Tuesday, January 25, 2011
It is officially ON!
After the longest break from painting I've had since I was 19, I am back to painting and I couldn't feel better about it! I never questioned returning to painting, I knew I would eventually. I didn't force it, I let myself have the time I needed to take a step back and remember why I do this, what I love about it, and to reclaim the JOY of painting. I won't get into the things that dampened my inspiration - I don't feel like giving them any power since I've learned what I needed to and am ready to move on. But I will say this - it is never over. If you are ever an artist, you are never NOT an artist, even if you don't pick up a brush or a sculpting tool or whatever it is you use/do for some time. To any artists out there that have experienced or are experiencing a lack or inspiration or an artist's block, my advice is to just wait it out. It will come again and when it does you'll be refreshed and so inspired.
In my time away, I've spent a good amount of time developing my stamp shop, Green Garden Stamps. I've also spent a lot of time creating, promoting, and managing the Fine Art Friday movement and the Finding Fine Art team on Etsy and blog. I think this has helped me so much - taking a step away from my own work and focusing on a larger community of artists to support got me excited about art in general again. There is still plenty of work to do regarding those projects, but the foundation is laid and now is the perfect time to get back into my own work.
These two pieces are the first to be completed out of a batch of several canvases in progress. I'm working on a larger square canvas right now that is next in line and I'm just loving the bursts of color and the playfulness of these new works.
Under the Snow alludes to the hopefulness I have to have in a record breaking, hard core winter here in New England. Otherwise I just might get buried by cabin fever under all of this snow and ice. It has been INSANE and the snow just keeps on coming! I'm quite thankful for the timing of my return to painting because I'll be leaning on it to get me through the rest of this monstrous winter.
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13 comments:
I went through a little artist's block myself-I had ideas but I just wasn't feeling it. But I'm coming out of it too now (maybe it's the holidays) and pretty excited. You're new paintings are awesome!!
I'm glad your back - your work is stunning. Everyone needs a little break sometimes, for fresh perspectives and new ideas to flow out.
Lovely work!!
My town has the snow depth record in Sweden :(
55 inches. Then it snowed some more. The streets are almost like tunnels. And I hate winter..!
ive been on a similar journey. I luv these.! Best of luck
Golly gee, Jess...these two new pieces are amazing! Really, you have done something so absolutely pleasing to my soul that, when I saw II represented in your profile photo, I squealed a little ;) I dropped my brush for a month and you always inspire me to pick it back up. Thank you for always thriving and painting and growing.
I love your new pieces. Feeling snowed in right now, so I can appreciate them. I've also taken a break from painting. I think I feel myself going in a new direction, and I'm not quite sure where it's going.
you got a real talent i like modern expression or art well is something like pointisme you know french painters only by touch in new age idea love it joelle esther benyayer you can call me 00.33.6.38.41.23.50.i been to visit some exhibitin in nederland england in europa you got something new to show about art is transparent and with a new matrial acrylic or glass with light is more spectacular i believe
Thank you for your encouraging words, Jessica! Ironically, I just wrote a new post in my blog about coming back to art. But I am not coming back yet! It's nice to see you again.
hi jessica
check out Georgia Gray's work on her blog. Scroll down and you see some work so 'familiar'.
Sherrill
Cracking paintings, I'm sure some of them would look awesome as deckchair slings.find out more http://eyeswidedigital.blogspot.com
LOVE THESE! I've been on a hiatis since I finished my BFA, and I'm trying to get back into the swing of things as well. I think it's going to be difficult.
I just love under the snow I! Beautiful!
Thanks for all of the comments and it's comforting to know it's such a common thing amongst us as artists. Thank you Sherrill for introducing me to Georgia Gray's work. It appears we are inspired by a very similar muse! It's always interesting to discover similar work - you feel as if your own creations have never been made before but then you discover you're really pulling from the same creative source that everyone else is, and you're bound to have some parallel creations.
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