when things don't go as planned...

Good morning friends!

i'm feeling a little less inspired these days,

probably due to the fact that it's a million degrees here...

a million + ten with humidity. ;-)

Actually, Danny Gregory posted something

a few days ago while he was in Dallas, Texas

and mentioned that it was 106 degrees there

and my first thought was:

holy crap, i would die. 

Well, ok that's a slight exaggeration -

but i would obviously spend lots of time indoors,

with air conditioning.

So i started this one last night,

with intentions of painting a sketch i had done a while ago

of a woman waiting for a train...

Just a bit of texture with acrylics and paper towel (and my fingertips!)

It's ok, but it's not the feeling I was looking for.

(I paint for a feeling more than for a look.)

Maybe it needed to be done on canvas?

Maybe it needed to be watercolor?

Maybe it's the colors?

Maybe it just needs to exist as a sketch?

Who knows...

But i do know that sometimes,

the image i have in my head

doesn't always match the image I end up with.

As an artist, it's frustrating, yes,

but i've learned to roll with the punches and just carry on.

For now, this is what it is...

It feels unfinished and i felt rushed while doing it,

fearing another kink in my neck... 

...and a little message to remind us all.

Maybe your "something incredible" is that your life is already blissful?

or that you can find time every day to do what you love...

or that you've always had what you really needed all along...

or that you really will be ok if you follow a different path...

...or that you can finally declare to the world

that you ARE an artist,

and for the first time ever,

this feels "at home" in your heart.

These are all humungous discoveries.

Anything that makes anyone a better person

is huge to me.

As important as the discovery of a new planet.

A new planet doesn't change my life much,

but a happy heart does.

And speaking of happy hearts...

my breakfast of champions.

:-)

Find something that makes your heart happy today,

and do it.

And if you can,

share it with the world.

Especially if it's art.

:-)

woman at train station and blue waves...

hi everyone!

I'm linking this to Illustration Friday,

another weekly challenge that encourages art.

The word for this week is: HURRY!

:-)

It's always so inspiring

to see some of the fabulous work there...

(this is mixed media - acrylic on paper, charcoal, micron pens.)

I've made a conscious decision in the past few weeks

to spend less time on the computer,

and more time with art.

I am determined to make a decent living as an artist

if it kills me, dammit. 

:-)

A few posts ago, I wrote about  how i believe

it takes a lot of courage to be an artist. 

It also takes hard work.

It may look easy,

but it's not all sparkles and rainbows.

Besides the naysayers

and the awkward feeling of never fitting in to society,

some things may happen sometimes

that cause us to question

the value of our own work.

In the past few years,

I've sent my work to several magazine publishers,

and have been rejected.

I've sent my paintings to a juried show -

rejected.

I've sent my writings to book publishers -

rejected.

I've sent more paintings to another juried show -

again, rejected.

I've sent paintings to a gallery,

rejected,

just in a more chi chi poo poo kinda way. 

;-)

See where the courage comes in handy?

In addition to courage, it also takes

perseverance

and hard work

and determination

and vision

and confidence

and clarity

and patience.

Yes, above all, patience.

Chocolate and wine don't hurt either.

;-)

I am comforted by the fact

that many successful artists and writers

had their walls plastered with rejection slips

at one time or another.

I am also comforted by the fact

that I know this is where my heart belongs.

I know this is my truth.

This is where my love lies.

And so, i will carry on -

regardless of who likes or doesn't like,

regardless of who approves or not,

regardless of sales,

and i hope that those of you

who are struggling sometimes,

all do the same.

If it means getting yourself a part time job somewhere

to allow yourself to keep creating,

do it.

You'll find a way.

Keep making good work.

Keep sharing it.

Your art needs to be put out in the world...

because that's where it belongs.

Your songs need to be shared

because that's how they become songs...

Don't die with your songs

still in you.

He who has a why to live for

can bear almost any how.

Nietzsche