEY, I'm gonna be on a condom package yo'! 

T 

Red Hot Chili Peppers said it best..."I got a bad disease, from my brain is where I bleed..."

I felt like I was bleeding out, and whatever momentum I had gained with my art was slowly fading away. Dealing with personal rubbish can certainly take away from your focus of what is important.  I realized that I was putting energy into wrong places, wrong people, wrong situations. It was time to figure stuff out and take back my life. I decided to unplug and go offline….literally and figuratively.

And for two months, I did exactly that. I went back to things that made me happy, and it felt great. 

Slowly, I regained some internal peace, some sense of self. Those who hurt me, places that dragged me down, and situations that I should not be in, was all far behind me.  I could breathe again.

In weeks to follow…

…website;

I redesigned my website. It was the ‘bane’ in my ass. As mentioned in an earlier post, I hadn’t designed websites for a long time, and having to re-learn new ways of the WWW was challenging. Website.V01 was not really what I had in mind, so I whacked it. The latest design’s better. I found a balance between HTML and CSS - I've used the new banner I created for the website here for the blog too.

…silent auction;

My painting, ‘The Black Sheep’ was part of a silent auction in late August – my first. It was the most unnerving experience but the most rewarding. As a new artist (not even wet behind the ears), confidence, at least to my way of thinking comes from understanding who you are as an artist and what your art is saying.

With the ‘Black Sheep’, a photographer friend, after a long pause, remarked that I had a unique style of painting, and that he would be able to recognize any of my paintings. So, um wait…I have a style? I did? I mean I do? I do! 

That little bit helped me walk into the silent auction event with a little sass… I had style, dammit! And what made the evening more rewarding? I had word later that evening that 5 people ended up out-bidding each other trying to get my painting. What? Really? My painting? Gee....



"The Black Sheep" (2012) Acrylics 30x24

What an incredible day that was. I found out I had a style and there were people out there who liked my art

Two months passed, a lot has happened, mostly internal changes, except one. A friend noticed that I looked ‘lighter’, as if a weight was off my shoulder.  Yeah. A body-weigh worth! Ha!

What’s next? Plenty. Aside from designing a book cover for an author (thriller e-story set in South Africa set to be release late 2013-ish), I am working on a short 'shorts' animation call "The Lonely Zombie" - thus far the biggest challenge.

Also, I am working out an idea creating a new character for a future comic strip, "Suzi Spongz's Soap Box & Other Inappropriate Things"


"Suzi Spongz's Soap Box & Other Inappropriate Things"

"...Where I go, I just don't know, I got to, got to, got to take it slow. When I find my peace of mind, I'm gonna show you some of my good time..." -- and so I begin.


T 

A work-in-progress...comes to light

...and where there is light, there are 'joyous echos of heavenly host singing'. Say what? Not you? Ok. Maybe only me.....

So I am on roll this week. I have steadily been drawing everyday and night. I am liking this groove I'm on; slow and steady pace. I feel 'the zone', that sweet spot where I feel the pull, the need to create.

This past Tuesday, I started a drawing on an image I had in my mind: Clouds. I allowed my hands and my Spirit to just...draw. As the image of the clouds appeared, I began seeing a tree, floating atop broken mosiac-ish bits of Earth - as the drawing came to life, on the second day, I saw the words, 'Broken Eden'.

'Broken Eden', of course the image is a play on the origins of 'religious man and the lost Eden'. But I think for me, is more about the loss and disconnection of all that makes us a natural being.

The melancholy skies, the dried up tree, and broken bits of earth as parts of it floats away, speaks to a sense of loss. I added the red apple as a symbol of hope, wanting the opposite story to reflect, that the red apple was not the cause of 'the lost of Eden' but hope to reconnect and regain what is inherently part of what we are - the apple itself represents natural wisdom.

I am keen in adding more details to it - one of them, water to the left, bottom of the image. But somehow, I feel the need to move on to the next drawing.

'Broken Eden' will have to rest, afloat awhile....in my head.






