ArtZpot

Sometimes you just need to paint as fast as possible and be ok with the results!

If you want to make a mark you have to take a risk ~Terrence E. Deal

This is the quote that came with the mile and I really do agree with it.  If you never take a risk how do you know if you’ve made your mark in life?

I am all about taking risk.  Don’t get me wrong I do play it safe also when the risk seems too great without a beneficial outcome.  But one really has to try.

The painting for this mile is a Mandala.  These are supposed to center you.  I will say that working as much as I did last week (and about to work more by the end of this week) that this painting was very relaxing.  Who would have thought painting circles would do that to someone?  I’m having a hard time letting this one go as I really like it for some reason.  But the point of this is to paint so I will inevitably paint over it and save the photo.

Maybe I’m an abstract artist as I find shapes more relaxing than something that is supposed to look like something?

All of the mile emails we get have encouragement, quotes, poems and more. Mile 5 is dealing with our primative self that we are becoming more creative. Left brain looks at this painting and says “what?!?! a 5 year old’s painting looks better than this. You are so not an artist”

Where is that right brain when I need it? 

I’m not giving up I just keep saying 395 more paintings to go and I’ll be a legend!

I’m way behind on my marathon. I think she sent Mile 8 the other day.  I did this one last weekend.

Our company just got bought by another one and the mantra is “Do the right thing”, “Do what it takes”, “Have Fun”. I have this issue with I want to make my customers happy no matter what it takes. If if have to work 21 hours overtime a week (the amount after I’m done working today) to stay on course then I will. I’ll bitch and complain about it the whole time but I’ll do it.

I think everyone I work with just will hear the bitching and complaining but this is my choice to try and stay on track. I’m really ok with it but that is my nature. “Do what it takes” Sometimes I wish more people had that attitude. But that is my downfall.

I’m trying to balance everything right now and take the time for myself and that is what this marathon is for. To help give me the mental break from it all. Now to find the time to squeeze that in over the next couple of months.

I’m really enjoying doing these paintings.  Making myself sit down and take a few minutes for myself.   I know some people will tell me that I bring things on myself and I create my own stress.  I do have a hard time saying no especially at work.  But with my job if I don’t do it the question is who will?  I also like my job and want to do anything I can to make sure I stay there for as long as I can.  The down side is sometimes I stress a lot. 

A friend of mine asked me “What is the point of these paintings?”  Why are you doing exactly the images she sends you?  I said because then I don’t have to think about it.  If you tell me draw a bird and paint it then my brain kicks into overdrive with questions and critism.  It’ll say… You can’t draw birds… that looks terrible…. why is your bird purple….  I don’t want that.

 I’m the kind of creative that if you give me direction I can come up with exactly what you want but if you say “just be creative”  it’s all downhill from there.  I am a mimic designer as I call myself.  It’ll have my spin on it but I can mimic a lot.  As Whitney said in the class I took with her ..”Painting takes practice.. One of the great painters had painted 400 painting by the time he was 14″.   I dont’ recall who the painter was. 

So along with photography workshops this year I’m finding painting classes and workshops to help me just expand.  I am creative but sometimes I need a boost.

I’m only on mile #2 and I’m wondering when I’ll get past thinking everything I do looks bad. I started this one and after applying the 2nd layer of paint went “ugh” this is horrible.

As Whitney says that is your left brain talking. So with everything, including what I do at work, I pushed it away to think about what I could do to it to make it into something I like. When I feel like I can’t come up with the right answer I have to “get away” to come up with it.  This is usually when I’m driving.  Is it like that for everyone?

I am doing a painting marathon hosted by Whitney Ferré at Creatively Fit. It is 26 miles long and we paint over each painting so I’ll have 25 more paintings on top of this one.

This is Mile 1 of the marathon. I’m not a great painter but I’m trying to find a way to not be so stressed in life right now and so far this is working. I don’t have to think about it I just have to put the brush on the canvas.

Whitney is very inspiring so if you have a chance to take a class then I would highly recommend it.