Coffee And Paint Drips Blog - Page 15 of 79

Resistance Means Just Do It

There is no time for painting. There is no time for jewelry designing. There really isn’t even time for knitting, but somehow that is the only thing I’ve taken time out for. Imagine that?

Paintings for the shopping event on Thursday

Resistance is such a hard thing to push aside. It’s my number one issue, and the one I was making headway with the past few years.

It’s been said that the thing we avoid doing is exactly the thing we must drive into full force. Every book or article I have read on the subject says this and that about that. Artist’s block, resistance, distraction, overwhelm, it’s all the same: avoidance of the important stuff. Soon as there’s a to-do list, you can be sure we will try to get around doing the things listed.

Ok, that’s my story, and I’ll stick to it for now.

I have been avoiding developing my own website/blog on another platform than this one. Just deciding on a domain name was hard enough, but it’s taken me until now to finally make that live with hosting. All the how, where, when, why, what you can think of and I’ve been there.

So now I’ve taken the leap of faith and I did it. What next? Developing the site takes time. Eventually I’ll be okay with what I have and let it go live.

It’s a brave thing to step out of your comfort zone. But if other artists can do it, I should be able to do it too. All that marketing stuff I’ve been studying will eventually pay off.

Meanwhile, this week I’m participating in another shopping event nearby. I’ll bring some paintings, some jewelry, and some hand knit items and not every piece I own either.

After that, maybe I can get back to painting something new. If I can stay away from the computer and the website stuff.

This is Harder Than I Thought

What can I say about this new WordPress thing, website, blogging platform except, Man is it difficult!

Who can paint when there’s so much to learn? When will I be able to get back to the drawing board, or the easel, or whatever I was doing when I decided I needed to switch it up here. Blah.

By the time I rearrange, think, renew a theme, learn new language I am utterly exhausted. It’s fun, and it’s not so much fun. Add a blizzard to the mix, and nothing creative is happening anywhere near here.

I had a lovely looking theme that I just had to switch up because, well, it made me dizzy to try to make it do what I wanted it to do. This one is meh..it will do for now. The other was prettier, but more difficult to navigate. Look, I had to invest a couple of bucks in an online class to learn my way around.

Let’s see what happens next. I need more than a little luck.

Thought for Thursday

“You may wonder which came first: the skill or the hard work. But that’s a moot point. The Zen master cleans his own studio. So should you.” ~Twyla Tharp

Art Language is Easy, Computer Language, Not so Much

Navigating to a new blogging platform is becoming a “thing.” There’s new language to learn, first off, and working is ridiculously difficult if you speak English and “they” speak Swahili, if you catch my drift.

Greek Dish, 9×10 Watercolor ©Dora Sislian Themelis

Managing this present blog is easy. However, the look of the new site is much nicer, and a bit more professional. If I could figure it out I’d be golden. It’s going to take some time. Learning a new language isn’t as easy as they say it is.

The language of art comes naturally to me. Thank goodness, or I’d be toast. The vocabulary I need to learn are the words that will kick out Mr. Resistance from my space.

Now that’s a tough cookie.

Knitting my Way Out

Painting is just not happening here, guys. Mr. Resistance and Mrs. Distraction, yes I decided distraction is female, have taken up spots on the couch and aren’t even thinking of leaving soon.

So I’m knitting.

Big Rib Hand Knit Cowl ©Dora Sislian Themelis

Well, not just knitting, but photographing the finished products, and uploading them to my Etsy shop. You’re welcome to go and browse, if you like. No pressure to shop, don’t worry.

Besides knitting, I’m working on a new project. I’ve taken the plunge and ordered my own domain name. Yeah, now I’m a “dot com.” Don’t ask too many questions, because I really don’t have many answers. Seems it’s the thing to do, but Man, is it a difficult trek through uncharted waters.

Learning curve is steep, deep, thick, and hard work.

In “dot com” land the language isn’t English. Yes, I read the explanation of whatever, it seems to make sense, but the words do not mean the thing I’m thinking they mean. And no where is there any idea what they are talking about.

Huh?

Like I said, don’t ask. A friend said she’s going to find a WordPress for Dummies book. Sounds like a good idea to me.

Thought for Thursday

Well, my Thought for Thursday in my new “home” is that this new space is harder to manage than I thought.

And, that’s my thought for today.

Thought for Thursday

“I have a mind like a steel trap. Stuff gets in there and WHAM! it never gets back out again.”~Bill Austin

Resistance, Distraction, Unbearable, Oh My

Resistance is in full swing here this winter. Coming out of this one is going to be like wrestling with spaghetti: messy. “Doing” was a good idea, but doesn’t look like one that’s going to get a lot of traction.

Apples on Cloth, Watercolor, 9×10 @Dora Sislian Themelis

Goals? Resolutions? Doing? All a distraction from actually working on anything.

It’s the end of January already. Is this what the year ahead is going to look like? If so, it’s going to be a rough ride. Better buckle up.

Ground hogs, bears, and all manner of beast that hibernate through the winter have the right idea. Let’s just sleep through the whole thing, and wake up when the sun is high in the sky making the weather bearable. I have had enough of winter.

However, Mr. Resistance likes to visit in nice weather, too.

Like I said, better buckle up. Mr. Resistance is very chummy with his good friend Mr. Distraction, and they like to get together often, it seems.

I am going to need ammunition, tools, plans.

Thought for Thursday

“If you want to conquer fear, don’t sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”~ Dale Carnegie

Thought for Thursday

“Your art is vitally important, and what makes it art is that it is personal, important and fraught with the whiff of failure.”~Seth Godin