A return to painting

“Creativity takes courage” Henri Matisse

The past few months have been so busy with festivals and setting myself up to partner with stores that I haven’t painted at all. I’ve sketched, I’ve written, I’ve worked on my business, but I’ve done no painting.

I began feeling a more urgent call recently that it’s time to return to painting regardless of what else needs to get done, so this past week I cleaned off my studio table, cleared my schedule for two mornings back to back, and worked on a new piece.

I felt a little intimidated to begin, to be honest, like I’d forgotten how to create new art over the past few months and was starting from scratch.

Have you ever felt this way?

I know that whenever I start to feel nervous and get in my own way, the only out is to simply stop thinking so much. I created the background for this painting mainly through the lens of instinct and emotion, choosing the colors that I felt drawn to and creating the lines I felt compelled to make. Here’s a section of the original background:

Critical thinking returned once I began to plan out the scene, but that initial burst helped to calm me down and get me back to a place where I could enjoy the painting process.

I’ve been having so much fun lately drawing animals, and I wanted to keep exploring that trend with this new piece. I also find myself drawn again and again to rabbits, so into the painting they went. Here’s the final version:

The story that emerged for me begins with two bunnies returning to their home with food for the family. Taking care of each other is an act of pure love, and I wanted that reminder to flow right across the painting. Love love love.

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I have one sketch to share this week, which was based on a request to try drawing a barn owl. What do you think?

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My goal as we head into the holiday season (busy, busy, busy) is to keep my painting practice moving, even if there’s only time for one session per week.

I’ve learned more than ever recently that “saving up” what makes you feel happy and joyful to do occasionally all at once is a lot less fun than spreading out that happy joy over weeks, days, hours.

Even if I can’t paint every day, I can work on a painting a few hours per week. I can sketch when there’s not time to be in my studio. I can be flexible and improvise.

This week, in between the work hours, I want to paint. I want to go on a walk in the sun. I want to have dinner with friends.

What are you going to do this week to feel your own joy?

With love,