paint party friday -- just do it

I've been meaning to join in with Paint Party Friday for weeks now. As each Friday rolls around I prepare to post and then... it doesn't happen. Either I get carried away by the weather, or decide that I really should be painting instead of writing about painting or I feel as if I shouldn't be posting about more in-process paintings or something. It seems that there are a lot of somethings in my life. So, here I am. Doing a Paint Party Friday post. As is. Because if I decide to try to finish a couple paintings before posting, I'll never get around to this post.

As I mentioned in a post the other week, I started working on my circles painting again. This is how it currently looks:




More layers. And there will be even more to come. I wish I could just finish it, but with each layer it feels more unfinished. I let it sit for a long time before these last layers, pretending it was finished. But I was never satisfied that it was finished. You think it means I need to let it go?

I have some backgrounds waiting for something (again with the something), but I'm not sure where to go with them. I like playing with acrylics, but maybe I'm just lacking confidence. In part because I'm not sure where I want to go with my abstract paintings when I'm working on them. I like going with the flow, but perhaps I need to plan things a little more. Like this little piece:




I can hardly count this as a painting, can I? But my point is that I had a very clear idea of what I wanted to do before I did it. I knew I wanted to create a piece that resembled a chalk board. Black paint (mixed with a bit of blue and white) with oil pastel words. When I know what I want my art to turn into, it goes a lot faster.

Well, not always. My watercolor paintings take forever. This little cyclamen painting is still waiting to be finished:




The plant I used as a model looks nothing like this anymore. I've gone back and forth on this one. Liking it and not liking it. Trying to force work on it when I wasn't in the mood didn't really help with that. But, if I compare this painting to the first cyclamen I painted back when I was first trying out watercolors and masking fluid...




I can see that I've improved.

Maybe it's all about being in the mood. I'm learning to listen to that. I go where my creativity lies. Where the inspiration points me. Lately I've been loving sketching.




This little fish is my newest sketch. My intention was to fill up the page with fish, kind of like my butterfly sketches and my maple seeds, but this one fish took me over an hour to finish (I was watching Mad Men some of the time, probably too visual a show to sketch during). I loved working on the sketch. I'm still a bit joyfully baffled and excited by this recent foray into sketching. For so long I've held the opinion that I can't draw. Discovering that I can is a marvel. I wonder how else I've been limiting myself because of faulty beliefs. And you. What do you believe you can't do. Maybe you really can.

And don't forget to stop by the Paint Party Friday blog for this week's artist interview and to visit with lots of paint partiers!

Comments

  1. so lovely to see all the things you are working on. I love that each piece has a different feeling to it, different facets of you~

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  2. I'm loving the layers on your first painting. :) And a fantastic liking of the plant. :)

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  3. Good for you for jumping in. Love your work. Keep painting on the circles as it calls to you. You will know when it is done. Layers are good, they are great... they build a story through the tapestry of your brush strokes. Happy PPF

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  4. It's great that you're doing several things at the same time! When you get stuck, move on, that's my motto! I like the circles, even if you say it's unfinished! And your fish is masterly! Blessings! Patsy from
    HeARTworks

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  5. Your watercolour paintings are exquisite, just love your cyclamen! Valerie

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  6. Oh my gosh..what a super beautful post Anne..gorgeous art!!and not to mention such gorgeous poetic photos..I love your white vintage-y glassware..so beautiful!! Love your circles..very empowering..and your florals always inspire me..and little fishy is super divine..hugs..thanks for a beautiful spot of magic to my day!
    Victoria

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  7. Loving your pieces, especially the fab fish. Happy PPF, Annette x

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  8. Love your art! The fish is adorable. The first piece is my fav, my daughter would love this. Happy PPF!

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  9. Wonderful compositions with beautiful designs, I really like the first.

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  10. Hi Anne. I've always loved your work, especially of the flowers you do. I do like that white dishware and everything else on the table. It's a picture waiting to be taken and you did.:) I'm sure your work on the circles will be outstanding as always. Have a great weekend.

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  11. I love the cyclamen and the fish! Wonderful art! As for me......i have always believed i can draw ..... It seems to be the only area i actually have Any confidence in!

