Anxiety is the hand maiden of creativity. ~T.S. Eliot
One thing I want to focus more on this year is painting. I say this every year, but every year I truly mean it. Why is it so difficult for me? I can only guess that it's the fear of making bad art. As a perfectionist, it's a hard concept for me to swallow: that we must make ugly art in order to become better. This is true for anything...but with painting it's been more difficult for me to accept. With poetry I've been fearless..writing and writing for over seven years now without any hesitation or anxiety about what pours out. Even if it's bad, I work on it till I like it - it's very painless. So what's the difference between ink and paint?? Colors? Shapes instead of words? If I don't like it, I can paint over it and start over...I can't quite figure out my psyche on this one. All I know is that I continuously hold back when thinking about painting...even though my desire to do it is constant and incredibly strong. I'm determined to push through this wall of anxiety. Will it work this year? I really, really want it to.
I picked up a paintbrush a couple days ago...it felt good to just sit, draw some floral shapes, and fill them in with watercolors. I was pleased with the results...as always, my fears were grossly exaggerated and my art didn't look bad at all. Isn't it amazing how that usually works? Fear is an ugly beast.
I was motivated by Elsa Mora's lovely site - have you seen it? She's so incredibly talented and has stared a new site this year called Art Is A Way. It's filled with creative encouragement and inspiration (and her beautiful art work). She asked her readers to do something with the word "art" and then post it to her Flickr group or on Instagram with her hashtag #artisaway. I created my floral frame and then took a photo of it with my iphone. I added the word "art" with the Phonto app, and also aged the photo a little bit with the Distressedfx app.
Thanks for stopping by...today I'm wishing, for any of you who are hesitating creatively, to push past that fear and just start!
This is very beautiful Sherri. I have felt that same way with my photography, afraid that I stink, but afraid to practice to get better as well. In 2012 I finally put that fear to rest, and practiced. Did I like everything I did? NO! But I can honestly say by the end of the year I liked more of my stuff than I hated and even have some that I would hang in my house. Just keep practicing Sherri :)
ReplyDeleteLooks very nice. Good work.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
Sherri, I am so proud of you! I know you've been wanting to do this for a long time and I am glad you have. The colors are beautiful and I love it.
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely Sherri! Looks to me like you have quite a bit of talent with this also... Let's see some more. You should see my stick people!
ReplyDeleteI love this, so bright and beautiful and I love the design....keep it up! xx
ReplyDeleteI love it Sherri, that is why I create digitally I have so little confidence in my aibility to draw or paint anything.. You are very talented..
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting and leaving a lovely comment....
Oh, I soooo wish I had artistic talent! I can "see" things...but I can't put them down onto canvas. You are one lucky chica to utilize those talents. Don't be afraid of a gift! :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful colors... so nicely done
ReplyDeleteOh my Sherri, I'm right there with ya! In fact, today I'm finishing a post for Focusing On Life tomorrow about "creating" and "possibilities". So many things I have put on the back burner, but I'm hoping to get back to my metals class at the community college this semester and I dabbled in a bit of watercolor before me moved here and haven't picked up a brush since. I had taken a once a week class, never having painted before (well except for when I was a kid) and just feel so intimidated not having someone help me. Shortly after I started the class, we had to move.
ReplyDeleteLet me just say, keep on picking up that brush, it's beautiful! xo
Go girl! I see such a theme these days in the blogs I visit -- the deep yearning to make and create and express but the sense that we're not good enough. Channel the child in you, I say. Let her rip and be astonished.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful artwork; beautiful creating from your soul. You go, girl!
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