Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Morning Traveling

Morning Traveling #10
41/100 in 100
Golden Fluid Acrylic on watercolor paper, 5x8"

Slowly working on getting re-un-disorganized.

Making lists of what I need to do this summer. Breaking things down into tasks. Some I should get overwith quickly, if I could just go ahead and do.

I don't seem to be able to pay attention to my lists once I start them. I write a list and let them get lost and ignore them and go back to being confused until I work myself up to writing a list again.

I'm also rethinking my 100 paintings in 100 days goal. I want to continue, but I'm getting too stressed out at being a couple days behind and it's just no fun. It's a chore.

That is not my intention.

So I'm expanding to paintings and drawings. Should I include WTJ? Maybe I should. See the thing here is the journey.

Maybe in the back of my head, I am thinking that everything I do in my 100 in 100 project needs to be saleable. But the truth is, art is not really about the product, not for me. It's about the process. It's really awesome and wonderful to have a beautiful meaningful painting, but it's about what I learn while I am painting. Learn about painting. Learn about myself. Learn about the world.

So if that is true, then focusing only upon PRODUCT work means that my important process is shunted aside. Maybe that's why I feel like painting is a chore sometimes.

Wow. I think that's it.

I don't think it's a coincidence that almost all of the work I've done in the last year is focused around the journey. It's been one hell of a journey these last couple of years. In life and in art. In art and in life.

My paintings reflect that journey, document that journey, and are the very steps of that journey.

So you know what? There may be fewer flying girls and travelings and more... well... experimentation. And I'm counting WTJ from now on. I'm learning a lot from it. It's part of the journey.

Not coincidentally, that will get me caught back up to my 100 in 100 and i will no longer have to fear falling behind.

3 comments:

  1. Oh yes yes yes to Morning Traveling. From the edges to the middle, the color draws me in and I feel as if infinite possibility exists as I travel toward the horizon.

    "re-un-disorganized." I think you just invented the triple/reverse/double negative.

    Yes, Rowena, the journey matters so much. You were already producing so many "products" before the 100 in 100 challenge. So why NOT let the challenge be all about experimentation? about "what if I . . . "

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  2. I just love your work.. . It is the processand thats what stalls us at times. I have stopped painting afer 35 years od everyday creating.. because? I dont want to worry about where my paintings will go, if they will sell and who cares..I paint large canvases..and have no studio.I'm thinking the smaller bvenue is wher I need to go. I'd love to own of of your travelling paintings

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  3. I love the orange!

    Rowena--I feel like we are coming at this project from completely different places. I see you as someone who has been making art for sometime, and even selling it. What you need is to allow yourself to have fun without judgment.

    I have been having fun playing the part of an artist for sometime, and now, I need to actually create art. I wrote a long, rambling blog post trying to explain where I am. But it doesn't really get to the heart of what I want to say to you. I wish you could see yourself through my eyes.

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I'd love to hear your thoughts, small or large. It all adds to the conversation.