Two steps forward….

As the wax shavings were piling up yesterday, I thought about the rhythm of my progress.  I bet I’m not alone in this.  I didn’t realize there is a definite pattern to learning until I started working with encaustic.

After many years in watercolor, I started experimenting with casein.  This was a few years ago and I felt like a coward.  I’d struggle with casein for a month or so, creating one good painting followed by two failures, then run screaming back to watercolor.  It was such a relief to get back to something I could DO!  I remember melting into my watercolor chair and letting the tension drain.  Gradually, my skills developed and with more consistency, I spent longer periods of time working with casein.  It took a couple of years to reach the point when I went back to watercolor with regret.

I considered and studied encaustic for a long time before buying the supplies and setting up ventilated area.  There is more expense and more layout concerns with this medium.  To my surprise, I followed the same pattern of learning.  As excited and commited as I was to encaustic, I had trouble sticking with it for too long.  At one point, I dropped it totally for a year or so — it seemed almost irresponsible to spend so much time on a medium that was totally kicking my tail.

I’m back to it now and I feel a deep commitment to it , finally.  And I see my reoccurring pattern.  I’m constantly amazed by what my art experiences teach me — about myself but also about all of us.  Comfort level matters in personal growth as much as the courage to explore.  I don’t think I can have one without respecting the other.