Monster’s Art of The day: "Broken Eden" (Work-in-Progress)

...More Practicing my lines with 'karting-power'

Super Mario and  his "Karting-power" - yes pun was intended...I am discovering my own 'cutting powers'.

So, I been recently figuring out the different pencils and shading - especially on the hair & eye, which more practice is needed.

But what I noted most during sketching my first self-potrait (see below), I was feeling at ease; my hand and pencil was 'one', the movements was sure and confident. That has never happened before. It's kinda exciting and scary (in a good way).

Have I breach some internal 'power-up' for art? Do I get to go to the next level? Did I win some new 'coins or stars' that I get to continue in this game and kick-ass?

Whatever the case, I cannot deny that some changes are occurring.

I am Super Mario-oooo, with karting-powers onwards!

T



"Self Potrait"

...Practicing my lines

"Up, Up and Away"

If you can't take the heat, don't tickle the dragon...

...and as I look towards 2012, I take the time to reflect and salute the past year from the good, to the bad and the ugly.

Art. Certainly not a new subject. It became a focus in late 2010 (with a 12 week program at OCAD and the sale of a few paintings). Shortly in March 2011, I did my first art show at a downtown Gallery on Front St here in Toronto. Quite an eye opener.

I did not do much painting after, just a few sketches.

I could blame the 'lack of' on personal challenges I was facing then....but I am in the believe of holding one self accountable for all actions (or no actions in this matter). I won't go into details. I have decided instead to take the best from this experience and rise above the rest. Suffice to said, I made a choice to move forward to 2012 with zero toxicity in my life.

So...

Aside from the sketches, I did actively networked and began my website late 2011 (the site has since gone a remarkable change, a more cleaner design, which you might note to the blog's color change and the new banner I designed at the top.) I felt that an entire change was needed, to reflect the state I find myself in now.

As the new Lunar year of the Dragon swoops onto 2012, the great Tolkien wisely wrote, “It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.” – I am fully aware and am realigning my thoughts to the upcoming year. The year of the Dragon is said to be "auspicious symbol signifying success and happiness" - and coming from half a line of Chinese descendants, I'm taking it quite seriously.

In the next few months, I will be reading The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and practicing the suggested activities to ‘unfurl’ my creativity – and of course blogging my experiences. Some future projects are also in the works.

I'm seriously "tickling the Dragon"....or maybe tackling it? Either way, I am phreakishly excited for what is to come. Let the heat begin...

T

The seal has been BROKEN...

...and you know what happens next, right? Recollect back in the 90's (for those of you party animals who grew up those times) when you were at a house-party and you would NOT 'break the seal' by peeing because if you did, you'd spent the rest of the party going to the washroom?

Literally, the dam had broken wide open for me. My mojo-tivation was BACK, my creative juice. Hellujah!

Since July, I had lost all sense of perception and focus - everything. I was lost in space, floating aimlessly - struggling to find that je ne sais quoi that started my journey back into arts. It was such a blow because I was in such a roll with this blog, new paintings being sold in a store, new commissioned artworks, the website and forays into digital work again. Sweet Appalachians! You know what this does to a gal? I was devastated.

So, out of nowhere, last week, an inclination to just sit down and start working on my website with the logo/banner and breaking down codes for my website etc. Suddenly, I felt amazing and frankly, would not have been surprised if a choir of Angels showed up and started singing “Ahhh”!

Looking back, I realized that possibly, I may have been burnt out and started shutting down a tad with all the many things that was happening all at once.

Back in July, my full time job was getting very, very challenging and I was facing some personal issues with my partner - compounded into that, I am a single parent and the sole supporter and provider.

I could recall coming home and having just enough emotional juice to be aware and present for my son. And after dinner had been cooked and had, things washed and tidied, conversations and checking of the kid's day and homework, I was spent. I could barely wink. I was physically and mentally fatigued, and this was no way to a wonderful, artistic experience.

And somewhere between those moments, I lost myself. I lost my art.

But no longer.

