Picking up the paint brush, again and again

I've come to the conclusion, that the hardest thing in life is repetition, the grind. Doing what you know you need to do- to be proactive- and to be productive- Every- day. When I feel like it, when I don't feel like it. When I feel like it- there is nothing in the world I would rather do, I mean really? Art=Dream Job. It just doesn't get better- I was built for this. Then there's those days common to us humans, where even the best things in life just don't seem that desirable and I don't want to paint and be creative. It's the last thing in the world I want to do. If I have to repaint that face for the fifth time, I'll just scream! Despite all that, you go to work anyway. I've found ways to help fight the don't feel like it blues. Music, heroes, and friends.

Music just helps set the mood. Is it going to be fighting music, melancholy music, get up and go? Epic? whatever is needed, music can help get there, but it doesn't do anything at all for me when I get stuck on a project that I just don't know how to fix.

That's when heroes come in- the best of the best. I sit here, and I look at them. I know they've had the same struggles as me and they got through it either by sticking it out or help from friends and mentors. I read about them, what they said, what others said about them, and what their hands crafted. They make me feel better and worse all at the same time. They inspire. I see how far I need to go and how far they have come. I study techniques and observe skills. I covet. I admire. I despise. I love. Then I go back to my project and I work again. If they can do it- may I can too.

Last of all friends. Not the least important mind you. Having a good set of friends with similar passions can be quite motivating when it comes to the painting department. Even better if you work with them. They know what  it's like to go through lulls in the creative juices and how to keep squeezing art out when it doesn't feel like there is anything left for the day or the week- or the rest of your life. They encourage, they tell you when it looks stupid and the most helpful ones tell you how to fix it. These are the indispensable ones on bad days and on good days, because they can make any day turn out great.

So here's a post for the creative lulls of life. They come, they go. The trick is to keep going anyway.

Carnation Lily Lily Rose

This is last weeks progress. I would have more documented, but the recorder just was not working with me. Frustration. Above is the progress captured successfully in the camera, and below is the true progress of the painting as of now. Haven't had much time for it, but when I do, it's wonderful

Learning to simplify

Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose- Sargent

 I tend to put in too many details. to over complicate simple beauty, so I'm studying Sargent this week. Next week I'll put up the finished project, but I'm doing a this mastercopy Sargent

  

 This is where I am so far with the study. Slowly getting the kids put in there and trying to get the right color harmony. I think the hardest part to replicate is going to be the grass ironically. I don't understand why he put so much detail into them. It's just grass, but there is more detail in the blades of grass than there is in the strands of hair. Don't understand that, but I am learning alot.

 

 I really like how he simplifies her hair, and the folds. There's detail, but there is a simplicity to it. Color, but just what's needed. Simple and few strokes. One day, I'll get it.