I hate live painting. For me to write a blog on "How to Live Paint" is a joke. I love people. I love when people watch and are amazed at me creating artwork. It is still very surprising to me that the human spirit is so connected to art of any form. We all connect to some for of art. Everyone from small children to age old adults.
Everytime I paint in front of people I get so nervous. I feel so much anxiety leading up to setting up in front of a crowd and really showing my creative process. It is hard to reveal myself. I feel like I am doing a strip tease. Very humbling. Yet when I get people talking to me and standing there watching me for long periods at a time...it is so invigorating. They are so happy to see someone create. I have artists that I know personally watch me and smile and compliment me. I see under my cap people smiling and watching me....ME! of all people..I am the centerpiece....very humbling. They actually participate in what I am creating. They want to be a part of the creative process and they make suggestions.
I am probably like most artists and are very shy when asked to paint in front of strangers. I am self taught so I do not have anything to risk being as that I do not have rules to live by in my creative process. I just paint. But even I still get intimidated by the thought of revealing my weaknesses as an artist. Making mistakes. Experimentation on the fly. But when I am actually doing it it is liberating. I get lost in the process. It is like no one is around. I am on a "runners high" (artist high). There is no failure because I am not trying to impress anyone. I am doing it for myself. My focus is on me and my work. What makes me feel right. That is the attitude we should all take when creating our work. We should be creating and not make excuses. Painting live is like painting in private. It should not matter who is in our presence. They do not matter. We can only hope that the people that are watching are appreciating the process. We could only hope that they are inspired by our actions. They can see our soul for display as a message of hope for them. Art is so alive in my life. I want to share it with the world along with my fellow artists.
At the moment I am going through some very rough times personally. My art is what keepsme grounded. I have been displaced and away from my family. Yet my art keeps me down to earth. I look forward to create daily. It makes me whole. It is a part of me. I am not a part of it. My life is revolving around creating my art. I believe that art has a healing force behind it. Healing of our souls. Changing our attitude towards our outlook. Being in touch with our creator which the gift was given. we show our appreciation by creating and inspiring others. Live painting gives us an opportunity to teach others to open their minds. To love.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
What Stops Us From Creating?
It is funny how we can let things distract us from our true loves. My true love is creating artwork for the world to be inspired by. I can be happy creating 40 pieces and only one will be noticed by one person. That would make it all worth while. We as artists sometimes feel so insecure about what we do that we stop because we get distracted from the real reason we started creating in the first place.
How do we not get distracted? That is a good question. First of all the process is very simple to dissect. We paint, we are not happy with what we create, we stop, we analyze and go over what we are unhappy about and we dwell. Instead of moving forward with another piece and leave the current for later we cry and act like babies. I for one have already waster many years procrastinating because I felt I was not good enough to be among these amazing artists around me in this great community of mine. And yet I still find myself making excuses for not creating again even after I have learned the valuable lesson.
The best way to handle these low points in our creative lives is to create, paint, draw, take the photos, write, compose....work through it! Just keep going! Make anything. Create whatever. Practice techniques!....There is so many things you could be doing to help your love...yet we find so many more delays and distractions...we create on our own. They are not even relevant reasons for stopping. Punish yourself for doing it! It is called work stoppage. Not to be tolerated.
Our soul suffers from this work stoppage. We die each and every time we do this to ourselves. We shorten our life span immensely. If we were to die Monday. Today is Thursday. and Friday we make another excuse...and then Saturday I might think about it...and then I do not start creating til Sunday night....I wasted 3 perfect opportunities to create a masterpieces that can be appreciated by the people we love and our followers. We can have so much more in our legacy. But we are too selfish and think only of how we are in pain to think of the bigger picture. Someone is waiting to connect with our art. Someone is born to live with what we create. It is destined to inspire them in their life. We break the cycle. our art might be the beginning of something special for that person to connect with our soul. Because our soul is left on what we create. We can reach out to multitudes of people...we do not even have to be there. If it is displayed or shown someone will see. If we post it in our social network...someone will see and appreciate.
Speaking of social networks....what a great way to reach out to more people. I have had the humbling opportunity to have people from all over the world connect with my work. they did not have to buy it because they copied it and saved it to their computer and can see it anytime they want. They always show appreciation for what I created telling me they connected with my baby. this is awesome. this is why I create my work.
Sometimes I might sound very random in my rants. Sometimes I do not write for a long stretch. We all have our insecurities, problems and crosses to bear...we all have that one person that will inspire us to get back on track....I found a wonderful book that steered me back in that creative flow...Art And Fear (by David Bayles @ Ted Orland) it is a wonderful book and I strongly recommend. This made my whole month! Year! If the authors did not create this book I would be in my slump still and would have never been inspired. I hope my 3 readers get my point!
How do we not get distracted? That is a good question. First of all the process is very simple to dissect. We paint, we are not happy with what we create, we stop, we analyze and go over what we are unhappy about and we dwell. Instead of moving forward with another piece and leave the current for later we cry and act like babies. I for one have already waster many years procrastinating because I felt I was not good enough to be among these amazing artists around me in this great community of mine. And yet I still find myself making excuses for not creating again even after I have learned the valuable lesson.
The best way to handle these low points in our creative lives is to create, paint, draw, take the photos, write, compose....work through it! Just keep going! Make anything. Create whatever. Practice techniques!....There is so many things you could be doing to help your love...yet we find so many more delays and distractions...we create on our own. They are not even relevant reasons for stopping. Punish yourself for doing it! It is called work stoppage. Not to be tolerated.