I learnt, that often times, day to day stresses’ of life will indeed get in the way. But to not be discouraged or lose faith. I see now that the shutdown was my Spirit's way of rebooting itself. I am re-charged and sassy now!

So what is new on the plate now? Besides the website and logo/banner (see the blog's banner I updated last week), I am excited to continue with my Art A day experiment - and of course, my 2011 Halloween static card. No Flash animated card this year again, my Mac is down and so is the Flash on it!

Till Soon. Chin up and out!

T

Side note: You might be wondering why I used the ‘seal has been broken’ allegory? I think I had to pee real bad when I started writing this…

Side note 02: Talking about those house parties - I remembered when we gurls had to pee, we would go in groups of three's because, for some bizarre reason, there would never be any door at these places. So, two would guard the door, while the third....well peed! Secretly, I think the boys would remove them on purpose.

If you draw it, they will come…

...obviously a mis-quote from one of my favorite books/movie.

As I am writing this, I am in a moving vehicle otherwise affectionately known as the 'Vomit Rocket' (Toronto’s public transit, the TTC). I am feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the prospects of what I will need to do - plot, plan and produce my goals this summer. I have many goals but I believe they are within my realistic horizon – one of them is getting back into multimedia graphic works.

Recently, I donated some digital work to two non-profit organizations, and from that network, I have my first paying gig, digital-drawing an ‘idea’ being patented.

Plot…plan…produce….I’m getting there!

Now…to physical hand labor jaunts. I have noted of some of the artists I follow on twitter has adopted an ‘art a day’ mantra. One even goes as far as managing her one a day art to only 10 mins.

Bloody brilliant idea!

I’m starting today...at lunch time. Zombie drawing works for me...

T

It's Bachannal time for Dead!

I am Artist, hear me RAW...er ROAR!

My creativity's been schumpling and it has been an unkind time. I sense the horizon, the silver lining, the gold cigar...but no winning ribbon. This seemingly endless lack of the creative spark can be quite...daunting.

Enough! I realized sitting and schumpling won't get me anywhere. I need to get out of this 'linear thinking' and go where the rainbow is and bust some skittles.

So - iPhone photo app Instagram - it's my new thing to do looking for inspirations any and everywhere. I'm up and about taking pictures, then a little of artistic-editing mojo....ta-da! Magic!

Liberation

Eye of the Beholder

Swimming in Grass

Opening my eyes through the this little 'pin-hole' in my iPhone, has opened me up to big colors, feelings and expressions...all powerful energies that can awake a sleeping Artist...ROAR!

Was also at a recent art show opening call "Raw Me" [http://www.bezpalabrown.com/exhibitions/view/June2011] - wow! Incredible! The imagery I felt, sensed, understood, not understood was jarring - what the doctor ordered.

A eureka moment - I needed more art, more artists, more connections, whether inspirational or offensive or inspirationally offensive. I needed to strip down to the rawness of my creative spark to force me to awake...RAW!

Change and challenge is better than the alternative because complacency....man, that just kills!

I am Artist. Hear me ROAR RAW!

Fresh sights...sites...cites in new works.

Website.

[brain-sic begins]
...websites/design/pages/how?/paintings?/sections/flow/illustrations/print/books/macputer/software/macputerdead/crap/graphics/tattoos/animation/e-card store/macputerdead/crap....[pause]woah,waitamin,whatsgoingonhere.....crap
[brain-sic ends]

What are my real intentions? Had it changed?

On ruminating my master-web design ideas, I came to realize that I LOVE creating art...of any kind. That not only do I want to do and sell paintings, I want to seriously get back into new-media arts as well.

I was a full-time Multimedia designer. I suppose...I still sort of am but my roles have changed and are more stretched out. At work, I usually refer myself as Girl Friday. But I digress...

So, I want to do all kinds of art.

Just recently, by chance, I was given several opportunities to work with two non-profit organizations that needed some online graphic works. Boy!!! So much fun. It really reminded me how much I love this medium.

