“A drawing is simply a line going for a walk.” ~Paul Klee, artist
Thought for Thursday
Coffee And Paint Drips Blog
Spathiphyllium? I’m Good, Thanks!
When Mr. Resistance comes to visit he decides to stay way past his welcome, as I’ve mentioned to you so many times before. Feeling the need for a breakthrough some how, I decided to go on a quick Artist’s Date. Well, it was a good idea, but it didn’t happen the way I was expecting it to.
Quick, yes. Satisfying? Yes, and not really.
A free day ahead, with The Princess in tow, I thought we could visit Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay. It’s kind of nearby so I thought it might be a nice jaunt for us both. The camellias are in bloom in the hot house, among other flowers and plants there.
The idea was for us to see some color, smell the aroma of the flowers, and feel a little warmth in this miserable winter in New York. Maybe I would get to take a few photos for painting direction. Maybe a little motivation. Something to pick up my mood and kick out Mr. Resistance.
By the time I decided to get ourselves out the door and on our way the morning was passing into lunchtime territory. Hey, I’m a morning person and I like to be out and back by lunch, or at least early afternoon. Besides, The Princess needs her nap. So, I scrapped the arboretum idea and went to Hick’s, a large nursery closer to home.
A quick drive and we were in a tropical paradise of flowers, plants, green of all kind. Lovely.
We looked at everything they had to offer. The Princess enjoyed some interaction with Coco the parrot in his cage. He whistled to us “YooHoo.”
Did I take any photos? No, I forgot! But we made a purchase of this lovely spathiphyllium. I was hoping it’d be good as an air purifier in my studio, but I think it’s needs are more suited to brighter light than is available there.
I know the feeling.
Thought for Thursday
There are more valid facts and details in works of art than there are in the history books. ~Charlie Chaplin
Resistance is the Devil?
There comes a time when working at the easel becomes a chore, rather than a comfortable experience. Maybe that’s what happens when you turn pro?
Oh, so now it’s a job? Well honey, it is most definitely a job! A happy, fun, exciting job when it all works the way it should.
For a good long while I was whistling my happy tune, sort of, and painting away comfortably. Every day the Muse came by to drop some really good ideas right into my head. Mr. Resistance was nearby, but he was busy doing his own thing, thankfully leaving me well enough alone.
Lately he’s been pestering me to do other things instead of visit the easel. Sure, he says in my ear, painting can wait. Go read another email, check the internet one more time, do some laundry while you’re at it.
Mr. Resistance is the devil. And now I have proof! Wonderful Mr. Steven Pressfield says it, so it has to be the truth. I trust that guy 100%.
His newsletter whooshed into my inbox one day and his words just smacked me upside my head! Bam! Where would I be without him? In the gutter I tell you, with my paints and brushes!
It’s title alone hit me, How Resistance Proves the Existence of God. Hallelujah! He was writing about a pianist who wasn’t playing the piano, doing everything but, and deeply feeling the pain of not being a concert pianist. Pressfield explained in the newsletter that this was the definition of Resistance, that this man was “operating as an amateur.”
Suddenly, he goes on, something snaps in this man’s head, and he does absolutely nothing else BUT practice piano, losing himself in it and every other thing he had in his life besides, like a crazy person. Pressfield says that this proves there is a God.
First given: Resistance is a universal phenomenon of the human psyche.
Second given: Resistance’s sole object is to prevent you and me from becoming concert pianists, writing bestselling novels, founding the follow-on to
Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity.In other words, Resistance’s purpose is to prevent good from entering the world.
Ergo: Resistance is the devil. Ergo: If there is a devil, there must be a God.
I read this and it took my breath away. Not only is Mr. Resistance the bane of my own existence, he’s the devil besides! OMG!
What a light bulb moment as I read, and re-read Steven Pressfield’s newsletter. I knew it wasn’t so easy to shake off Resistance. This knowledge is powerful stuff.
My thought process on this has certainly changed with this information. I’ll be doubly watchful as I go about my work from now on.
Another New York Snow Storm
This winter has been a tough one, with storm after storm. Here in New York we are expected to have one storm each week in February. The latest snow storm brought down the branches of my neighbor’s huge pine tree, right on top of my beloved lavender azaleas.
As I tried to saw the bushes free the blade became stuck by the weight of the heavy branches. I’ll be crushed if this keeps them from blooming in the spring.
Snow storms can be lovely things. Forget about the cold winds, the treacherous roads and dangerous conditions. Being comfortable inside a warm home, watching the weather through the windows, it can be quite beautiful.
And, it’s an excuse Mr. Resistance enjoys immensely!
Yes, Resistance can take the form of a snow storm in full swing. It’s cold and nasty outside, who feels like working?
Hah! Not me!
I am in need of some serious heat and humidity about now.
Don’t laugh, hot weather makes me work better!
The Twitter Art Exhibit Orlando 2014
Yesterday I was hit by a lightning bolt.
I started reading Steven Pressfield’s book Do The Work, another kick in the butt about that old bum Mr. Resistance and how to get past him. What is it about how that guy writes about artists’ block that gets me going? I’m not sure if it’s how he says stuff, or it’s because I am reading the words and my brain connects as I read, or both. But man, I seem to get going afterwards. It works!
Here’s the latest thing: There is an art exhibit coming up next month and it’s for artists who are on twitter. The Twitter Art Exhibit Orlando is free to enter and in any flat medium except the work must be small, specifically postcard size. After the exhibit is launched the postcards will be sold and the funds donated to charity. Great idea.
