Facing A Blank Canvas...

After last week's confession, I feel like I'm beginning a new chapter in my life. Starting fresh. Like a blank canvas. Now, I must admit that a clean slate used to intimidate me to no end. But over the years, I've learned to just do something! Anything! Make a mark. draw a line. Paint on some color. I've learned that I don't need to know what direction I'm going... or where I might end up. As long as I keep moving forward. Painting has taught me a lot about life!

Now that school is in, it's the perfect time to "study up" on what it is that I want out of life. And as luck would have it... I stumbled across the perfect workshop to entertain my curiosity! Having admired Flora Bowley's work for some time now, I saw that she was having an e-course entitled Bloom True. Her 5-week workshop takes a "transformational approach to painting (and living) that celebrates intuition, connects body, mind and spirit and allows unique and expressive paintings to emerge naturally and authentically." So I've set my intentions for this class... and I know that I'm in the right place at just the right time.

Thoughtful Thursdays: I Can't!

Earlier this week, I got the opportunity to take a 2-day painting class from Portland artist Jesse Reno entitled Freedom to Create. I knew it would be tough because his class takes you outside your comfort zone. I knew this going in, which is why I chose to take the class. Being the "recovering perfectioninst" that I am, taking a workshop that thrusts you into making mistakes and confronting what you don't like, would have terrified me 5 years ago. But these days... I was really looking forward to turning "I can't" into, "How can I?" I definitely feel more confident about looking at my art and being objective now (Life, well... that's another story!).

I'll be posting some interesting progressive photos of my project, showcasing all the layers and how they changed throughout the class in my blog post on Tuesday so, stay tuned...