This week I’m crying “UNCLE” cuz I’m up to my eyeballs in it.
I had a great post planned for you and started to write it. Somewhere in the middle my commitments, life happened. In the last 10 days I’ve helped my husband launch a new product line, taken care of a kid who had 4 wisdom teeth extracted, attended a funeral, gone to some art classes, celebrated my birthday month and made an earnest attempt to be in the studio every day. If it sounds like I’m making excuses, your radar is working, because – I am! I feel like I’m running behind schedule and if I don’t cry uncle, nothing will get finished! Yeah, I’m panicking, just a little.
Nothing major, just that I took Leslie Saeta’s “30 Paintings in 30 Days” challenge and it’s (gulp) JANUARY 29th! So, I’ll fill this post with pictures of my process and throw myself on the mercy of the court.
I began the challenge with the intention to do a daily ink and watercolur piece that depicts a blog post I’ve written. It took a LOT of research and I completed 11 of them. Here’s a sample
These drawings took a long time, because I had to peruse ALL my posts to select which would be appropriate, the topic and then create an image. I wondered if I could reach my goal and then made a slight adjustment.
Because I have a June show that includes some collage, I decided to play with collage elements and maybe some photo transfers and I began creating a series currently called, “Sisters.” My studio sometimes (noticed I didn’t say “usually”) looks like this:
Here’s how my studio looked during the process:
Finally, the Sisters begin to take shape:
And, they are all over the studio!
This work is a departure from my usual abstract work. That’s why I took the 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge. I view it as an opportunity to deep dive into experimentation. At this point, I’ve completed 11 illustrations, 13 Sisters, 2 large abstracts and I need 4 more paintings to reach my goal. I’d like to actually do 7 more – so I can have a set of 20 Sisters…or maybe a couple brothers, too.
Along the way, I’ve learned a few things. I’ve over-come my need to bleed on it, honored my equation for self-worth and learned a bit more about grit. I am NOT about to fall short of my goal, so I’m short-changing readers this week with a slew of photos and confessions.
I’ll say my 10 Hail Marys in February. (click to Tweet)
Feel free to suggest a penance below.
Amen!
Michelle Andres is a writer and artist. She writes this blog in hopes it
may help you, also, create a well-lived life
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Visit my Art Website HERE!
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20 Comments
January 29, 2016 at 6:33 pm
No penance, just congratulations! 🙂 A picture is worth a thousand words…..
January 29, 2016 at 7:19 pm
Whew! Well, I can tell you’d make an lousy nun, Claudia! Thanks! 😉
January 29, 2016 at 6:38 pm
Love the sisters! I’ve been in a faces mode lately too–go figure. Squirrel faces. Maybe it’s a January thing.
Did I tell you I love the sisters? I really do! I was recently at a party where there was a huge piece on the wall. Faces. All faces within squares. I wanted to take it home with me except that would’ve been a problem–too many witnesses and not enough Hail Marys to make bail.
January 29, 2016 at 7:21 pm
Haha! I was inspired by a painting I saw in a friend’s house, too. See no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil…go figure. Hugs to a naughty co-conspirator.
January 29, 2016 at 7:31 pm
Beautiful work, Michelle!
January 29, 2016 at 7:33 pm
Awwwww…..thank you so much, Jill!!!!
January 29, 2016 at 8:56 pm
Sometimes even the best of us must give ourselves permission to cut a corner or two just to get back to sanity. Thanks for admitting it publicly! 🙂
January 29, 2016 at 10:40 pm
Thanks for validating me, Susan! Yes, sanity will come in February! 🙂
January 30, 2016 at 2:12 pm
OMG Michelle, I love your Sisters! That is so fun!
January 30, 2016 at 3:37 pm
Thank you, Pat! I’m glad you like them!
February 3, 2016 at 3:03 am
You are too funny, Michelle! Love the “sometimes” shot (right – my work space looks like that too after hours on the photo shoot ;-)). Your words are worth 1000 pictures. I feel your frazzle. Here’s to the uncle in all of us.
February 3, 2016 at 4:50 am
“Your words are worth a 1,000 pictures.” What a nice thing to say, Nanette. Thanks for sharing in the frazzle and leaving such a lovely comment. xoxo ~ m
February 3, 2016 at 2:17 pm
I love your paintings, especially the Sisters series. Fun! The class sounds fun. We are all full of apologies for things that don’t matter to anyone else. They are just guilt-fests. Get rid of em. Live your life and do your deal. You make fabulous art and it looks like you did a lot!
February 3, 2016 at 2:44 pm
Ha – thank you, Amy! I try to write each week for the reader – something we both can related to. I guess people are enjoying the art challenge, too…that’s something to be grateful for. Thank you for your kind support! XOXO!
February 4, 2016 at 2:20 am
What a great challenge, you did a fantastic job. Love your “sisters”.
February 4, 2016 at 4:05 am
Thank you, Sue!!!
February 6, 2016 at 12:32 am
Haha! I love that you are crying uncle for art :). Congratulations on what you DID accomplish! You made a lot of art and I love to see the variety!!
February 6, 2016 at 2:38 am
Thanks, Lulu!!!
February 8, 2016 at 12:30 am
You have so much to be proud of that there is no need for being hard on yourself. What a busy month you had. WOW!
Your paintings are gorgeous and since I read your blog posts on a regular basis, I was going through my mind trying to figure out which painting went with which blog post.
What a Fabulous inspiration you are for others!
February 8, 2016 at 5:00 am
Awww….thank you, Elda. That is so supportive and sweet! ~m