I also really miss animating with Flash. A few years back, for fun, I had designed/animated e-cards for special days. It started in 2007; I had wanted to sent out a Halloween e-card but could not find anything that was funny or original. I suddenly realized...hey, why don't I just make one up? My friends loved the e-card. I started making a bunch. BOOM! An idea - one day I want an e-card store. People all over the web can use my e-cards. My e-card store would have unusual designs and be called 'Can we still be friends?'....hahahahah!!

Below is a static e-card I made. It was hand-drawn and scanned and colored digitally!! Beware readers...I do have an odd sense of humor.



A Halloween E-card 2010



Guess in some way, I have evolved, and so will this Blog. I and Blog will unfurl our wings. Don't worry....my focus is still painting...just gonna do some sub-art.

I suppose I should update the banner and add somewhere on it, "...and other art stuff..."?

T

Tic, tac, toe'd...

(Fyi: Below was written about April 28 – managed just enough backbone to overcome a smidgen of procrastination....much)

It's been a month since the gallery show. What an awesome experience! There is something to be said about having your paintings on display in an art show. It's almost like eating freshly baked bread with a good cup of Earl Grey, or getting a Guinness (er possibly a few) with friends at my local pub. There is such a satisfying feeling about it.






My First art gallery show - with two of my paintings.
The painting closer to the foreground won 'People's Choice Award'

So the 'experience'? There's about an hour or so of awkwardness. I really did not know what to expect. Beyond making sure your painting is hung to your liking and the pricing is correct, you are mostly skulking (and honestly, trying to look cool and nonchalant) around your paintings and at the reception, chit chatting about your paintings...you know sharing with visitors about the vision...'the idea'...


“…the idea came from this deep sated need to establish the connection...”

...yabba-dabba-doo and so on.

Highlights? Besides having the paintings up, I met a few fabulous artists. It's interesting to observe how each one started with their creative flow. I met an amazing artist who was showcasing her works on sunflowers!! She is like me in some ways. She works in a Corporate world thought moreso in the Financial side. She has been doing painting for 10 years! Wow! Loved her and her works. It's quite Van Gogh-ish but not sure she'd appreciate the comparisons. I suppose all artist wants to feel original...(quietly noting Picasso's quote, "good artists borrows, great artist steals')

So what next?

I have tic'ed. I have tac'ed. I have toe'd! Website's next.

T

Suffering for art is a good thing... really!!!

I'm bleary-eyed, my brain feels like mush, and my painting fingers is somewhat curled, frozen in a witchy way...but I swear, I'm living the dream.

I am done with the paintings...well kinda. I assume as an artist, art pieces are never done to the point when you are satisfied? Or maybe I'll outgrow that too....?

So...less than 48 hours from my first art gallery show - will be showcasing two art pieces. Just sent photos and details of it to one of the co-curators. He just emailed asking me to sent the pricing of the paintings, should it get sold.

WHAT?? How surreal is that?? Glad my brain is feeling mushy or the shock of it might just give me a brain hemorrhage.

Well...till Saturday - will blog more about the pre and post process!!

T
ps- Did I mention a lady, who is looking to buying some art pieces for her building may come down to check stuff out? Lordy....

wHaT?? ... HoW'd tHiS HaPpENed?

Guess what? I am participating in my first art gallery show....this coming February, last weekend.

What? How'd this happened? Kept asking the same question myself. All I know was that about a year ago, I declared to the Universe my intention of wanting to have my first art gallery show.

A busy month ahead will write more...

I guess this art thingie is getting serious...I think I should take more *art classes*.

T

Fans of Art or ...'Farts'?

...I have been an avid watcher of Bravo's reality show 'Work of Art' where 14 artists from various disciplines vie to be the winner (and for some reason, it's slightly reminiscing of 'The Breakfast Club').

I love this show. L O V E! At this moment, when I have SO many questions and NOT many answers, this show was Heaven sent.

At last, some bearings, a point to begin noodle-ling through the art world, from movers and shakers, to important curators and galleries, and current, viable artists and their artworks. [Well, I have been asking the Universe for a mentor AND we are a television generation...]

