"Well I woke up this morning and you were on my mind, you were on my mind". Do you remember the song with those words in it? Well, I wake up in the mornings with songs going through my head and it is a rather pleasant experience. I also, wake up with paintings in my head. I got up this morning with a full painting in my head. Now, what do I do?
I think I have these ideas because I was reading one of my text books from Art school. The book is a huge volume of select historic paintings and their backgrounds.
I had been talking to a friend on the phone and she had chosen one of my Oil Paintings to ask me questions about. As I explained to her what had influenced me in this painting, I referred to "Gardner's Art through the Ages (12th) edition". This text takes us back to the 300 to 1200 century when Art was done by anonymous workers that worked for the Christian Church in Roman and Greece.
I have borrowed themes and ideas from these ancient works to produce a Christian series of drawings and paintings. This picture below is an example.
This painting measures 5 feet x 5 feet and it is entirely done with oil paint applied to stretched treated cotton canvas. This painting took me about 4- 5 months to finish including the layers of Gold and Silver leaf at the top. I finished it in 2011.
Now back to my topic here... As I studied and talked about this painting to my friend, I started getting more ideas for similar topics bouncing around in my head. Now the challenge is starting and being confident with my oil paints and the treatment of my subject.
I need to avoid getting myself trapped in an "agony and ecstasy" situation. I get very excited to do a new project that is what I call the ecstasy moments and then overcoming my procrastination and fears are the agony moments.
As I explained this dynamic to my friend on the phone, she replied to me with such wisdom. As I listened carefully, she pointed out how capable I am and that I should be "grateful" for my artist gifts. This seemed on the surface to be uncomplicated but as I drew in her words like a breath of fresh air I began to realise what being grateful means and that action of gratefulness can help me overcome my indecision and hesitancy. I can be intentional when I get out those brushes and the fresh paint.
Who am I painting for? Am I painting for myself or for other viewers? I can have an appreciative heart toward God who gives me everything.
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