i love art. Arting is part of my daily life and also my job. i love that this is my job. However my days aren't always filled up with creating. There's lots of computer work, conferences, planning, etc. i need time in my schedule to develop & grow as an artist. i have found taking lessons with local artist Michael Gadlin has been the key to making sure i am on the schedule. Jumping & leaping into these lessons has been amazing to me. They stretch & challenge me in so many ways and open me up. i also notice the same ruts i fall into when creating. Michael calls me on them which is awesome. It's really good to have someone who will tell you when something isn't working for then you can trust the praise.
i go to his studio and paint in his studio. We talk about what i am bringing and what i will be working on. i create right in front of him which i admit can be intimidating. i do get butterflies in my stomach. But if i don't take the risk, if i don't leap, that growth won't happen so i jump. i sometimes even close my eyes and paint just to get my brain to shut off for the start. After my session is over, Michael gives me homework and he isn't shy about piling it on. i need this accountability. The above photo is me working in my studio.
i bring my work back into the studio and we critique it together. We talk about the good areas & the problem areas. We get into techniques, theories, and big discussions about art. Sometimes he pulls out art books, explaining the idea, concept, or technique through other artists. Sometimes he takes one of his pieces and we dig deeper into the concept. These processes really help solidify the lessons in my brain. i'm also a note taker so sometimes i break out my journal to jot ideas down.
After these discussions, we dive back into the piece i worked on at home. Michael will pick up a paint brush and jump onto my piece (with my permission of course) and we work together on the next layers. i watch with child-like eyes soaking up everything from how he holds the brush to watching it dance across the page.
i will often start one or more new pieces from scratch, taking all the previous lessons and pouring them onto my fresh canvas. it doesn't mean i am done with the previous work. i always bring my earlier works with me to the studio, knowing we might come back to it and keep building. Starting fresh really pushes me to process all the information given to me so i can be successful on my own.
i keep working with Michael moving in & out the studio, nudging me, praising me, and letting me lose myself in the art. Once i let go, it is the most glorious feeling. Art makes me so excited and free. It is my voice. All too soon the lesson comes to a close. i get more homework assignments, things to work on, pieces he wants me to start from scratch at home, and practical play. He shows me examples again of the types of things he wants me to do without boxing me in. Again i am taking notes and pictures to keep it clear in my head. i clean up my space, pack everything away, and come home to my studio feeling energized.
