paint party friday -- learning, practice, frustration and determination

Last week I voiced some doubts/fears/frustrations about my painting.  I wasn't being down on myself, just sharing my feelings in my journey of painting experimentation and learning.  I'm only just starting out and have no art background, so at times I get a bit lost on my journey, or feel a bit lost.  I try to regain the childlike wonder and joy of creating, go back to a time where I didn't have an inner critic.  I think that's one of the reasons that children create so fearlessly; they don't have a voice inside questioning and doubting.




I found that picture in my parents' collection.  I'm maybe 7 or 8 sitting on the patio behind the house.  Not sure if I was talking or singing or just making silly faces, but I think it's clear that I'm enjoying myself.  That's a girl who would definitely have fun with Paint Party Friday

I started painting yesterday.  This week I was determined to improve my rose painting ability.  I took a larger piece of watercolor paper and sketched out a bunch of roses.  I figured that I could practice and practice and that I'd learn a few things as I went along.  I also sketched a little ivy plant to paint (partly for more practice with masking fluid!).  My intentions were good and everything started out wonderfully.




I tried working a petal at a time and giving the paint a little bit of time to dry before working on nearby petals so the paint wouldn't run all over the place.  I'm not sure what happened, though, because I worked and worked and worked on the roses, trying to "fix" the problems and I lost that light, simple look I started with.  Even so, I enjoyed working on my painting and was determined to keep going.

A funny thing about the masking fluid.  It worked fine.  I finished the leaves and rubbed it away and in doing so I ended up erasing the lines for the rest of the plant and its pot (which I hadn't yet painted).  Oops.  Next time I'll wait or be more careful when removing it.

I touched up yesterday's roses today and added some stems instead of just tearing the paper off the block and discarding it (an urge I had a couple times yesterday). 




They might not have turned out how I wanted them to, but they're not as bad as I feared.  And, I definitely learned something in the process.




I probably like this one the best.

The interesting thing about my painting experience these past two days is that although it was frustrating and challenging to me, I feel determined, driven, even, to keep going.  To work more and more and more and to eventually succeed (whatever that means?  Being happy with my work?  Getting a painting to turn out as I imagine it should?).  That determination makes me happy and it fills me with hope.  Makes me think that, yes, I might really be a painter.  Not yet a very good one, but somehow that doesn't matter right now.

Today, though, is a party, so I'll spend no more time philosophizing.

Here's my ivy:



And a rose I painted today:




I'm off to get tonight's chili started and then I'll visit everyone's blogs and maybe have some time to get my next acrylic painting started, too. 

Comments

  1. The page with five flowers is lovely. It's my favorite of all the images you posted. Happy PPF!

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  2. Beautiful flowers- I was going to agree that th rose was my favorite, but after a closer look I have to say I love them all and can't choose! They are each just so delicate and lovely- you have a beautiful sense of color and shading- I just love the feeling your work invokes.
    Lovely!

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  3. These aren't bad at all! Put them out of sight and look at them fresh tomorrow and they will please you better. That happens to me a lot. I think the top right one is my favorite!

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  4. Love your flowers and the way they melt right into the watercolor paper. They seem to just float. Great rose and wonderful ivy. Wonderful work. Chili sounds good.

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  5. The watercolor is very difficult, and you're doing very well,The pink flower is cool.

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  6. I think your roses turned out very nicely. I am like you, I have recently started my art journey and am way too critical of my work. I typically catch on to things quickly and it aggravates me that watercolors has been the exception to that rule so far. Keep up the good work!

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  7. your work is so lovely...maybe the self doubt helps! I can't see any problem.

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  8. Beautiful roses, I like them all but I feel drawn to the partially open one on the top row. Your ivy turned out really nice.

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  9. For having no art background, you sure do know how to handle watercolors! These look great...I love the saturation variation in the petals, like you can feel the smoothness. I think watercolors are super difficult, but you're doing great! happy weekend :)

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  10. I would say that painting with watercolor is 1 of the hardest mediums. I think your are so fresh. I like what you painted!!!

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  11. Hi Anne,

    I really like to read through your thought process - lots of things that many of us think about but don't vocalize! I think the hardest thing with watercolors for me is to just let it be! I always want to just add one. more. thing. I see improvement already from last week but I think that the first couple photos of the roses are *beautiful*. Keep it up (and thanks for the comment on my doggy painting)!
    ~Kerry

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  12. I love your determination and I can see that it is (and will continue to) pay off... I'm so glad you're enjoying the process (I'm enjoying watching)!

    xo
    Kristin

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  13. Great to see some flowers for spring! Haha. They turned out great. I do like the lighter ones alot, but the other ones are great as well. Happy PPF

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  14. If only we could silence the inner critic! My favorite rose is your favorite. It's so delicate and free. I always love reading about your process.

