Resistance - in the physical form!

Such a funny thing, this Resistance.. I got my studio all cleaned out; caught the mouse and restored order.  Of course, that could also have been a form of resistance.  Planned my next project, had the palette set up... dreamt about how I'd approach it.  And BAM.  Something got me!  Cough, fever... Three days later I finally got back to the studio.

The first time I started "The Artist's Way," I sat down to my Morning Pages.  I'd had a great night's sleep, no excuses.  Paper on table, pen in hand.  First my hand cramped and I could scarcely hold the pen. I plowed through.  Then I fell asleep.  Right there in the middle of the page!  Talk about Resistance!

Plowed through this morning too.  And "Sammy's Bone" is the result.  Phew!  It'll be easier after today.

Invisible? Resistance

I've been invisible, absent for a year.  My son, DeWi just reminded me of a book I'd read a while ago. Steven Pressfield's War of Art talks about Resistance as the force that keeps us from achieving our life's work.  I've always recognized the resistance/ fear that holds me back.  I just hadn't given it a name and identity.  Busy is one of the manifestations of resistance.  I can certainly attest to that: I've been SO busy this past year!  Yes, I have tangible proof: this house was built in a year, and I have allowed it to totally take over my life!   House is done.  Then I got back to San Diego and found more BUSY - had to clean, sort, rearrange, nest.  Mice in my studio.  Overflow.  Just general chaos.  Who can work in chaos?  I can't... had to get it all in order before touching brush to canvas!

Fighting Resistance. I just got back from a Michael Stiernagle workshop in Scottsdale at the Artists School.  Wonderful workshop!  SO nice to be back in front of an easel...

So, I'm back!  I'll be talking about Resistance and how I overcome it on a daily basis.  I'll be showing my work.  Oh man, I've missed all y'all!

Jumping Jacks – Dog #23

These Jack Russell Terriers belong to a friend, and true to their character, they are happy, lively and fun.  I love their energy!

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White Poodle – Dog #22

White dogs are hard (black ones too).  They usually come out too blue – or something.  I am looking at cool light and warm shadows, so the blues are the lighter colors.   Just read (again) about cool light in the Richard Schmidt book.  Blinding flash of the obvious – since white will cool any color and it is the lightest and coolest color on the pallet, then cool highlights are “easier” to achieve than warm ones…. (this isn’t exactly what Richard said, it’s what I took from it and played with today).

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Great Dane at Westminster – Dog #21

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The Westminster Dog Show is wonderful for photos!  It is the only major show (that I know of) where the public can wander through the grooming and boarding hall.  It’s crowded, loud and colorful and some of the photos reflect that.  I love this photo of a Great Dane and have wanted to paint it since taking it in 2008.

Beagle Baying – Dog #20

Life has gotten in the way!  We are building a house in Texas (live in California) so I was in Galveston week before last.  Too many meetings, stuff… Then I managed to total my daughter’s car and came home two days later.  Of course, I also trashed myself and so drugs have been the way of the day for the past 10…  Finally back to painting!  Feels good!!!

I have to admit, beagles are not my favorite breed.  They are loud and unruly (I’m a German Shepherd kind of a girl).  But I fell in love with Uno when he won Best of Show in Westminster, so I have taken another look at them.  They are also fun and happy, affectionate and “beagle people” are quite in love with them!  When I think of Beagles, I think of baying in a field.  So here he is!

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“Getting out there” or Populating the Websites

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I have had more websites than Carter has pills.  I’ve been cleaning them up, canceling and streamlining.  Phew!  Now, instead of websites, I have a couple domain names that link to a central site, a place where my work is showing as daily paintings and this blog.

My first few years of painting was a steep learning curve.  I did some work I like, and a lot I don’t.  You won’t be seeing the really bad stuff since I have either destroyed it or hidden it!  The website contains some fun pieces from my journey and my most recent work.  None of it has been marketed until now; so the games begin!

After having a custom site designed (and it looked really good), I decided to go back to FASO.  I love the community, the customer service and the simplicity of use to update photos.  I’ve finally done it – have myFASO website populated!  That means that all the paintings are uploaded.  They aren’t, however, all edited with information and prices (that’ll be the next step).  This is the second time I’ve set up a FASO website, and I’m here to stay!

My Daily Paintworks site is the first place I put a new painting.  I plan to put them in at auction for the first week, then go to a fixed price through the FASO site.  And I’ll be reviewing some of my inventory over the next few months to “get them out there” also.