St. Louis Cathedral...................Oil Painting

sold  

(I do have more paint, so if you like this contact me about doing something similar, but different, made just for you!)

Ok.  I am getting there.  This is so much closer to how I really want to paint than the first painting I did of the cathedral in New Orleans.  I am going to humble myself and post a small photo of the first painting.  I think you will see the difference.

Ok, I guess in all honesty this one isn't as bad as I remembered, but I still like the mood of the more recent one.  The top one is for sale, but the bottom one is long gone to a forever home

Snappy Snapper......................Red Snapper oil painting

I based this painting on a photo I took of some red snapper that we caught the second year we rented a house on Dauphin Island.  Our fish didn't look exactly like this but this guy is much "snappier"!

Tree at Houmas House.......oil painting

sold

(I do have more paint, so if you like this contact me about doing something similar, but different, made just for you!)

A dear friend's daughter (one of the best people!) got married at Houmas House in Louisiana a couple of years ago. I took this photo that day.  In light of the flooding that is happening in the Baton Rouge area right now, I post this in hopes that Houmas House is safe and dry and that all those adversely affected by the tragedy will have a speedy recovery process.

Large oyster ................oil painting

I have been wanting to paint a large painting of an oyster for quite some time.  I have done them on 12x12 canvases before.  But this bad boy is 36"x36".  My favorite part is how the light is shining through the lemon.  I took the photo that I painted this from when we were in New Orleans for our anniversary about 4 years ago.  That's why I like painting from photos.....it still looks as fresh as it did 4 years ago!

Barn and Field...................oil painting

I have been enjoying my journey with my newfound philosophies and mindsets.  (see last three posts) This particular painting is a "paintover" which always makes for amazing texture and depth.  I love how this turned out.  Hope you do too.If you know anyone that is looking for a nice 30x40 barn painting send them my way.

Progress from Flora Bowley Bloom True Boot Camp.....oil painting, inspiration

I am thoroughly enjoying my exploration of the Flora Bowley Bloom True Boot Camp and simultaneous reading of the War of Art by Steven Pressfield.  I think it is just the inspiration and encouragement that I needed to do some things that I knew I needed to do all along......even if only subconsciously.

I am finding as I read and experience these things that they are open to my own interpretation and therefore, sometimes, I think my own feelings deep inside bubble to the top and I find I am interjecting thoughts of my own as I interpret the words of others.  It is a very validating experience when you find your own thoughts sometimes slip effortlessly into the train of thought of the author.

Some major themes that I see developing from both sources (and from my own deep well of un-thought-out thoughts) are:
I need to paint for the sake of painting and NOT what I think others will like or want to buy.
I need to STOP comparing myself to others or doing things that I think I am expected to do.
I need to remember to have fun and experiment.

And with that in mind I decided to paint what I wanted to paint this week.  Not because I thought it would be a popular mainstream subject, or that I thought it would sell well at my next show, but

BECAUSE      I     WANTED     TO.

Hence the above octopus painting.  I fell in love with the photograph when my DIL, Heather, took it when we were visiting the Estuarium on Dauphin Island in July.  I instantly wanted to paint it.  So, this week I did.  Don't know if it will sell, but it makes me happy.  

Bloom True Boot Camp as it applies to me....(and you, perhaps)

You may not be able to tell what this photo depicts, but it is a message to myself written on my bathroom mirror with lipstick.  It says:

"Do Small Things with Great Love"

It is part of a quote from Mother Teresa.  The entire quote says "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love."

Why is it written on my mirror, you may ask.  As I mentioned in my last post I am taking the Flora Bowley Bloom True Boot Camp 30-day online program.  

The first day's message encourages us to "INVITE THE SACRED".  I have incorporated this message into my own situation to mean this:

• I need to ask for God's help (and with that how can I do anything BUT succeed?)
• I need to remain open to the everyday magic that happens around me
• I need to remind myself to focus on things that are important to me (hence the mirror message.)

I think that these ideas and goals can be useful in any career or lifestyle.  So feel free to jump on the bandwagon and create your own "New Beginnings".

New Beginnings....Art Inspiration

Hello folks.  It's time for new beginnings.  I have come to an impasse in my art career.

I looked up impasse do be sure I was using the correct word and spelling. (don't want to appear ignorant on the internet and all)  One of the examples of how to use it in a sentence was...

"She had come to an impasse in her career".

I thinks it's a sign.  It could have said "He".  It didn't. It used almost the exact words I had used.

 It was meant for me.

Here's the deal...I have sort of outgrown my own style.  I want to improve, progress, and expand my way of painting.  But I don't want to change it too much, because there are those that like my style. (and I sincerely love each and every one of you!)

But I don't want to stagnate.  I want to continue to loosen up, which has always been one of my goals. And I want to incorporate some new colors or more of some of the colors that I already use.  I have some color schemes in my mind, but when I start to paint I fall back on the same predictable color groups that I have used in the past.

I see pieces that are painted by others that are of the style or "looseness" that I want to incorporate.  And I see paintings that use the colors that I have in my mind.  But when I try to emulate these other artists the work comes out too literal.  It looks too much like their work and not MY work.

I want to break out of my mold a little....but not too much.

I want to borrow ideas from other artists...but not too much.

So after much thought and consultation with others, here's what I have decided to do.

I am reading a book called the War of Art by Steven Pressfield.  It addresses the fine art of procrastination and how to avoid it in a creative career.  I am thoroughly enjoying this book.  Thanks Ellen Langford.

I have also enrolled in an online program by artist Flora Bowley.  It is called Bloom True Boot Camp. Her art is amazing, but what most interests me is her process and approach to creating art.  It is a 30-day program and I plan to post what I am doing and getting from this process.

You may find it interesting to see the inner struggles that some of us artists go through.  But even if you aren't into angst, hopefully some interesting art will happen along the way.

Here's to new beginnings!