When I started with watercolors I wanted to jump to the finish line forgetting that I chose a new medium, one that I hadn't mastered.
I was all over the place, with multiple areas of confusion and this was mostly because I wanted to skip all the hard work.
I did begin with classes, read some books, watched many videos and did a lot of "practice painting" but my focus was too centered on production and painting in a series.
Let me just say, all the wrong things.
My thought pattern was completely misguided and nobody had the heart to set me straight.
Thank goodness for color theory and finding the connection through movement with water and color. This is probably what kept me from giving up because at times I had forgotten why I chose this medium.
Get this, it was all about letting go of control...
It wasn't until recently when I was painting this flower that making art became about a living process.
I was on a writing break and a lot of my time was spent elsewhere, outdoors and in my studio. It was the perfect time to disconnect because my connections were having me doubt my own capabilities.
During my absence I also noticed my light was fading and that scared me. I was connecting in all the wrong places and all the wrong people were trying to connect with me.
Then one quiet afternoon in the studio I took a few delicate brush strokes when something clicked. I remember this moment because I looked away from my painting towards a blank wall.
A wall where I was supposed to be hanging my art. I asked myself, "what happened to that goal and why did I sabotage such a great idea?"
That was a hard moment...
Thankfully for this blog I was able to go back and read many of my posts so see it all perfectly clear.
This painting was a turning point and it was speaking to me through every brush stroke.
What changed that day? I changed!
I was painting effortlessly, living in the moment and decided I was done with production. It's all about that wall right now, then we can chat about, "what comes next."
Encouraging Goodness,
Carole West
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