Another Goodbye

Layla left me today!  I take a break from painting on Friday mornings to transport rescue dogs for Friends of Retrievers Rescue.  Today, my foster Layla along with five other dogs left Alabama — all headed to forever homes with approved adopters.  I cherish my time in the studio but I’ve learned to do other things that matter to me too.  Animal rescue is an important part of my life for so many reasons, but the number one reason today was the little dog you see here.  Layla.  She was in a high kill shelter with little chance of getting out.  Now she’s happy, healthy, and rolling down the interstate as I type….toward a lovely woman who will love her totally.  Have a wonderful life, little Layla.  

Shelved for a few days

I left it here.  I’ll be away from this piece for a few days, so I’ll let it settle and come back to it fresh.  Getting away from this one will be smart — I need to keep my hands off of it for a while.

And as Layla and I made our last walk together around the studio, I took a few minutes to appreciate my day.  Layla will be traveling to her forever home on Friday.  She’s a sweet little girl who deserved a chance to live.  Meghan Clayton and I have shared her fostering responsibility and it has been a total pleasure.  Remember friends, support your rescue group and your local spay/neuter clinic.  

Still in the Valley

I’m almost ready to put the major foreground components in.  I’m WAY ready to do that so I can get rid of the dead spaces that are throwing me off visually (very top horizontal and a vertical on the left side).  As I look at this image on my computer, I see composition problems that weren’t evident to me today while I worked and I think I can make the corrections tomorrow.

Today was a focused day - no chatter and very few distractions after I settled in.  For whatever it’s worth, I’m hanging with this one till I drive it right off a cliff or pull it together.  Either way, I’m going to get there.   

The Scary Middle

Am I scared?  Oh yeah.  I’ve put a ton of hours and sweat into this piece and I have an equally long way to go….and I have a suspicion that I may be totally off track.  I’m in the valley where I can’t see my way out….but I keep going because stopping isn’t an option and going back isn’t either.  

Every piece has a valley, and I think they should, but some are deeper and darker than others.  I tend to work the hardest during this time because I want to get past this point.  This is the point of most uncertainty when the most is invested and and I stand to lose the most.  Or at least, that’s how it seems.  

The zinc white I’ve waited on for three weeks arrived last night.  I don’t need it for this piece but maybe that’s a good sign.  I’ll take any sign I can get right now.  

From Airport Road

I worked a few hours in the studio yesterday and then we had a nice dinner at sunset.  Today I didn’t make it there at all….too many rescue related details to take care of.  That’s okay, I’m excited about going back to work in the morning. Being hungry to work is a good feeling.

Take cover now…

It’s one of those Alabama days and the warnings keep coming.  The tornado sirens continued nonstop today and unfortunately, there have been injuries and damaged homes in our area.  I continued to work with my radio on till 4pm, listening for storms heading toward my area of town. The studio isn’t the safest place in a storm but it’s hard to give up a whole day of painting - and tornados are impossible to predict or to even get too stressed over.

And speaking of NOT stressed, this is Layla!  She’s my newest studio assistant.  She’s a 30 lb. lab/spitz mix who needed some help escaping a local high kill shelter.  She’s a year old and 100% puppy!  Dana the dog, Jelly, and Misty think we need to find her an adoptive home FAST :).  She’s all goofy play and they are too dignified for her nonsense.

Layla reminds me so much of Jelly as a pup.  She watched me paint yesterday and was convinced I was cooking.  First chance she got, she jumped in my chair to “taste” what was in the pans.  I caught her before she got a mouthful of hot wax.  I’m surprised Jelly is still around after all the watercolor he ate as a kid.  Layla is absolutely delightful.

The Drivers Seat

Dana, the foster dog, has it all figured out.  She’s sitting in the chair at my watercolor table so she can watch the traffic on Oakwood Avenue.  From the comfort of HER chair, she alerts me to EVERY pedestrian and bicyclist on the street.  I’m lucky to have her - how else would I know?  :)

Day One

The new piece has begun and even better, I have new colors on the palette. :).  I worked on the drawing yesterday and finished it this morning.  After lunch, I began putting wax medium on my board.  This one is a vertical, 18” x 12”.  I already know that I’ve started with too thin a layer of wax, so I’ll start tomorrow with a couple of layers of clear medium.  This first layer of pigment will recede more than I’d like, but I’ll reclaim it as I go.

At the end of my work day, I spend time with my studio cats — today, Smooch is feeling a little under the weather.  Unlike Noah, he normally isn’t effected by allergies but his eye was bothering him today.  I’m anxious to check on him in the morning.  Smooch is my dog lover — every dog that comes in has to be investigated.  Sweet Smooch.  

