60 Days: A Reflection

The last 60 days has been a whirlwind of activity.  As many of you know, artists Elise Wehle, Annie Henrie and I took up the challenge to create 30 pieces of artwork in 60 days.  I happy to say that I am finally finished!

 The 60 days were at enjoyable, and at times exhausting and difficult.  The majority of paintings were 8" x 8" or 8" x 12", and these were more manageable to complete in time.  It was the larger paintings that posed a huge challenge.  I spent a few sleepless nights painting until the sun rose.  Read on to see what I have learned that I need to remember for the future.  

Lessons To Remember:

Paint Every Day.

Before this project, I thought it was difficult to find time each day to paint.  Yet once I made painting a priority, there was no opportunity to skip out on painting.  I simply had to.  You would think this would hinder my creativity and make painting a burden.  Instead, I relished the fact that I HAD to paint each day.  Even if a piece didn't turn out exactly as I had hoped, I loved the experience of manipulating the paint, building up layers, creating textures and pulling compelling images from nothing.  Of course, at times I grew sick of painting.  On those days I only painted for a small amount of time.  Other days I painted more than 8 hours straight.

Be Disciplined.

If I don't paint, the painting won't complete itself.  If I procrastinate, I will only end up being miserable.  It is better to be disciplined and plan ahead to set aside blocks of time for solid painting so things get done.

Let Go.

As an perfectionist, it was always hard for me to say an artwork was "complete".  Having a strict deadline helped me let go of a work and love it as it is.  Often times the most beautiful parts of a painting are the parts that are left unpainted.  

Make It As Fun As Possible.

The more fun it is to make art, the easier it will be.  While painting, I listened to audio books, podcasts, and good music.  I chatted on the phone with friends and family.  While one part of my brain was focused on  mixing the perfect color, or applying the paint just so, the other part was enjoying conversation or listening.  Of course, during certain stages of a painting I couldn't be doing anything else--while I was planning, making critical decisions on composition or subject matter.

The Show

The 60 Days of Painting show will open in Salt Lake City on August 1st and the opening reception will coincide with gallery stroll on Friday, August 16 from 6 to 9 pm.  It is still a ways away, but mark your calendars!   I will continue to post often, so pop in to see what new paintings I will be working on.  Also be sure to check out my work available on Etsy.

I Love To Hear From You!

Finally, I would love to hear what you think of the project!  What is your favorite piece?  What do you think of what I learned?  If you are an artist, is this a challenge you would like to take on?  Thank you for being here with me on the journey.