When I was in high school, I used to borrow-steal this beloved vintage tennis (cricket?) sweater from my dad’s closet. It was and remains the perfect sweater. It’s both nostalgic and classic, a perfect memory set to the soundtrack of Footloose, Breakfast Club, Flashdance and Pretty in Pink.
My paintings are nostalgic. And sometimes funny and quirky. And after all these years and classes and tutorials, museum visits, art gallery wanderings and youtube watching, I’m at peace with this style.
I wrote about this in my book, about finding a style, not knowing what my style was, borrowing other people’s, wanting it to be “fine art” (what is fine art??). I still don’t have an exact answer. But I do know that style comes from repetition and following your own bread crumbs of curiosity and inspiration. Read the books that interest you for no reason. Flip through the mags that light you up. I don’t know why I can watch plein air videos for hours…I don’t paint that way. But something about it informs my own art. Why do I love making envelopes? I don’t know. But it makes me happy so doing more of that informs the next thing I paint. It’s all about staying plugged in. Banana bread baking, plant watering, art supply restocking or online class obsessions. All of it is part of what becomes your style. Figuring this out as I went along was exciting because it took the pressure off me to think I needed to be born with a precise aesthetic or talent. Nope. Just keep showing up for the things that you love and the creativity will inevitably pour out.
“Tennis Sweater” 12×12″ Sold.
PS. This will be a card, available on my website in 2 weeks. Stay tuned.
PPS. Creative paper goodies available here, reading material on this very topic here and as always, where it all began, Carpe Diem greeting cards here.
Happy Friday, friends!! xoxo
