(9x12)
My friend Shelby does beautiful paintings of horses. Having only been on a horse once in my life, I never gave them much thought, but her paintings were so expressive, they made me look. This is my first attempt, from a photo at Paint My Photo. I hope to have some opportunity to photograph horses in NM.
I had to paint something to post this morning just to say thank you for all the comments on yesterday's post: when I woke up this morning my inbox had so many comments to moderate in it--I was, and am, really touched and grateful. You inspire me.
Giving more thought to my "reasons" for not painting, I think that the real root of it--in spite of tiredness, time constraints, and the very real necessity, which Melinda noted, of having time out to let ideas percolate--is attachment to outcome: my original sin. Sometimes I feel I've overcome it, but then it creeps back: I guess that's just one of struggles we face.
I do think just keeping the paint wet is a good strategy for keeping the focus on the doing, not the outcome. Maybe if I paint a simple object every day--an apple or a flower--not an arrangement, not a scene, then just toss it aside I can re-cultivate nonattachment. ...
I LOVE your work! I haven't painted for so long because I am so "outcome" oriented as well. I am a newby and untrained and have every excuse in the book for my paintings to mess up. And I should feel free because of that - ha. What kind of example am I to my kids... one of my daughters keeps telling me to get back to painting... And she is right.
ReplyDeleteI love your style and your paining. It is fresh and lovely and I'm sorry I haven't told you that more often. I think you have very nice perspective and a wonderful eye. And I adore your color choices. I am noticing your slide show and so many things pop up that make me saw WOW. The cardinals, the trees, the red barns... Yes, just turn that negative voice of yours off! :)
For a first time horsewoman, you've done well with these two :) And, yes, we can get too attached to the outcome and feel it's not good enough - my gosh, what, exactly, is good enough??? But you were speaking what was in my mind - paint something small, something "not important" every day - a little thing, a bit of this, or that, and then just post it and toss it in a pile to look at it in a month or a year and see what grew :) I bet you will be surprised!
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely, fresh, lively painting, Laura. And I sympathize with your "attachment to outcome" malady... I'm similarly afflicted but trying to break free!
ReplyDeleteGod, I can relate, Laura. This is wonderful! Just keep at it. Your paintings are amazing. Trust me. Now I have to go see yesterday's post, for sure!! Xo
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like we all have these downtimes at times, I think your remedy is a good one! I always love seeing whatever you produce Laura - these horses full of life and light, and the magnolias just beautiful - have a wonderful trip to New Mexico.
ReplyDeleteWonderful job, Laura...I would never guess this is your first time painting horses. I had a stack of small watercolors I had done over the past years and went through them the other day and cropped them into some ACEO's. It was quite the fun thing to do, finding some piece of each one that was set apart from the rest to weed out of the mess. A good thing to try sometime????
ReplyDeleteThe blossoms below are just gorgeous, Laura. Love these beautiful horses too. I totally understand the not painting. Sometimes I get a piece so far and am afraid if I finish it I'll ruin it. I have one such piece going right now. Your work is always beautiful though, so take heart. I love it!
ReplyDeleteLove your horses Laura, your work is wonderful, what I do is try not to think about it and just do it. just paint. if it comes out fine, if not use the back, but Laura your work is fabulous. keep it up. love,Diana
ReplyDeleteLaura, your work is beautiful. So many of us are so hard on ourselves. We should all just paint & enjoy. I wouldn't have guessed that was your first attempt at horses either!
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