Such a beautiful face there was no way to say no. For years I've said no to drawing or painting faces, my fear of failing a barrier too great. But Michaels smile and sweet face were just worth the risk. So grateful to Marissa for the opportunity.
There is something about this daily summer commitment that makes me want to run far away. Last week when a little California girl poked her head through the back gate to pick up the Cochran Residence commission, I shared with her that I get this feeling of a void every time a painting leaves. She shared that she has this beautiful photo of her daughter on her surfboard.
Started the piece today, what little wretched progress it feels like to even try to do justice to this little girl with the wind in her hair and light in her eyes.
Must remember the word practice right? My son was on my phone today saying you have pictures of random kids on your phone! I said well I want to learn how to draw faces and the only way to learn is to practice. But I do find myself hiding most of these practice faces away in drawers where no one can see them.
" Every expert was once a beginner." But I am not so sure that makes being a beginner feel any easier . .
Still the force of this picture, waves melting into sky, wind blown strands of gold hair, are enough. They remind me there is joy in the act of trying, no matter the result. The joy comes from being a witness to such beauty. I send a prayer out into the world that this girl keeps that fire in her eyes and years from now lets her hair go all wind wild for the sake of a new adventure.
When I told Elizabeth that two hours in the studio ( and an hour of yoga beforehand) have somehow happened every day this past week, she said "I am going to pray that continues". Today is Sunday. Since Krista brought me the book " The War of Art" I'm
so grateful to have a name for all the many excuses I find to avoid going to the studio. The author Steven Pressfield refers to all of it as resistance. So today when grocery stores and a dog furred house are shouting for my attention and winning, what a relief to be thinking " well I have a lot of resistance today".
This home portrait commission arrived as summer began, through Missy who magically sends me work I love. Though the Angels still land here and there, I'm increasingly in love with the effort to capture things as they are- faces and houses especially. And the symmetry of this house and its gardens made it so easy to go to the studio last week.
Friday we had a small painting group in the studio. It is so fun to watch people paint, to see how different each finished piece is. The painting always somehow looks like its creator.
Still wishing to get brave enough to send a weekly newsletter.
On to week two of summer!
Elizabeths first beautiful book Kristas amazing hand lettering and I get to illustrate. Didn't get to studio yesterday -a busy last day of school. Today two hours somehow happened pretty smoothly. Halfway through I was asked "mommy can you come inside?" Which was easy to do with the 5"x7" watercolor pad and mini watercolor set I was using.
Hard to even hope to live up to the way words flow from Elizabeths brain. Grateful for the books she brings me for inspiration. "You're Here for a Reason" alongside my paints today for blessed inspiration- Nancy Tillmans gift!
It's here. The end of school the start of summer. This is when it gets hot I hide inside with the kids and eat and gain weight. And skip going to the studio. And get depressed. Elizabeth has tried to teach me that life has a lot of grey not just black and white. I like to make big commitments then feel like a big failure when I don't do them.
This summer? Well I told Jame (whose gift is the magical seeing of potential and who is teaching me very gently the business side of art) that I'd spend two hours in the studio every day this summer. And there is something about her that makes me want to actually do the " homework" she gives!
All commissions as of right now are complete. Jame said "What about just doing what you want to do?" It's been a long time since I did that!
This piece has been sitting around unfinished, begun with torn paper in the sea glass shades from Rachel's piece. " A painting is never finished it just stops in interesting places" -Paul Gardner
Listened to a great Ted Talk this morning on creativity ( while struggling to motivate to get to studio!). Pam Grout said " Every dream that has tiptoed across your mind is a summons from the universe."
Such a beautiful face there was no way to say no. For years I've said no to drawing or painting faces, my fear of failing a barrier too great. But Michaels smile and sweet face were just worth the risk. So grateful to Marissa for the opportunity.
There is something about this daily summer commitment that makes me want to run far away. Last week when a little California girl poked her head through the back gate to pick up the Cochran Residence commission, I shared with her that I get this feeling of a void every time a painting leaves. She shared that she has this beautiful photo of her daughter on her surfboard.
When I told Elizabeth that two hours in the studio ( and an hour of yoga beforehand) have somehow happened every day this past week, she said "I am going to pray that continues". Today is Sunday. Since Krista brought me the book " The War of Art" I'm
Elizabeths first beautiful book Kristas amazing hand lettering and I get to illustrate. Didn't get to studio yesterday -a busy last day of school. Today two hours somehow happened pretty smoothly. Halfway through I was asked "mommy can you come inside?" Which was easy to do with the 5"x7" watercolor pad and mini watercolor set I was using. 
It's here. The end of school the start of summer. This is when it gets hot I hide inside with the kids and eat and gain weight. And skip going to the studio. And get depressed. Elizabeth has tried to teach me that life has a lot of grey not just black and white. I like to make big commitments then feel like a big failure when I don't do them. 
