Thursday, May 7, 2009

. . . tried painting again?




Watching little Betsy paint on Sunday really opened my eyes. Inspired by her application of thick paint, I began doing the same randomly on a canvas, using a pallette knife. I'm making things up as I go along. I'm trying to create something different than my usual. . . I don't know if it will be any good at all, or even if it will turn out any different, but I'm trying to paint like Betsy. These are pictures of portions of the work in progress, the more frantic portions. I recently read somewhere that you can have too much texture in a canvas.





I believe I have mentioned before that I get message from the Daily Ohm. Sometimes it's scary to get these messages, because they are exactly what I need to hear at that particular time. Here's what I got last week (with apologies to anyone who also got it and has already read it):
The quiet lull into we which we fall between ideas, projects, and goals can make
life seem empty. After accomplishing one objective, you may want to move
immediately on to the next. However, when your next step is unclear, you may
feel frustrated, disconnected, or even a mild depression. You may even perceive
your lack of forward momentum as an indicator of imminent stagnation. To calm
these distressing thoughts, try to accept that if your intent is personal
growth, you will continue to grow as an individual whether striving for a
specific objective or not. Spending time immersed in life’s rigors and pleasures
can be a cathartic experience that gives you the time you need to think about
what you have recently gone through and leisurely contemplate what you wish to
do next. You may also find that in simply being and going through the motions of
everyday life, you reconnect with your priorities in a very organic, unforced
way.


I have been "leisurely contemplat(ing) what (I) wish to do next." Now I needn't feel like a lazy bum about it. It really is a growth spurt.

4 comments:

Leslie Avon Miller said...

This is a very Zen like. Following Betsy's approach, being in "beginner's mind" and allowing the "in between" energy to have its place. Easy to say, more of a challenge to do....Thanks for the reminder Mary.

ps pirro said...

It's all in the framing, isn't it.

I like the textural stuff, and you're new mantra: paint like Betsy. That's great. xox, ps

Martha Marshall said...

Kids are such wonderful inspiration! I love the daily ohm passage. I used to subscribe but haven't kept up lately.

This sounds like it's talking about me too. I go in and out of these.

Mary Buek said...

Leslie: The painting, 36 x 36, turned out much better than I could have hoped, making me try another one in different colors. All experimentation, smearing and blending, or not.

PS: Oooh, I like that mantra, too. Now if I can get Joey to sit still long enough to paint, I may come up with even more inspiration.

Martha: Are you kidding?? You are my hero. You always have something going on, always trying something new.