Our soul suffers from this work stoppage. We die each and every time we do this to ourselves. We shorten our life span immensely. If we were to die Monday. Today is Thursday. and Friday we make another excuse...and then Saturday I might think about it...and then I do not start creating til Sunday night....I wasted 3 perfect opportunities to create a masterpieces that can be appreciated by the people we love and our followers. We can have so much more in our legacy. But we are too selfish and think only of how we are in pain to think of the bigger picture. Someone is waiting to connect with our art. Someone is born to live with what we create. It is destined to inspire them in their life. We break the cycle. our art might be the beginning of something special for that person to connect with our soul. Because our soul is left on what we create. We can reach out to multitudes of people...we do not even have to be there. If it is displayed or shown someone will see. If we post it in our social network...someone will see and appreciate.
Speaking of social networks....what a great way to reach out to more people. I have had the humbling opportunity to have people from all over the world connect with my work. they did not have to buy it because they copied it and saved it to their computer and can see it anytime they want. They always show appreciation for what I created telling me they connected with my baby. this is awesome. this is why I create my work.
Sometimes I might sound very random in my rants. Sometimes I do not write for a long stretch. We all have our insecurities, problems and crosses to bear...we all have that one person that will inspire us to get back on track....I found a wonderful book that steered me back in that creative flow...Art And Fear (by David Bayles @ Ted Orland) it is a wonderful book and I strongly recommend. This made my whole month! Year! If the authors did not create this book I would be in my slump still and would have never been inspired. I hope my 3 readers get my point!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Are we in the art business or creative a lifestyle?
"Are we in the art business or creative a lifestyle?"
"Only the ones who don't sell art are in creative lifestyle only but those fortunate ones who sell art are in both....what do you think?"
I think we should all take on the attitude of it being a lifestyle. We should live and breathe our creativity. Experience and express our soul. If we are given monies in exchange for our work it is a compliment to our work. If we are spoiled because of our gift then we should be thankful and continue to create to reach more people under the assumption that it is temporary. Always staying humble and appreciating that honor where people want to reward us. It is a business at that point....but we should always process it internally as a lifestyle. Something we love. We choose to do. We never HAVE to paint. We are not forced to because of....We WANT to and NEED to because of our calling.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Are We Connected As Artists?
All creators have a connection. They all have a link that bonds them. Giving live to a piece of art work is what they live and breathe for. We rise in the morn to greet our muse and then we get to work. Our muse is our soul. Our soul is energy. The energy that fuels us is connecting all of us. We feel. We experience. We see inside of one another and share the passion we feel for what we love.
I can go to any event here in my city and instantly connect with someone. Art bridges the gap between so many demographics. Age, sex, orientation, race, creed.....you name it. We are all a community that is massively connected. It is unbelievable. The more I go out and involve myself in this wonderful community I fall in lov with all the people I encounter. Genuine souls. Even the artists that are in pain and are very closed in putting up that wall...I can still get to them. I smile, hug, show them I love them and wammo! they are my friend. It is not always that easy but you get the point. Give people a chance. Non artists who love art and purchase or just like to view it are so special to me. I can have 20-30 pieces showing and if they only connect to one...it is marvelous, spectacular and awe inspiring to me. It is very humbling. It fuels my desire to create. Making people have that feeling is so special. Enormous in my heart. That is why I create.
Creating along side wonderful fantastic talented amazing artists can be intimidating. But for me it has been a joy. I learn so much. I see that they are just like me it is just that they are that much more committed. I value that friendship I have forged with them. I learn from them and watch their passion. it does not come over night. Some are self taught some are educated for years. But everyday they too learn. They too graciously will look upon another artist respectfully and take something away from that experience and apply it to their own. We all have to grow together as artists and learn from one another because we are connected. We are all unique and have our own special way of expressing ourselves and a true artists will not criticize or judge another artist only they will encourage and guide one another to grow. This is not a competition it is a journey we are partaking together to inspire one another and the world through our gift.
I can go to any event here in my city and instantly connect with someone. Art bridges the gap between so many demographics. Age, sex, orientation, race, creed.....you name it. We are all a community that is massively connected. It is unbelievable. The more I go out and involve myself in this wonderful community I fall in lov with all the people I encounter. Genuine souls. Even the artists that are in pain and are very closed in putting up that wall...I can still get to them. I smile, hug, show them I love them and wammo! they are my friend. It is not always that easy but you get the point. Give people a chance. Non artists who love art and purchase or just like to view it are so special to me. I can have 20-30 pieces showing and if they only connect to one...it is marvelous, spectacular and awe inspiring to me. It is very humbling. It fuels my desire to create. Making people have that feeling is so special. Enormous in my heart. That is why I create.
Creating along side wonderful fantastic talented amazing artists can be intimidating. But for me it has been a joy. I learn so much. I see that they are just like me it is just that they are that much more committed. I value that friendship I have forged with them. I learn from them and watch their passion. it does not come over night. Some are self taught some are educated for years. But everyday they too learn. They too graciously will look upon another artist respectfully and take something away from that experience and apply it to their own. We all have to grow together as artists and learn from one another because we are connected. We are all unique and have our own special way of expressing ourselves and a true artists will not criticize or judge another artist only they will encourage and guide one another to grow. This is not a competition it is a journey we are partaking together to inspire one another and the world through our gift.
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