Tulips on the Way

Is there anything better than spring flowers after a long winter?  A friend brought this bouquet of tulips and the colors were so uplifting.  I decided to use a wash technique, flowing in lots of red and yellow paint,  letting it dry, (patience!) then slowly finding and "modeling" tulips out of the wash.   

Maternal Spring

Every spring robins get busy with their nest making and raising young'uns, sometimes multiple batches.  They are irresistible to watch and sometimes we get really lucky if they make their beds close by.  Once I found one in a strawberry patch on the ground!
I was trying to be much looser with the bird but somehow got caught up in the details.  Still, it has a soft look to it that's kind of nice. Maybe a second round will help, or maybe paint with my eyes closed!

Screech!

Another little screech owl in progress. They are so cute! And it's fun to learn more about each bird as you do research as well.

Thoughts Whirling...

Owl painted in painting group today.  He's coming along and very fun to do.


I must be having a very philosophical day; so many things made me pause for thought about what painting is meaning to me now compared to when I started.
Drawing and painting has always been a big part of my life, it was just something that constantly called me, saying "Just do it! Doodle! Cartoon! Just pick up a pencil and get it moving!"  The thought of people buying my art someday sounded really attractive and maybe out of my reach.  One day -years later-joy!- someone bought my first notecards which were made up into little zip-lock Baggies from the grocery store.  That was fun, but what about the framed originals?  Why don't more people buy those? I need money to pay for this hobby and more would be nice.  I was constantly pricing and re-pricing, trying to save money framing, anything to make it price friendly enough for people to buy. Now, it is a few more years later, and now I sell prints and notecards, and originals as well at a few shows and galleries. I'm still under the radar with a website in mind, but what means the most to me now is that the people buying the artwork really love it and it makes them feel good.  They can feel whatever emotion and joy I put into the piece.  They're not buying it because it goes with their couch in the living room.   Nothing is more satisfying than that.

When I went to my painting group today, my favorite muse artist came and worded precisely what I've been feeling but hadn't put into words yet. It was something her son had said to her; "Mom, your painting is your worship".  Bing! Suddenly it all makes sense.  The paintings that others like are the ones where I barely remember moving the brush.  Call it a zone, a higher power, or whatever you like, but it's your talent and desire and hours of practice that have led to these moments of zen-like action.  I hope it lasts forever.  The money may come as a result, but the emotion must always be there first.

Below is a link to a great article with many ideas that convey the whole picture of art and what needs to be thought about first, if indeed you would like to sell your art.

http://www.redlemonclub.com/brand-you/why-no-one-likes-your-art-26-reasons/