2016 wasn't the best year for me - by any stretch - no matter how I look at it. Not that there were BAD things that happened, but there certainly were life changing and sad times.
I am looking forward to 2017 as a year to change my outlook somewhat. I am not going to make 'pie in the sky' promises to myself - but I am going to focus on lightening up - physically and mentally, letting the wind carry my ideas and plans where it WILL.
As I looked at another year of participating in Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 as soon as it was announced, I wasn't much into doing year 5..but the longer I thought about it, I realized I hadn't painted since the day before my dad passed - September 17th and here it is, December 31st.
I needed a way to channel myself back to the easel and the studio - I was finding myself using every excuse and trick to keep myself away from paint and brushes. 30 in 30 is perfect at this time, no pressure. I am foregoing a specific theme or focus and JUST PAINT. I keep telling myself, that's why it's called a 'challenge' - duh! It will seem a challenge to GET OUT THERE for several days, but hopefully that will pass. It is what I have always craved, that time doing art, and there is no time like now to rekindle that love..it could very well be what's causing these wandering and worthless feelings I have. I can no longer let this 'sucky' year be the cause of not reaching out there to feed my artist's soul....SOOOOOO...
...I have made it out to the studio today, I have a cleaned off space - I have fresh brush cleaner, I have my 'source' ready, my canvas/sub straight has been pretreated ahead of time with a fun background and I have sketched out my subject in white charcoal. All I need to do now is create my music 'playlist' and I will be ready to go - DAY ONE!
(There is a little voice in the back of my mind that is telling me that I will wear down quickly and NOT finish the 30 this time, but I am pushing that voice back with trying to plan a little ahead of the game, hopefully being ready for the next day, a day ahead!! )
COME BACK TOMORROW!! DAY ONE WILL BE POSTED AT SOME POINT IN THE DAY!!
