Sunday Paintings
Goals are good. Sticking to them is even better.
Sooooo what a week?! I feel like I’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster. I suspect it’s like buyers remorse. You get the great house, then cry the first night right? I new this would happen so I was somewhat mentally prepared, but we can’t avoid the uncomfortable feelings of growth. Yep, I’m talking about my 6 month creative pilgrimage. I jumped in, asked for the time off work, have got said time, got through my son’s surgery, then bam! I was faced with the reality of having what I wanted. How funny is that?
See being an artist is difficult. Not just the painting - in fact to me that’s the enjoyable part, but the sharing. The showing up and opening the doors to feedback, positive or negative, requires a bravery like no other. Actually I think it requires something a little different to bravery. It’s like a loving arrogance. It’s a deep knowing that your work is true, authentic and honest, it is part of you, but seperate from you and if it is not ‘liked’ that’s the viewers problem, not yours. Rejection must only deepen your resolve. And all of this is a vital survival skill in the art world.
And what I’ve done, is signed myself up for 6 months of what I love, yes, but what is also the most difficult thing I’ve ever done in my life! Hence the buyers remorse. BUT, thankfully mindset management is a skill I have been perfecting these past few months and I can quickly switch the headspace back to one of positivity, deep gratitude that I have this time to work on myself and my art, and love for all of the people (including you!) that support me along the way.
This brings me to my Sunday paintings. It’s become a bit of a thing in Australia for artists to offer small paintings straight from their studio’s on Sundays. I thought, ok, I’ll play. My main goal with these paintings is to grow this little community. To bring my work in front of more people. To share my love for art and the deep importance of sprinkling beauty all around us.
Week 1 was inspired by my recent trip to the Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens here in Brisbane. This bonsai is a satuski azalea. I fell in love with this one, its scattered flowers in bloom, some buds getting ready to bloom and its peaceful branches that seemed to flow up like a river. I aimed to keep the feeling of flow in this work, through the use of the watercolour medium itself, letting the water do some of the painting, controlling here and releasing there.
Let me know what you think in the comments. If you like this artwork you can purchase it here or if you have enjoyed anything I have discussed today be sure to comment, share and recommend this post to your family and friends. Thank you so so much!
Have a beautiful week,
Sarah x