Regardless of what ever editing was done, I enjoyed the process the artists went through. Often, I'd imagine myself in their weekly challenges, creating my own art pieces, alongside theirs. Boy, when they say art is subjective, that art should make you ‘pause’ and think...this show makes primo example of it. The judges critiques and estimation would change from week to week with cat-ish finicky-ness. I often wondered about the judges (or anyone in general): What makes them....art-judgy?

Just this last Tuesday, my friend (whom I shall call Russ) was recounting an experienced he had which completely left him dumbfounded and somewhat jaded. He had recently just finished an art show. During a deathly, boring hour, several artists came by and critiqued his works. They remarked that his 'realistic' works were too 'old fashion' looking, though his abstracts held promise, particularly one piece. They were quite smitten with this particular piece and gushed, describing each intricate colors and shapes with fevered reverence, pointing out, with self-indulgent observations and prideful glee, the reasons behind such bold strokes. What no onew knew was that, Russ had not wanted to waste his left-over paints, some still mixed over on his palette. So, he decided to just 'splat' the unused portions onto a canvas in different squared shapes, with no special or significant intent.

Curiously remarkable? Or pleasantly ironical?

Either way, I whispered to him that perhaps he might consider omitting the last bit from the story when recounting it in outside circles...

So, back to my original question, what makes judges or even anyone in general, art-judgy? I haven't figured it out quite yet. But, there is a fine line between pompous regurgitation and thoughtful, provoking reflections.

Fans of art or 'farts'? You too can be art-judgy.

T

Blockage! Blockade! Blockhead!...

...recent frustrations in figuring out the 'how to' and the 'what next' in my artistic pursuits, has led to art blockage. Even meditating in the park with my toes squishing in the green-grass last week did not help calm my mind. What is going on?

Further reflections and a dose of 'LA Ink' Wednesday night had me realize that certain elements were missing in my life right now. In LA Ink, the tattoo artists would sketch on their down time, practicing and perfecting their craft. It reminded me that there was a time in my life where I was always drawing in my sketch pad. Everything to anything.

[What other things have I stopped doing, possibly PG Rated, which I could mention here without embarrassing my mum?]

I am a fanatical reader. I read profusely - from fiction to non fiction. I can't remember the last time I strolled in a book store and browse until a book called and beckoned me. The last book purchased was Karen Armstrong's 'The History Of God', (I think I bought it six months ago). A really fascinating read. No. Really! The book suggests that the idea of 'religion' was created during a time of great economic strides and the fore-fathers feared their people would be 'spoilt' and get carried away by their wealth, and so installed certain beliefs to curb negative tendencies....alright, I got carried away myself, back to the present.

So....maybe, my blockage somehow, may be tied to not reading or drawing, that these elements might be the connecting 'in/out' cables to my creative source. Who knew...

So back to the drawing board...or pad...and possibly a visit to my local bookstore. I need to get back to *tabula-rasa.

It is weird that I feel relief? Man, I do.

T

*Merriam Webster Dictionary defines TABULA-RASA as something existing in its original pristine state.

A world was born from 2 minutes….

...a whole 2 minutes. I heard a ringing and felt something settling in my head - an epiphany exploded, exclaiming that I am not who I am.

If I am not myself, then how can I connect and be the artist that I need to be? Who really am I?

My earlier life has mostly not been of rainbows. In a time and place where I should have had a happy childhood, I had pain. Slowly, being broken, bit by bit, stripped and rained on, in an endless storm. I found a rock and held on, and with my little hand, I gripped and tore to get onto this rock, my own ‘rock of Gibraltar'. One day, I woke up. The storm had ended and I was as hard as my rock....but, I survived. In the coming years, I became harder and harder....but, I survived.

It all changed. Epiphanies does that, you know.

As I am writing this, I begin to understand it all now. I became hard to protect myself, to weather the storm. Perhaps parts of me were hidden for a reason, so certain parts could evolve. I don't know. But somehow, I became lost and I forgot.

