Artist Block #1

4/30/2016 3:38:53 PM

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Artist Block #1 – Comparing

It’s a bit intimidating being surrounded by really talented and professional artists.

They are constantly in their studio’s painting, and then photographing or having their paintings photographed and then marketing it all on several different social media platforms.

They have online stores, teach and are invited to show in galleries. Some are bi-coastal and one has an installation in Hong Kong, they are hard working and very serious artists and I am so lucky to be surrounded by these creative’s.

Then something horrible happened! I started comparing myself to the other artists and boy oh boy. I’m really tough on myself, my own worst critic.

Lonely

That is a major block creator for me and it took me a while to figure this out. So with all the other little attention grabbers and procrastinating and web stuff, I seem to find myself adding, one more thing - 50/50.

50/50 Fifty paintings in fifty days just in time for SVOS. Yes siree, I was so busy thinking about what to paint next, because I didn’t have a theme – never the less they do tell a bit of a story. By day two I painted this little baby below – and just for the record - it is so much easier if you do have a theme.

Orchid

And so doing this little 50/50 painting exercise got me back to another piece that was just about completed. I had stayed away from the painting for so long that I couldn’t get back into it. It was really frustrating, and everyone else in the near by studio's are just whipping paintings out (or so it seems) right and left. The painting directly above is an important painting because it is such a break through piece for me because it got me back to a painting that was almost completed and abandoned. The other thing I learned is that when I leave a painting that is coming along beautifully, when I leave it for to long, I’m afraid. Afraid of ruining the piece because I have lost my connection to it, the rythym and colors used. And it could go bad really easy. So what I learned is to do a smaller version of it in the manner of and get back in touch with it. So valuable.

Lilies

22 x 15

Watercolor

$400.

Teresa Beyer

I think I’ve learned this lesson before; the presentation was different but more or less the same. Something like, “Do what you love,” or “love what you are doing.” Something transformative.

Returning to being blocked -

Being blocked is something many people experience. A constipation of sorts such as our thoughts, writing, creativity anything that is being held from expressing. Part of being blocked stems from not experiencing and doing things that bring great joy, better health, more love. Ahh yes, bring on the Unicorn love, dancing, plein aire, hiking, singing, yoga, drumming and experimenting with acrylics.

Acrylics and mixed media is something I’m going to be doing along with the portraiture – BUT the focus is about enjoying the process – sort of like enjoying the journey and not being focused on the destination. And please let me clarify here . . . watercolors need and should be protected under glass or Plexiglas, unless you are spending mega bucks on the acrylic, plexiglas does not read very well and glass has that horrible glare. I love watercolor but I can no longer be held back by the expense of framing, a very delicate and beautiful medium as well as rugged, but more delicate.

Having a studio among such a wonderful group of artists has turned into an amazing blessing and I will be forever grateful. This unique and wonderful place, "The Art Center of Redwood City and San Carlos" has definitely made this artist look at herself.

On May 14th & 15th one third of the artist at The Art Center will be participating in SVOS, please come and meet the artists, see the studios and most of all enjoy the Art. I’m in studio 213 please come in and say hi.

Here are the rest of my 50/50 – I’ll do a few more but I’m pretty sure I wont make the 50. That’s okay because they served a higher purpose. I've painted a couple of more but they haven't been recorded.

Artist Block #1 – Comparing