It’s a Wrap

Almost.  I put a few details in today and then used oil bar to create form in some areas.  I smear the bars on my palette then apply it to the piece with my fingers.  I”m letting it settle down overnight and I’ll apply my final layers of clear medium tomorrow.  I made more medium today too — I want plenty in my pan tomorrow so my brush won’t drag over the surface.  

And today I started working on a drawing for my next piece.  It was a good Monday.

Hung!

My first group of encaustics are hanging in a gallery.  We visited yesterday Asheville yesterday and were able to see them.  

As always, Blue Spiral http://bluespiral1.com/ has done a lovely job.  They are always kind and handle my work professionally.  I’m so grateful to be associated with them.  I hope to take them a few more in the next couple of weeks.  Unfortunately, I was only able to leave four with them this time. 

Exhibitions, galleries, shows — presenting work to them and having it shown isn’t simply about sales.  Sales are important — my studio and supplies are serious expenses.  Equally important, these opportunities create deadlines and motivate me to not only work daily but also prepare it for viewing.  That last step can’t be overlooked.

I don’t WANT a break….

I’m ready to walk back in this door!  Wanting a break and needing a break are two very different things — and call for different reactions.  I’ve been out of the studio for a couple of days and I’m ready to go back, SO ready.  I’ve been reminded of how important it is to “step out” every now and then.

When I NEED a break, I rarely want one.  I never recognize the need to step away - underscore never.  My brain can become dull, my purpose cloudy, and I’ve even had times when my movements while working were physically slow.  Even then, if I NEED a break I will deny it and work an extra hour to prove it.  Crazy and that kind of crazy can lead to real burnout which I experienced.  I denied the existence of burnout too, by the way, until after I was recovering from it.  

When I WANT a break I immediately question that urge.  I love what I do and if I’d rather be somewhere else then that gives me pause.  At that point, I analyze if I’ve been pushing myself toward a medium or subject out of laziness or demand.  Sometimes I’m in a rut and I need to be jolted to make a change.  Typically, wanting to escape the studio means I need to deal with something IN the studio better.    

I didn’t want a break this time but I think it was well timed.  I’m happy with my work but I needed a mental pep talk.  I’m going to enjoy my weekend and be back in the chair on Monday morning to finish my large piece.

Trust

I bought this tiny box from artist Cathy Rose many years ago.  Her work has always grabbed me and continues to speak to me.  This piece hangs over my encaustic palettes.  It’s a reminder that I glance at daily.  Some days, I pause but other days a good long stare is needed.   http://cathyrose.com/gallery.htm

Wise Words

Your work is to discover your world then with all your heart give yourself to it. - Buddha

I think the secret is to stay engaged, to stay plugged in.  It isn’t easy — it’s much more comfortable to drift away and pretend a decision was never made.  But every action, every minute is a decision.  The desire to let go and mentally walk into the woods and never look back can be strong because then we think we could be released from responsibilty and disappointment  

Keep creating.  Keep caring.  Because in tiny ways as well as big ones, a life devoted to creativity makes a difference in this world.  It matters.  We all matter.  

Why THAT?

Easy answer :).  This subject has everything I’m looking for.  I’m fascinated by the wires and pipes winding around holes and knobs.  I have no idea what all these elements are but I’m intrigued - ALWAYS intrigued.  

The rest of the answer, honestly speaking, is that there is much that DOESN’T work for me.  I want my paintings to be uniquely mine - that’s all I have to offer.  If there are ten people painting along a river bank, nine of them will paint the water.  I’d choose to paint the boat house or the tree branches overhanging the water.  Why do we need ten paintings of the water, even if every single one is outstanding?

I also find that my energy fades with many subjects — and when it fades, the work nose dives.  I can’t fake interest.  Either I’m intrigued and all my senses click in…..or VERY often I think “yep, that’s nice but I can’t stay engaged with it visually for more than 3 minutes.”

So personally, I paint what fascinates me and what gives me opportunity to use color and line the way I want to.  Pretty simple.   

Bud!

The studio was a busy place this afternoon. Bud isn’t feeling well so his mom, Minnie, dropped him off to spend the afternoon with me.  Dana Dog and Caleb kept an eye on him while I worked.  Jelly and Misty stayed home so they wouldn’t stress our Bud while he isn’t feeling well.  Later a group of friends came to work on Friends of Retriever rummage sale donations that are stored in the building behind my studio.  I reached my goal for the day on my encaustic piece and enjoyed seeing friends and stepping over dogs and cats in the process!