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  15. Your watercolors are turning out beautiful! Love them. The roses in all the colors. Keep going that girl is in there, have fun!Happy PPF! Theresa

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  16. You're watercolor roses are wonderful! Keep at it and it will come to you...and don't be too hard on yourself.

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  17. I loved the page with all the roses. To me they were ALL beautiful! My favorite rose was the one you chose. The color and shading is amazing! I love how you showed the process and talked about your feelings as you painted. You're doing wonderfully! I look forward to seeing more. :)

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  18. oh Anne!!!! these are super fantastic pieces...wow!!! I love love love watercolor....

    I also hope you pop by every Saturday on my blog for "Sweet Saturdays"

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  19. I like that picture of you! Your flowers are so pretty and I love the leaves on your ivy. And in watercolor, I'm imopressed, watercolors are hard to figure out!

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  20. I think I said this last week - its time to stop giving yourself a hard time. You have talent! Love Rosie

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  21. Your rose paintings are so delicate and pretty. And I love the photo of you painting as a child!

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  22. I think you're doing really very well with your rose work!

    I can rely to your frustration as I'm also just starting out. I also had NIL art background. Hence I found myself going around circles lots of the time.

    Just keep working on it. You'll get there! ;)

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  23. I think they are lovely - we are always so critical of ourselves. Would love to join you for painting and sipping coffee! (:

    Rach x

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  24. They are fab. Cut them up and stitch them onto card with your sewing machine, they would make lovely hand made cards.

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  25. Wow! Those flowers are ALIVE! Beautiful work. I love the old photo, as well. Very sweet and what you say is so true...reminds me of the Picasso quote, "All children are artists...the problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."

    Happy Saturday!! :)

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  26. I think your paintings are beautiful. Your roses have a delicate precious feel to them. I think the more you cultivate the art of allowing yourself to express freely (like as a child) and keep enjoying the process like you are - the results will just keep being gorgeous and more gorgeous! The whole process of learning through creating and experimenting is a joyous one :-)

    BTW thank you for signing up and displaying the TIC TOCC badge.

    Kat X
    PS you've got me wanting to eat chilli now...

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  27. Hi Anne! Wow..powerful post with amazing insights..i love the photo of you as a child..you are very talented..and yoru art is beautiful and gorgeous...i love your energy and spirit and the gentleness that shines through your work...very beautiful! Gorgeous work!

    I think it is wonderful not to have an art background( I dont at all)..I think it allows one to be more free in exploring your art journey without a conditioned way to think about art! Celebrate that!

    I think your work is awesome! When i started to paint I had no idea what to do..but i slowly began to trust myself and experiment and explore my art and enjoy it...it is truly just getting to know yourself and creating!

    Keep shining..keep trusting within yourself..allow your journey to guide you..enjoy it..it is special..and yes bring back that child in you that didn't have an inner critic..and fly!! It is art...feel the joy..celebrate it!
    Hugs
    Victoria~

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  28. i love that you chose one thing to work on, roses.
    they are lovely, thank you for sharing how you went about them.

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  29. Loving your flowers. I am learning with watercolours and have found it very unpredictable, but thats what is so great about it. Enjoy your chilli. Annette

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  30. I am in the same predicament but you are much better painter than I. There is something magical about painting, it gives you a different direction that you want to take but then suddenly gives you a pleasant surprise and gives you the ambition to continue on. Have fun with experimenting, seems to be taking you where you want.Adore the rose and the other paintings.

    Annabelle ~^..^~

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  31. Oh my goodness, Anne, I think your roses are lovely!! Watercolors are my favorite medium, but they are so difficult, aren't they? I think you're doing great!!! Imagine what that young Anne pictured above would think of what you can do now! Enjoy the process - you are such an artist!

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  32. I wish I could give each of you a hug! Thank you so much for your kind, encouraging comments. So nice to have the support of all of you as I take this journey; it makes it that much easier!

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  33. Love the soft roses...beautiful! :-)

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  34. youur roses are Lovely and Yes my dear you are an artist! We all have our doubts about our own work.
    hugs Lynn

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  35. Great practice work. I love them. It can be a challenge to get soft edges. I like to cheat by washing, highlighting or dabbing with acrylic white...even on watercolor paintings. Sometimes just a bit of white magically transforms everything ;)
    Kathryn

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  36. The roses are so beautiful - I'm glad that you didn't throw them away. I think it's time for your inner critic to shut up. You are on a wonderful journey and I can understand your feeling determined and driven. You will get "better", whatever that means. I am on a similar journey and I'm only too familiar with those terrible inner voices. Please ignore them! Your work is beautiful.

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  37. I think your flowers are gorgeous!

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  38. Thanks so much. And hugs to all of you.

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  39. I love these AND your philosophizing!They turned out beautifully.

    I agree, I think one of the joys of art is we learn something with each effort we make and each piece we create.

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