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  12. I really enjoyed seeing all of the pieces that you are working on. I LOVE the background color of the abstract painting. This piece really has an energy to it. I also enjoyed your fish. Isn't fun when you realize that you can do something that you didn't think you could? I took a pastel class once and really felt lost. Then I took another class and one session was devoted to pastels and I realized that I really enjoyed them. Different day, different teacher or maybe I was just ready. I don't know why I felt so different but I am glad that I got another chance to find out that I really did enjoy them.

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  13. I spent weeks on a cyclamen for a show with the botanical art society a few years ago and it was great when it was done, but boy did it take forever... your is looking great and I like seeing someone else who has a million things on the go at once... I need a deadline to get off my butt and get things finished off... have a great week...xx

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  14. LOve your works in progress! You know I have been meaning to join in on PPF too, but I have been putting quite a lot of effort in my Craft Blog to get it started so painting had been taking a back seat. Soon I may reappear. Your work is fantastic! :-)

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  15. Wow my circle painting ended up getting painted over and I'm actually sad because it was way better than what I have ended up with!! Hope that doesn't happen to you....I am in yet again revamp stage!!

    I think you're right to wait for the feeling to return!! I keep hearing interviews with artist and famous writers...they all have a gremlins that brings them doubt... I think it comes with being creative, you just have to hush the voice and try!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  16. Hi Anne! Well I sure thought that the chalkboard was indeed a chalkboard, wow! I think you are right about the being in the mood. Sometimes we can try to force the mood though. Maybe flipping through great art mags or visiting other artists sites or art videos always makes me want to go paint myself. I've often heard very prolific artists (and successful) say they paint everyday whether they are in the mood or not. But I tend to do what you do and I don't fight a painting or drawing if not in the mood. I just get hurried and mess it up.

    I love your little fish! I'm so happy for you and your newly discovered drawing skills! You've had it in you all along and didn't know it. Well, waste no time! Develop that natural talent :)

    I love your plant paintings... even the old one. You know I love plants. Keep going on your circles and it's layers. Perhaps you need to just look at it a while as you pass by it everyday. Something will come to you.

    xx Jaime

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  17. Oh Anne, your little fish sketch is so cute. Loving your abstract circle painting and how it's evolving. Don't let your head get in the way of making your art. I have the same problem too. Musn't be too hard on yourself. Watercolors do take time to paint. I have one I've been trying to finish for over a year! Have a fabulous weekend!!! xo

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  18. I don't know where you got the idea you couldn't draw..your water colours are always so well sketched out waiting to be filled with watery colour! :) But yes I totally get the "something" part..like waiting for everything to be perfect for me..so well done for just doing it!
    Loving ALL of your creativity from the gorgeous header and the pastel crochet scarf, the beautiful display to remind you to "make art", the scrumptuous turquoise painty drips, your delicate cyclamen leaves and of course the sweet sweeeet fishy sketch :) HUGS to you xx

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  19. These sketches are really beautiful. Yes, I think you should always follow what your heart/instincts tell you to do in your art. I love your fish, I miss my pond.

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  20. I love seeing your many talents develop Anne and I especially LOVE the fish! He has so much personality! Just think how wonderful he(or she) would look painted in water colours. I can imagine a little fish swimming out of one of the circles in your abstract paintings.

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  21. Wow! All of these are great!
    Love your circle painting and "make art" little painting especially!! :)
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  22. Lovely work with watercolor and masking! Like the top piece too. HPPF!

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  23. OMG.. i feel like i hit the jackpot with coming here. :-) Your work is gorgeous and i'm such a sucker for circles!!
    LOVE your colors... and that simple little "make art" sign. Yes, i need one of those. :-)
    Found you via PPF - xoxo

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  24. I really like all your pieces, especially the acrylic wip painting,but also the watercolors, the photograph and sketches! So lovely and fresh! Love your colors! <3 happy PPF!

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  25. Thank you for all the sweet and encouraging comments!! They mean so much to me.

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  26. I love seeing all your paintings and sketches, in progress or finished. And I think the little vignette you have created of the painting and your crochet hooks and threads is just beautiful.

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  27. Great fish, so lively. Awesome use of the grey scale.
    I understand what you say about layers. When is it "finished"?
    Totally in love with the Make art canvas setting. What a lovely set of white glass and yarn. SO colourful and delicate.

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  28. Nice works...love the fish, so full of life. I am yet to use the masking liquid technique:( I should try sometime, soon!

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  29. You are so prolific! Love your circles especially.

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