glorious england!

may 21, 2010

Stonehenge   -    Amazing!	The Sea
Thatched Roof Black and White Cottage	Cotswold Stone on Country Cottages

   So as not to bore you, I have chosen four photos at random to share with you from well over 1000 I took on this trip to the English Countryside! 

 My return from these exciting weeks of travel in England happened about 2 weeks ago. Seems like two-weeks-off takes three weeks to play catch-up! What is that all about? Finally, I have answered or deleted/saved hundreds of emails, pulled weeds in the garden, cleaned the house following a few days with my son and then my sister, taken on groceries, hosted some fine dinners, organized the garden and even purchased most of the plants including those for the pots! I have accomplished quite a bit, just not enough attention to the studio, Newsletters and blogs. 

  Last week I finally spent a few hours in my studio attempting to refocus on my life as an artist. I felt serious trepidation and lack of confidence along the way and stressed over where to begin in my confused state. So to get started, I pulled out a painting that I had started before my trip – not a blank canvas - and with the first brush strokes of oil paint and my brain’s seemingly automatic return to its alpha state of painting, I realized that I know how to “ride a bike” after all. Pure joy!

  Frequently artists find themselves face to face with their demons - lack of confidence, fear of failure, blank canvas, negative critiques, lack of sales and thousands of other small issues. When I read my plethora of emails recently, I found many newsletters from Fine Art Views, Robert Genn and Alison Stanfield the most noteworthy. I was surprised at the number of essays about this very subject usually called artists’ block! So, no, I am not alone, but I am not debilitated and immobilized with these thoughts. And these are just thoughts. This is my little self telling me falsehoods and she comes from my past. I am an adult now and I am in charge of my thoughts - no one else is. All of these e-Newsletters are good to read and present great advice, but I say, “Stop being a child and become the adult you truly are.” Put these immobilizing thoughts on a “Post-it-Note” on the fridge and go to the studio. Play there and remember that only you can paint like THIS and riding your bike will always be a remembered skill and painting, no matter what, is always your heart and soul riding a bike!

 Here are some of the paintings from the studio since my return……

Sunlit Aspen and Oak 11 x 14 Oil

Autumn Pastures 12 x 24 Oil

Quandary 24 x 36 Oil (Finally finished)

Tee off the Top 6 x 12 Oil (Painted for Auction at a golf club)

Wild Iris Home 12 x 16 Oil (Just started)

   There are more in various start-up stages, but I will save those for later. I like having about 4 going at once. I bore easily, so that way, I just jump to another one when I bore of the one I am working on. It’s really not boredom; I just need some refresh time away from the painting to decide where I want to progress to in the painting. Maybe that is a good subject for the next blog!

Later,

Ginger