Rosie Revisited

Share the Struggle

I had a wonderful painting instructor whose pithy 

comments still come me.

"Let them see the struggle,"

she urged, whenever I got a tad tight and hung up on

photorealistic details.  "It is far more interesting to view."

Her comment played loud and clear to me this week as I worked on my "Rosie" painting below.  A friend had posed for the redeux and I was feeling uptight about making it look exactly like Monique.  A tall order for a non-portrait artist.  But as "Rosie" revealed herself on canvas I began to like the sketchy-ness of it, the moving lines, the odd colors.  When people dropped by the studio they always paid their respects to Rosie aka Monique with a variety of interesting observations and stories. 

early stages

I began to relax into it remembering (top secret here) that she was being painted on top of a painting that I was retiring...an effort to remind myself that it was all play here, no huge investment other than learning energy.

So I am laying down the brush on her for now.

It may be finished unfinished.

But sharing the struggle is significant.

"Unfinished Business"

oil, 24 x 18, available unframed

A lot of folks I know are mulling over their own unfinished business and it occurs to me that too often we try to hide the struggle, to appear as if there are not hurdles and obstacles and setbacks along the way.  Let's share the struggle, it may prove much easier.  At the very least, as my instructor promised, it will be a lot more interesting.

Color Fully Yours,

Cindy

Embrace the Struggle: Day #30

                                  "Painting is just another way of keeping a diary." Pablo Picasso

Day # 30 is here and to celebrate the end of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge I decided to channel my favorite artist of all time: Pablo Picasso.  My work over the last month is a diary of sorts, a visual journey of what it was like to paint with the non-dominant hand setting no expectations.  Of course it was a struggle. It first took hours as my hand tried to interpret the instructions my brain was sending.  My brain tired from breaking every motion into several messages. Some days I felt overwhelmed just with the notion of keeping up.  But on the whole I enjoyed the struggle: I learned, I was distracted and I was proud.

So with a nod to old man Picasso, I present the last painting of the left handed series:

"Embrace the Struggle"

7" x 5" acrylic on cradled board

$30 here til january 10

This whimsy is probably another self-portrait of sorts but I think many of us can relate to the thought as well as the experience and symbols.  Enjoy the colors, honor the journey and milk that struggle for all you can. Here's Pablo again, "Are we to paint what's on the face, what's inside the face or what is behind it?"

Good question, no?

edge detail of "Embrace the Struggle"

Thanks so much for sharing this struggle with me.  I promise not to take such liberties with your mailbox again in the near future!  Back to once a week postings...I have really appreciated your comments, encouragement and, of course, your purchases.  Many thanks.

Cindy

to see more work from the 400 other participants in this challenge go to www.lesliesaeta.blogspot.com