Bodies in motion...

...stay in motion.

This is what went through my mind the other day when, as I was running with my little sidekick in her jogging stroller a neighbor said, "You have so much energy!" I laughed (a sort of panting, half laugh), but the fact of the matter is that I exercise in order to have energy. It's a vicious cycle, but the less I exercise, the less I feel like exercising, so the less I exercise, so the less I feel like exercising, etc.  I'm sure you all know what I mean. As I ran along thinking this it occurred to me that creativity is the same way. If I'm creating, I'm constantly inspired and ideas seem to flow. If, however, I sit around waiting for inspiration it never comes and my well runs dry.  

In painting, as in exercising, there are days when I feel like I just don't have it in me. However, I've realized I very rarely feel better because I "rested." Instead I usually feel annoyed with myself, short-tempered, off-center. So, on the days when painting seems like a monumental task (because anything you're committed to will, at times, be hard work), I tell myself I'm just going to "show up." I savor the ritual of laying out my paints on my palette; I dab at my colors, mixing, experimenting; I touch up just this tiny section. Usually, by this point, either I'm feeling better and back in my element, or I've uncovered the real source of my resistance ("I hate this subject," or, "I'm bored with this size," or often, "I'm scared I won't be able to pull this off."). 

You're allowed to walk. You're allowed to take it easy. You're allowed to have off days. The important thing is to keep moving. 

I was rewarded by a beautiful sunset at the end of my run.

*Note: I'm in the process of changing blogs. Please follow me at erinhardin.wordpress.com. Thanks!

What's catching my attention

I'm sure my neighbors (and my dogs) thought I was nuts yesterday when I stopped every 1 1/2 feet to pick up fall leaves.

But how could I resist? They're all different! When such beauty is throwing itself at your feet, you have to accept.












And enjoy.

Magic

A freshly prepared sheet of aluminum, awaiting a painting.

I've had a sort of interesting experience with the last couple of paintings I've started. I've cut, prepared, and mounted my copper or aluminum, I know what I'm going to paint, however when I pick up my brush I'm struck with a sense of, "Wait... how do I do this again?" You may think that the idea that it's not all automatic would scare me, but it doesn't. Instead it sort of thrills me. I love that even after all this time and all the paintings I've done, nothing is rote. Despite the fact that I'm confident in my ability to face any challenge there's still a little spark of, "Will it work this time?" that makes painting feel a little like magic.
I have a newly finished painting I can't wait to show y'all. Stay tuned! All it needs is some drying time before its big debut.

Rock Garden?

My latest painting. I'm still working on a title, but I'm thinking "Rock Garden." 

What do you think?

I was reminded with this painting how much I really love realism. I love looking at something like a brown rock and seeing not just brown, but all the myriad of colors that make it appear brown. If you look closely, nothing is ever just the color it immediately seems. I'm not sure I'm ever more content than when I'm gazing at something beautiful and teasing out the unexpected colors that make up its highlights, shadows, and contours.

Today's featured artist...

A sample of Cecily's miniature Guatemala paintings

Today's featured artist is Birmingham's own Cecily Hill Lowe (aka CHill Art).  She does these amazingly beautiful abstracts using acrylic wash. Sometimes people look at abstracts and think, "Anyone could do that," simply because they don't understand the skill that goes into creating the composition and manipulating the paint. Trust me, I could not do what Cecily does. Currently, Cecily is selling miniature paintings to fund a mission trip to Guatemala. The paintings are acrylic wash on paper and they're tiny- 3"x4"- so you don't have to worry about finding wall space for them. They'll fit anywhere. Plus, they're only $25 a piece! Don't miss out on that! To view them, check out Cecily's blog.

Once again I have to apologize for being an absentee blogger. I'll make this my last apology. Not because I will never agin be so untimely in my posts, but because I will just trust that you understand that with a baby on the way, I'm a little distracted. I'm officially 31 weeks now and we still have to basically rearrange the whole house to make a nursery... and all I want to do is sleep and eat. :) Now I'm off to have second breakfast. Take care!

Quest for Zen and Peace of Mind

I love an empty pool

Dear Gentle Reader,
Who is it that used to start letters that way? Was it Ann Landers? Ms. Manners? Dear Heloise? I don't remember. Anyway, Dear Gentle reader,
I'm not usually one for New Year's Resolutions. It seems to me that changes that I want to make (the successful ones at least) are the ones that I just DO...no beg fuss about it...no announcement. But this year I do have one resolution. I resolve to try to notice little moments about each day and appreciate life more. Remember when you were little how summer seemed to last forever? And now that you're an adult everyone always talks about how time just seems to move faster and faster the older you get? I have a theory about that. I think that we notice more when we're little...it's not that time moves faster now- WE do. So, everyday I resolve to try to stop now and then and be IN the moment. Good or bad, I want to be all there.
I practiced yesterday while I swam laps. I tried to put grocery lists and other thoughts out of my mind and I concentrated on how my muscles worked, the way the light reflected on the bottom of the pool, the overwhelming sense of breathlessness I had after just a few laps (hey, I said good or bad), and I left the pool feeling refreshed...calm...unhurried. I'm tired of multi-tasking. Aren't you?