Potential Unleashed

Potential.  We all have TONS of it.  Yet how many of us truly live up to ours?  How do we tap into it... and unleash it?  What holds us back?

We do.  We hold ourselves back.  Oh yes... we have our excuses, but that's all that they are.  Excuses.

Hidden gems revealed

We all have these wonderful gems that we've been given...our true light... I say stop keeping it all locked up inside and let it all come exploding out for everyone to see!  Let your light pour out.  It's time!

I struggled with this painting, perhaps because I was struggling with coming to grips with my own potential.   I've been an artist my whole life.  It was never a secret to any who knew me, but I didn't think I was any good for the longest time...in fact most of the time.

I thought I had come to terms with it, but I still held myself back until something finally snapped in me a year or two ago.  I realized that God gave me this gift, and I thought I was using it, but deep down I knew better.  I finally realized all that I had, all that others saw, was kept in my tight grip.  I was so afraid of messing up and so wanted to please people.  What if they didn't like what I made?  What if I proved that I really wasn't any good...just like I thought all along?

But what I realized was in doubting myself I was doubting what God had given me.  I mentioned it before, but it must be said over and over until it sinks in for you too.  God doesn't make mistakes, so if you doubt your gifts and your potential, then you're doubting Him.

Our true selves and struggles are released onto the canvas...each one a self-portrait of sorts.

To sum this up way better than I could, here is one of my all time favorite quotes.  This is so darn powerful.  It gets me EVERY time I read it.  Copy it.  Paste it where you can read it everyday.  Let it sink in.  It will change you.  It will help you unleash.  Let it.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

--marianne williamson

Finished Texture Painting : True Colors

 Hi there.  I've got a new painting to show you!  Just finished the final little details on it today.  It has many of my favorite things...texture, a peacock feather... which of course includes peacock colors, copper (well actually a combo of copper and soft brass), and lots of texture (yes, I know I said it twice!).

There are SO many layers on here!  Heavy gel medium, which I drew into when wet, then layer after layer of paint and glazes.  

It is painted on a gallery wrapped 9 x 12 inch canvas.

And speaking of gallery, that's why I've been so quiet around here.  This painting and many others you've seen here, along with others that are in progress, will be on their way to hang (and hopefully sell)  in an art gallery soon!  I'm so excited!    And I will also be working on getting my jewelry AND photography there too!  What a dream come true!  More details to come...

And just for fun, I though I'd show some in-progress photos of this piece.  The first one below shows the first layers of paint.  I had a bit of a different plan for the painting.  I was going to do it in the EXACT colors of my "Finding Balance" painting so they would hang well together, but the painting decided that's not what it wanted.  So after adding several more layers of paint and glaze over this...

I finally decided to listen to what it wanted.   

To be an artist is to be brave so...I had to be brave and do this...

paint most of it out with Titan Buff (off white) and start the new layers!  Eek!  But I was excited to take that step because I knew that's where it needed to go.  Things go a lot smoother and are a lot more fun when I listen to the art and my own intuition.

Try to do the same for yourself...be brave and listen.

Finding Balance with a Peacock Inspired Painting

I finally have a new art piece to show you, and I'm pretty sure it's now my favorite painting that I've done so far.  Well... besides "Branching Out".  And "Don't Lose Heart".

 I gave you a little teaser photo of this one a while back, and then mentioned in a recent post that I had one ALMOST done, which just needed the final details.

 Well...here it is ...finally complete!  

I'm so sorry that I haven't been posting much art lately.  Actually I just haven't been posting much at all  lately.  I've been obsessed with getting my studio in order.  I couldn't concentrate on anything else.  And no, it's STILL not done, but I realized I started feeling a bit "icky" and empty, and I knew what needed to be done. 

 Art. 

 That's my remedy.  My refuge.

  I tend to go go go on a project (in this case my studio) and burn myself out.  And I don't allow "play time". 

 I felt out of whack. 

 Off balance.

 So back into the studio I went, but not to clean.  I turned on some music, lit a yummy candle and started to play.  

Ahh....much better.

This painting was done on a 9" x 12" x 1.5" canvas.  I started it by slathering on a very thick coat of Golden's   heavy gel (matte) and then drew and dabbed patterns into it while it was still wet.  I let it dry overnight then painted it with Golden's fluid acrylics.  I then mixed those same paints with glaze and started to add layers of glazing to add more depth and bring out the texture more.

I didn't originally plan on adding an embellishment to this when I was working on it.  I figured the wonderful texture, pattern and luscious peacock colors would be enough, but once it was "finished" I knew it needed that little extra touch to make it truly special. The top half seemed a bit boring and "light" compared to the heavier bottom, but I didn't want to overdo it.  I new just what it needed. 

 It needed balance. 

I loved the bead and wire detail that I added to my "Wish" painting, so I  decided to do something like that again.  I wire-wrapped beads with copper wire and then made two long links out of wire to to connect it to the sides with copper tacks.

Ahh.  Balance.

So do you sense a theme here? 

 I noticed that a lot of artist bloggers pick a word to represent the new year for them.  Something they want or need in their life.  Something to strive for and focus on in that year.  I wondered if I were to pick a word, what would it be?  I started to write a list but nothing hit home. 

 So I let it go.  

A few days later this word kept on popping in my head.  Balance.  What did this painting need?  Balance.  More importantly...what do I need?  Balance.  I really do.  I need to find balance in all areas right now.  Art.  Family.  Health.  etc...

So folks, I'm going to give this word of the year thing a shot.  Why not? 

 I feel better already just writing it and putting it out there.

So that's my word for 2011. 

 Balance.

 

OOPS!!!  I just noticed that it's now 1am!!  Well....not off to the best start with this whole balance thing, but baby steps.  

Baby Steps.