I go slow out of the January gate. In a way. My work travel schedule for trade shows is demanding in January and rarely changes so I mentally prep for being on the road. Which is not slow at all. It’s taxis and airports and booths and people and running, literally and figuratively. Which means all those more quiet still goal setting lists, books and exercise routines go out the window and who’s kidding who, all forgotten by February. I don’t beat myself up about this anymore. It’s my schedule. I go slow with goals.
I try to paint for fun during this time. Well, I guess I always paint with an element of fun. I should say, I try to paint with no purpose during this time. Whatever delights or inspires or seems silly but needs to be captured. Items on my desk. A piece of cake. A funny pet. A box of chocolates, a flower stem. Anything to keep the practice flowing.
Over the holidays I found a perfect $20 hotel silver coffee pot in a thrift store. The joy of those simple finds! Add one iconic perfume bottle and my favorite chocolatier, Louis Sherry, I’ve got the ingredients for an impromptu still life. Add stripes and a floral pattern and I’m feeling it, the paint brush is loose, I’m in the zone, not worrying about the outcome. These kinds of paintings are so important to me. Will they sell? Maybe, maybe not. Are they part of a series? Nope. Are they for a customer? Nope. I love the accidental red streaks that made it into the cream stripe. If it was for a project or customer or show would I be ok with that? Would I be striving for it to be more exact? Probably. And it might not have some of it’s fun looseness because of it. Yes, I’m over analyzing a little painting but the reminder is for me, for fellow artists, to remember the fun part of art, the loose, just because process of it that ultimately produces the joy factor that makes art sing.
This little guy, a 10×10″ is hanging on my wall behind my easel, probably going to someone I know who will especially appreciate the subject matter, but in the meantime, just happy and stripy and a reminder to show up and work. Or play. xo
“Still Life Treasures” 10×10″
