Getting Off The Fence
Are you on the fence about changing your life?
I met a young woman at one of my art shows and she looked around at my art and she approached me and said she was going leave and come back with her mother. (I think it was her mother, please forgive me if you are reading this and if I am mistaken. I believe the mother was also a nurse/caregiver.) Later in the day the young woman came back with her mother. She purchased a coffee mug with a sunrise theme while her mother looked around at the art.
With longing and tired eyes, the mother approached me and said, "All I want to do is paint. I am exhausted and all I want to do is paint." She wasn’t the first person to ever say this to me and it made me sad.
She didn't know how to fit painting into her busy life. She didn't know how to start. She was unsure of what to create. She felt blocked. I told her how I had created natural stone mosaics for years and I felt like the stones were weighing me down. I told her how the pandemic made me crave happy colors. I had never painted, and I found myself on the fence watching Betty Franks YouTube videos longing for something different and uplifting. I too was exhausted and longed for a creative release. I was working full time during the week and caring for my aging mother, who just wanted to get out of the house and eat.
Getting off the fence
I encouraged her to watch some YouTube videos, gather a few art supplies, and get off the fence by taking action. I told how I started by ordering a limited palette of vibrant acrylic Nova Color Paints. I bought some paper and brushes. I painted outside on my deck until it was too cold and then I set up a table in my basement. I told her my mother used to paint and I engaged her to paint again as well. It was like riding a bike for her, but I struggled to get going.
So, I took an online class from Betty, and I found that when I sat down to paint, my mind relaxed and my body entered a flow-state. The act of mixing the colors was all it took to get me started. I let the harmonizing colors tell a story on the canvas.
What I Discovered
Colored in bliss I kept painting. I discovered each painting was a teacher. With each painting I learned something about the art process and something within myself began to stir. I had found my soulmate in painting.
My wish for you is to act on your desires. There has never been a better time in history to become an Artist. We are in the middle of an Art Renaissance. Cities across America are opening Creative Districts. The world needs you and your art. Artists make the world a better place by offering a creation which opens the doors of discovery and wonder. It stops us in our tracks and pulls us in and if only for a moment it is healing. Art helps us filter out all the negativity around us and brings us peace.
I hope this has inspired you to act on your creative desires. Start small, travel at the speed of cash, and create-add-build.
1. Buy a plastic drop cloth and put it under and over your painting table. If you want to make a painting wall, tape it to the wall. Pick up a few 2 1/2 drywall screws.
2. Pick up a few art supplies. Carve out a studio space somewhere so you can sit down and feel inspired.
3. Start saving a few salsa and peanut butter jars! They work great for water, solvent, and storing tools etc....
My studio is a real-life studio...not a phony Instagram setting!
Thank you for reading and subscribing to Big Hat No Cattle blog I welcome you to my herd. Together we can create a beautiful stampede of art.
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Until next time...create and release.
Much Love,
Tamara
