Skip to main content

Reflections, Goals and a Sneak Peek

I've been thinking back on 2013 and what I've done over the past year. Most of what comes to mind is art. I had a great time taking pottery classes with my mom and learning that new (still developing) skill-- I like to call it my new love. But, I didn't paint nearly as much as I would have liked and it's not because I didn't have time. I've been reminded throughout the year, in several ways, that we make time for things that are important to us-- and don't get me wrong, it's not that painting isn't important to me. But through my reflections, I have come to realize that being creative is what is important to me. When I'm doing pottery, my creative need is being met and so I don't feel as strong of a need to paint. I am satisfied with what I create each week in the pottery studio. And when pottery class is not in session, I pick up my paintbrush more. I think my mom said it best when I was complaining about not being able to do pottery for several months after our last class ended. I think I said "I will DIE if we don't do pottery" (or something to that effect) and she said "you just HAVE to be doing something, don't you?" And the answer is YES. I HAVE to be doing something or I am not happy. I truly believe in the quote at the top of the page: "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." And trust me, my life has been pretty dusty lately.

So, the moral of this story is that I will probably not post as much when I am taking a pottery class, which will be several times throughout the year-- and it starts again in just a couple weeks! But I have been painting like a mad woman for the past few weeks so I'm hoping I have enough paintings to post while I am away in pottery world.

Another thing I have been thinking about while I've been reflecting is how I make watercolor WAY more complicated than it should ever be. I get so worked up about it that it's hard to actually paint. I think way too much about the outcome and that doesn't allow me to enjoy the process. It just shouldn't be that complicated. So lately, when I sit down to paint, I tell myself over and over "just put the color down, Emilee. JUST PUT THE COLOR ON THE PAPER!" And it works! I've been really satisfied with the results. In addition to that, one of my goals this year is to simplify my paintings. Lately, I've been finding more beauty in simplicity rather than more detailed, complex paintings.

And now, a sneak peek at something I am excited to share in 2014. In an effort to simplify my watercolors, I've been working on a couple series of paintings that I am really excited about.  Here is a peek at one I will be posting soon:




Comments

  1. Elise EnghDecember 31, 2013 at 8:08 AM

    I can't live without art and without creating either! It's my therapy! Can't wait to see your new paintings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. EmileeDecember 31, 2013 at 5:14 PM

      Thanks Elise! Best of luck to you in the new year!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I Did It!

This post has nothing to do with painting of any kind, but something much more important, to me at least. It is my biggest accomplishment thus far and I wanted to write down my thoughts and feelings, while I still have them. I graduated from college yesterday. I spent the last five years attending Westminster College and yesterday was a day that I wasn't sure would ever come. I majored in Aviation: Flight Operations and spent much of my time at the airport, flying airplanes. I haven't flown in a while but I think I ended up with about 350 hours. I earned my private, instrument, commercial, and multi-engine ratings. Toward the end of my education, I decided that flying probably isn't for me. This change of heart was a result of many things, but most of all because my eyes were opened to all the other opportunities in the aviation industry. There is a place for me out there, somewhere. I just need to find it. I was originally pursuing an art minor, which is why it took me
6 comments
Read more

Finally Finished Poppies

The poppies are finally finished. I am pretty happy with the way they turned out but as usual there are a few things that I wish I could have done better. I may tweak it here and there in a while, when I can look at it with fresh eyes. It's hard to tell what it needs when I have been staring at it for a long time. Two things I learned while painting the poppies: 1: Orange is easy to work with. It lifts quite well. 2: I need to work on my shadows. Hopefully I'll get some more practice with another poppy painting. Here is the finished painting:
6 comments
Read more

County Fair Entries

The Salt Lake County Fair is next week and I entered two paintings in the fine arts competition. I entered: the lilies and... the poppies. I put them in a white frame and I quite like it. No surprise there! One of the requirements to enter is that the painting was completed in the last three years. These are the only two watercolor paintings I have finished the the past three years. Wow. That makes me sad! I need to get my butt in gear! Entering a painting in a competition and sharing my work has always been nerve-wracking for me. But I'm making myself do it because I figure what good is a painting if it is just going to sit in a portfolio in my room? It would be a waste of time and effort to pour so much hard work into a painting and never share it with anyone, especially when I love watercolor so much. And that's a big part of the reason I started my blog, too. The Utah State Fair is next month and I would like to enter a painting but I am more hesitant about that com
3 comments
Read more