2.18.17...

I decided to leave up my last post for the week, instead writing another post just a few short days later.  Process is equally as important as end-result to an artist.  And if I get nothing else across with my writing, it's that being an artist is hard work.  It doesn't always just flow naturally.  Yes, you may have moments of brilliance with instinctual guidance, but for the majority of time art takes repetition and hours spent putting brush to canvas, pencil to paper, palette knife to colors.  It takes looking backwards to move forward.  You study the masters and marvel at their skill and determination, and then figure out your own path.  You become a master at not only understanding your tools and process, but of also listening to your inner voice guiding your hand and heart.  It is important to me to express myself not only with my artwork, but also my journey.  I have come from being told I couldn't, to finding the strength to know I can and I will.  

As the semester unfolds, the class that has surprised me the most is Ceramics.  I dreaded this class.  I'm not a 3D person.  Most of the time I simply don't understand it.  But I have to confess that there is something so simply satisfying in putting your hands in clay and forming a shape and then carving the clay into a design.  It's almost meditative.  I'm pretty far ahead of the rest of the class, so now I'm making fun stuff.  I made a planter for a new little succulent on my patio.  And Thursday I made tiles that will become gifts for people.  Maybe they would prefer paintings, but hey....they are getting the tiles!  We begin work in terracotta clay next, and I'll be making more stuff for gifts!  Ha :)

I've begun the next phase for my painting class too: plein air painting.  It's the next step of this journey for me, and what I hope to do post graduation.  While I understand the necessity sometimes for painting from photographs - it truly doesn't compare to being out in the fresh air and painting from life.  To watching the shadows change subtly as the sun moves across the sky.  How that impacts the colors you see.  How you simultaneously speed up your painting, but slow down to absorb everything you are seeing and experiencing.  And as you breathe in the moment your heart begins to guide your hand as you paint.  It too is a meditative experience.  And one that I hope to continue for the remainder of my life.  Simply lovely.  

Well, as usual, I have papers to write and they STILL won't write themselves dammit!  I hope you all have a great weekend and a wonderful week.  Remember to do something nice for someone.  Positive outward, positive inward.  Oh and before I forget, I'll have something exciting to tell about next weekend.  Make sure to check back in Saturday to see what this week brings to me.