I’ve known about the twitter exhibit for a while now and kept forgetting to do a small watercolor painting to enter.
As I read Do The Work I got my flash of inspiration: Do the painting! Enter the exhibit!
What genius!
Then I thought, what a jerk! What does it take to sit down and get something done around here? I guess it took that book and the magical words in it to light the fire for me. Hey, whatever works.
One half hour after I decided on what to paint and began to work I was done! I emailed them with my intention to participate in the event. Next I will prepare my little gem for it’s voyage to Orlando, Florida at the venue. I am so excited!
Mr. Resistance Overstays His Welcome Yet Again
Mr. Resistance has been overstaying his not-so-welcome welcome. Work is just not getting done. This painting has been hanging around so long. I just can’t get to finish it.
And, as I have learned, catching cold after cold, (or is it allergy attacks?), it is due to Mr. Resistance. Let me be honest in saying I’ve been letting him get his way.
I’m not happy about it and the Muse is not happy with me either.
Which leads me to believe I must be coming close to an important break through in my painting. Man, I just can’t get back to work for anything!
Here’s what I think: Lately I’ve been dreaming about painting in oils again to work larger than I’ve been recently, and how it would be cool to have a gallery/studio space outside of my home. Of these ideas, renting a space is the most costly and may be out of the question for now, unless I can find some other like minded artists to chip in. It’s just an idea. What do I know about gallery stuff anyway? Nothing.
Apparently, deep down inside, the inner artist-child must be scared to death of these ideas because everything is happening so that nothing happens.
Does that make sense?
Something New in the New Year
Yes, it’s all lovely, the new year and all. That said, I am making hay with it.
Starting the new year right, everyone around me has taken ill with some form of cold or another, even myself.
Honestly, my own upper respiratory illness was so strange the way it came on and hung around, I was sure it was Resistance!
Yes, Mr. Resistance, in the form of a cold so I didn’t have to do my work. Imagine!
Next time, I’ll keep my ideas to myself, rather than blab them all over the internet. I’ll just surprise everyone, that’s all.
Meanwhile, I happened to be floating around Facebook when I came across a blurb about “selfies” and how artists have been doing self-portraits for hundreds of years. The “selfie” is and isn’t like self-portraits. It’s more whimsical, I think, but it had me thinking of all the times in the past when I wanted to paint a subject and the only thing around was me.
I uploaded this oil on canvas I painted of myself while still in art school. I had already painted some other thing, and rather than throw out perfectly good canvas, I painted my likeness right over the old work. I didn’t even bother to gesso over the work, just went ahead and sketched right on top of the colors.
And those curves on the corners? Well I liked to use this old round mirror my parents had in their house to paint myself, and I decided I like the curves so much I added them into my work.
Why not add some little excitement, right?
Might be a good thing in the new year. What do you think?
The Possibilities are Endless in the New Year
Welcome to 2014! Here we are again at the start of another year. The possibilities are endless.
Just think, the year is spread long and wide before us, the road not yet traveled lays ahead. What mystery will each day bring? It’s time to get it together, get down to business after some gentle reflection of the year left behind as we turn and walk purposefully toward a fresh start.
Every thing I read says to look back and think about what worked, and what didn’t, last year. Evaluate your process, tally up your wins and fails, they say, and report.
Well, ok. Let’s take a look at where I’ve come through the past year:
- Participated in a few more art show/sales events and sold paintings, jewelry, and knits
- Listed more artwork in the Etsy shop
- Participated in the last 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge with 15 works (eh, ok)
- Started working on an email sign up list on this website
- Learned a lot about avoiding Resistance, thanks to Steven Pressfield and his work
- Learned a lot about inviting “the Muse,” again thanks to Steven Pressfield
- Said “Yes” more times than I said “No”
- Got back to the process in my work, rather than the final product
- Looked into solo art show prospects
- Thought about developing my own gallery space
It’s surely not a complete list.
What does the plan for the new year ahead look like, you ask? Here are some ideas:
- Shrug off Mr. Resistance and get to the studio to meet Mrs. Muse on a regular basis
- Paint twenty minutes to start and see where it gets me-the process at work
- Finish this website thing already
- Add to my contact list and finally get my newsletter out there
- Plan some solo shows of my work to reach people really interested in collecting art
- Get info on the gallery idea
- Complete the challenges I sign up for instead of just mosey along without pushing myself forward
- Throw out junk
- Bake more of my own bread
- Knit more socks, use up my yarn stash, finish a needlepoint that’s been sitting around since 1982
- Knit faster
January is here now and it’s time to get moving on these things on my list.
Do you want the good news, or the bad news first?
Ok, the good news first it is: I already joined another 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge that began on New Year’s Day. Yes, January 1 was Day 1 to post my first work in this challenge.
The bad news? I’m already behind on Day 2. Yikes!
Have a Merry Christmas
It’s been crazy with all the things that go into making a holiday happen around here. We are down to the wire.
Painting? Not happening. Knitting? Lots of knitting finally done.
Allow me one moment to thank each and every one of you who have dropped in on this blog to visit, and some to comment. All of it is much appreciated. It’s nice to know there are individuals out in the world who have an interest in the yapping that goes on here on the internet. I am privileged to be able to show you my work, my process, and you put up with my never ending battle with Mr. Resistance.
May the Christmas season be a happy one, and may the new year bring you joy and good health.
Thank you for visiting.
See you on the flip side!