Have you ever spread out all of your sketches, drawings or paintings and then have a kid in a candy store feeling? I painted over 500 flowers using all kinds of tools. What was my goal? My goal was to surrender to the process. No idea was too silly or complex. I just wanted to take the words of Corita Kent and learn about myself and how to paint flowers.
Corita’s words are:
Nothing is a mistake. There is no win and no fail. There is only make.
Here is what I have learned from working on painting a book project
- The flowers that wow me, still do.
- 500 flower ideas turned into a 100-flower book project
- You have to make a lot of art to get to the stuff that moves your soul
- The way you paint is your business. Own up to that always.
- Projects are not about the money that will follow. It is fullfilling a need to create.
- Use copy paper becasue you get 500 sheets in a ream and that is pure freedom
- Never mind what they think. What do I think?
The last one is so important and resonates with me now more than ever. You can’t sit around for someone to accept you or like what you do, you have to be a fan of your own work first. I like when Tabitha Brown says that’s my business. I am an artist. I paint my flowers the way I paint flowers. That is my busines.
Here is some of the work featured in There is no right way to paint a flower. This is the work that lights me up. This is the work that makes me feel like I’m flying by the seat of my soul.
Done with finger painitng. I like the blue paint and the dots. Why haven’t I painted more flowers like this? I will!
Painting flowers with my left hand. I am right handed. Watercolor flowers? Yes!
Painting by stamping with a closed hand. Interesting texture!
Still on the thought of nevermind what they think. What do I think. I am going through my portfolio and asking what do I think. I love these ideas. Plus obseving my work gives me ideas for new projects.
Here is to spring and all the beautiful work that is to come. If you have an art resoruce or project idea that you would like to share, please comment below. I am also want to post a weekly post on the art resources that I have learned during that week.
A Painted Garden 