And now...well, like a cheese-cake (emphasis on the cheese), I guess I'm ready, and the epiphany came heralding a change, a beginning, a new world.

My true self? I have learn that I am strong, that I can withstand plenty of challenging situations. I accept that I am really not a jaded person, that I still do believe in the goodness of the world. And while I'm baring my soul, I might as well come clean and confess that I am a goofy nerd that loves to read about discoveries in technology and science, sneaks in documentaries on CBC, who cries at sappy commercials and movies. For gracious sakes, have you seem 'Terms of Endearment'? I've seen it 6 times and cried all 6 times! Forget that...I cried watching FINDING NEMO. Yup...a total softie!

But you know what's more important? I learn that I can be solid like a rock but I don't need to be hard - the trick is finding the balance. And yes DAMMIT! Love is the answer! No matter what we have gone through, we ultimately came from Love.....even if it lasted for 2 minutes.

You know, a world was born from just 2 measly minutes. Ask your mum...

T

A sophisticated hick chick....

I had a chance conversation with someone yesterday. Somehow, we started talking about abstract art. He tells me that his painter friend has no patience for abstract painting.

I'm on the fence....and its chafing...badly.

I was at a art gallery opening several weeks ago for friends' friend -- who painted abstract art from nature's weather and sounds. I was quite enthralled by her works. I saw sounds and color, the shifting energy. I could imagine being in it and the feeling of being swept in its current, all out of her painted abstract form.

Now this gallery had also other artist showcasing their works, all abstract. I enjoyed them mostly till I saw some in particular which made me wonder, how art could be THAT objective? This artist used squared plexi-glass, where he just added minimal drips of color, then named them 'depression' or such things...I couldn't even remember. Definitely no Jackson Pollock here!

Has art turned into minimalist, abstract mishmash, claptrap? Or have I?

Which brings back to the chance conversation I had. My companion felt that the earlier works of minimalist or even abstract painters, began their illustrated careers studying under Masters and the 'old ways' of painting. And in their moment of eureka, took their previous paintings, stripped it down to the bare elements and tried to find truth and beauty in simplicity. He pointed out that many of those works had depth and meat that drew the audience in. And now, these works still stood against the tests of time, inspiring new generations of artists. He concluded that most works now had none of the background of the 'masters old ways' or even the learnings, so perhaps that is why the new works are lacking.

Whoa! A moment of eureka. I think my head hurts.

Degas (apparently) had said, "Painting isn't so difficult when you don't know ... But when you do ... it's quite a different matter!". I have to agree with him.

I am beginning as a sophisticated hick chick. But as I learn and understand more about art, and how I paint, I hope I end as an unsophisticated urbanite. Enough spinal-back to challenge the status-quo but still unjaded enough to always be in awe of art.

T

Sometimes, you just got to 'DO' it.....

"Do or do not, there is no try" – Yoda

Yoda, the ultimate teacher of truths. I suppose in the moment of 'trying', the ACT itself becomes a ‘do’. Why do we often say ‘I’ll try’? I think that to infer ‘I’ll try’ brings a reality which says that I do not hold myself accountable nor do I care to commit fully to the situation. Example, I'll try to do better next time.....hmmmm.

Perhaps fear and a lack of confidence comes to play? I do not think that many people are aware or even care. I’m starting to care though. For many years, ‘I’ll try’ has been my song.

In the past few years, I have begun to slowly attain awareness. Questions of where I am heading, who I am…where am I standing in this life, becomes increasingly important – old age, you think? ‘I’ll try’ no longer suffice. Now, I use words like ‘I am', ‘I will’, ‘I shall’… time no longer registers as standing still.

I am currently working on my 2nd commissioned artwork; a portrait of two sisters. Next, I will be painting two more art pieces where it will be sold on consignment at a store. Also, there is a possibility that I shall be doing a 3rd commission as well, slated for October of this year.

Action may be a great thing but words are power. It can propel you forward or stop you in your tracks. This blog will chronicle my moments of success, pitfalls and 'eurekas!' while navigating into the world of art...now, where's my 'Art for Dummies' book?

T