Animal art in progress (plus, the power of not rushing)

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” – Paulo Coelho

 

I’ve realized something useful as I work on my growing animal art series.

What I’m painting right now feels totally in alignment with the direction I want to go. Better yet, I feel like I’m on the right track in developing an artistic style that I LOVE but never could have predicted when I began.

This is of course how any journey begins – the earnest beginnings, the stretch in multiple directions to see what works and what doesn’t. How we hold our favorite parts of each new experience close to our hearts and stitch them together to form a path like a patchwork quilt.

And yet stitching together that path takes time.

Sketches. Brief conversations. Inspirations that only spark when the mind is quiet. Realizing what I love about the work of other artists but also how my work is different.

I needed that time. I still do, in waves. When I rush I miss so much.

I remember so clearly beginning my journey as an artist and feeling an enormous impatience to have everything figured out right away. Sometimes the feeling was so overwhelming I had trouble painting at all, knowing how long it might take to grow fully into this identity.

 

 

I’ve tried my best not to rush, painting and writing when inspiration hits and doing other things when it doesn’t. Sometimes that pace has felt difficult, other times refreshing. Sometimes I’ve compared myself to others, other times I’ve put my blinders on. It’s truly been a give and take as I discover my own unique rhythms.

And so what have I learned?

Not rushing has taught me that my creativity indeed appears in bursts (of days or weeks) rather than showing up every single day as might be true for other artists. I’m finally okay with this.

Not rushing has taught me that including animals and whimsical symbols and words, etc. in my paintings is FUN and lights up my heart SO MUCH.

Not rushing has taught me that my style continues to evolve, and that’s okay.

Not rushing has taught me to listen to the quiet voice (in my heart, gut, mind) that always knows when to say yes to opportunities and when to say no.

The biggest lesson of all has been that the answers we need always come, no matter how quickly or slowly they arrive.

So take a step back, breathe in a deep breath, and just keep moving at your own pace on your own journey.

I’ll do the same!

 

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I have some more painting progress to share with you.

In the last blog I shared the status of my recent elephant painting. Here’s where we left things:

 

 

And here’s where I ended up:

 

LOVE!

There’s a dreamy, folksy quality to this painting that’s making me so happy. Plus, this elephant has some flowers for someone super special.

Is it you?

Prints and cards to become available in the coming weeks.

 

♥

The next painting:

 

 

I used the sketch (above) as an inspiration point for these first few layers (below) of a bear sitting with his bird friends:

 

 

I worked next on the bear. He might get a few more tweaks before he’s done, but so far I’m especially happy with his multi-colored fur and bright silver star:

 

 

Next up: finishing the background and adding in the bird friends (who are currently just white blobs).

Stay tuned!

 

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The not-rushing mindset brings me back to the word I chose for 2016, ALLOW.

You can’t allow and rush at the same time, as even the definition of allow states give the necessary time or opportunity for…

So I reconfirm my word, as it’s already served me well over the past several weeks.

Do you have a word or intention for 2016? I’d love to hear about it, if you do! 

 

With love,