It's all about painting right now....

Dear Friends, I wanted to update you all on my painting "class". It's been going pretty well. My "teacher" has me painting everyday. I am really enjoying it and I'm glad I am sticking to it this time. My "classes" here at home vary. Sometimes they are held at 11 p.m. when the house is quiet, for I have found that painting requires a bit more concentration than other things I've worked on. I don't know if it's necessarily a "concentration" thing per say, but definitely one where you want to be "in the moment". It is, to me, by nature, a very relaxing activity...SO, if I hold class during prime time noisy hours at home, it doesn't work as well. My "classes" last until I get tired. Some nights they are 20 minutes long, and sometimes 2 hours. The main objective I have is not "skipping" class...for if I skip a few days, I get out of my groove. I've come to the conclusion that I am a firm believer in the "creative habit". You must make it a habit or hours, days and years will go by and your paints get all dried up, as well as your energy and resolve.

So, I digress, as per usual. I did want to update those of you that are following my painting adventures. I say adventure because anything that is new and inviting, and colorful and exciting, is an "adventure" to me. Right now, I keep painting because I want to find my voice...what I want to paint and how...what is my favorite thing? What makes me happy? These are the questions that go through my head with every stroke. I'm looking at patterns, things I repeat. I'm looking at the colors I tend to use too much, and I'm reaching for different one's. I'm telling my critic to hit the ROAD! My critic isn't as concerned with my results as with just telling me I am too grown up for this. After all, that is one of my main "tissues" with my critic, as those of you who have followed my journey know. Many of you identify. We have decided, however, to keep on keepin' on, regardless of the unwanted resident critic says. I've found a few ways of silencing the critic...
1. Just get started. The critic's number one success is getting us not to even get started.
2. Get lost in the process. When the critic says, "if" or "but", I get a really bright rebellious color out and splat it down and say, "so there"!

3. Do something everyday. Making creativity a habit helps us to learn to live with the critic, know it's tactics and have the resolve to follow through anyway.

Sooo. those are my thoughts on painting lessons this month. Here are a few of the things I've done in my wallpaper book. Have those of you that wrote me gotten out your paints yet? If so, please leave a link so I can come see! REmember, safety is numbers. WE are gonna bust our critics and share our colors with the world! :) xo lia

p.s. I will share some links soon on favorite artists I'm discovering online...as soon as I get that organized! I'm finding that I am drawn to abstract painting and of course, mixed-media, mostly with emphasis of a portrait of somekind. more on that soon, in the next "episode".