Tag Archives: painting

Painting is magical

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“Painting is the most magical of mediums. The transcendence is truly amazing to me every time I go to a museum and I see how somebody figured another way to rub colored dirt on a flat surface and make space where there is no space or make you think of a life experience.”
-Chuck Close

50th Post! A recap thus far…

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50th Post!  4 months ago I started on this new path of painting and blogging not really knowing what I was doing or where I was headed. This was my first post:

The beginner’s humility and openness lead to exploration. Exploration leads to accomplishment. All of it begins at the beginning, with the first small and scary step. -Julia Cameron

“The beginner’s humility” At the time I started this blog I had just left my comfortable salaried marketing job and was gutted of all ego to say the least. It was a difficult time for me. I needed something to bring joy into my heart again. Painting was the thing I knew could spark my passion for a new creative life. Picking up the brush for the first time was one thing, but then putting my paintings on the internet for people to see? I didn’t even have a Facebook page at the time. Was I completely crazy? It kinda felt crazy, but at the same time, it felt right.

“Exploration leads to accomplishment.”  It’s true what they say about putting in “brush mileage.” The more you paint, the better you get. Things begin to make sense. Previous mistakes become your teachers. Knowing how your materials react and how to use your tools effectively leads to confidence at the easel. I’m focusing on learning the techniques the correctly from the start. More than anything I’m finding that showing up and putting in the work every day is what will take your work to the next level.

“All of it begins at the beginning, with the first small and scary step.” NO JOKE - Putting your work out there is scary. You know what’s scarier? Caving in to fear and not taking the risks needed to grow. Seriously, (and I’m talking to YOU now) you have to get over yourself and just do it.

The camaraderie of fellow bloggers, artists, friends and family has been the most incredible and unexpected gift that’s come out of this blog. I’m not alone, others are on this journey with me. Thanks for being cool, people :)

So 4 months and 50 posts later I still don’t know where I’m going. I just know I’m loving every second of the journey and right now that’s all I need.

Rumor Confirmed! Selling paintings for an artist is a mood booster.

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OK so I know I’m supposed to be all professional-ish and cool about stuff like this, but I just have to share:

Someone just purchased a painting from my Etsy store today.

Or, more specifically, OMG!! A SALE?!  I JUST HAD MY VERY FIRST SALE FROM MY ETSY STORE TODAY!!! WOO HOO! (((HAPPY DANCE)))

I got the email and was literally shaking, sweating, fluttery in my guts, energized, excited, choked up, motivated, happy, somewhat teary, joyful, screamy and most of all grateful. Wow! Also, this was someone who wasn’t a family member or friend (Shout out to my peeps) and it was purchased with actual real money instead of bartering (side note: my hair has never looked better and my stylist’s apartment is now a Keough gallery). This sale came from a random stranger that wanted my painting on their wall.

I know I’m supposed to act all calm and pretend 1) like I’m cool, 2) like this kind of stuff happens all the time and 3) like it’s not the most fulfilling $125 I’ve ever earned. HOWEVER: 1) I’m not, 2) it doesn’t and 3) it truly is! Dear reader, I’m so psyched I can hardly breathe.

When I signed on for this, I knew what I was getting into. Deciding to be a painter for a living requires you to acknowledge the fact that success won’t happen fast, money isn’t guaranteed and there are so many other more experienced and talented painters out there that are working just as hard as you to sell to a very small niche of people. After 3 months without a single sale, deep down I was feeling kinda bummed. Money isn’t the goal for me, but honestly the validation from my very first sale - it feels unreal!

Thank you to the lady that bought my San Francisco Dog painting! You were my first : ) I want to believe this is the universe telling me I’m on the right path. I know I am and it feels great.

Deetjen’s Rose

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Deetjen’s Rose

This is a rose I spotted in the garden at Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn in Big Sur, CA. It was one of the most perfect roses that I had ever seen. It had a fiery orange center that would glow bright yellow with sunlight in the middle of the petal and then the color flowed delicately into silky pale pink petals. It was perfect.

While I was studying this specimen of natural perfection I noticed on the bottom left petal some hungry caterpillar took a big huge bite. The thought did cross my mind to paint back in that caterpillar’s lunch (as if I was editing the cover of Cosmo), but I decided to leave it in because it reminds me of the japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi. It’s the idea that all beauty is impermanent, imperfect and incomplete. It also recognizes that beauty is enhanced by the natural signs of wear stemming from the life of the object itself.

I wanted to capture this rose at the peak of its beauty. On the day one lucky caterpillar got to eat one of the most beautiful flowers I’ve ever seen for lunch.

12″w x 12″h Oil Painting on gallery wrapped canvas – $250

Click here to purchase on Etsy