Emotions Stirred Up With Paint

 It was one of those weekends when it was a harder weekend then normal. Ever have one of those days then it turns into a few days? Yet you have  social functions so you put it all up on a shelf and work it out later. Recently I had one of those days. 

Some people eat their emotions. I try to paint mine out. Lord knows I have eaten my share of  emotions. However I am trying to redirect the need to eat fudge or chocolates. Which really a bite here and there is fine but this day required some stirring of the paints. Feeling blue in my heart, gray day and trying to find the light. What colors does that produce. Some blue, some gray, some black and some yellow and white. 

I started around 6:30am. It gets warm by early afternoon here in Palm Desert so starting early inspired me and I am fresh.  I love blasting the music and on this day is was the Lady Gaga station.  It took me over six hours to create these four pieces. I mixed, I poured, I sponged, I brushed. It was so therapeutic.  

"Emotions Stirred" by Elizabeth Traub

I wanted to create a series. With some pouring, some sponging, some passes with the paint brush this was to my delight something I love. As every artist knows it takes hours to complete a finished piece. There is always one more pass with the brush, and then the mistakes that require more brush strokes and then you stand back and either love it or scrap it. 

What was happening in my thoughts, my heart and my soul was deeper than I can write about as it involves my family. I am the mother of five, a daughter-in-love, and three more that my partner has. I love them all and am learning how to navigate the adult friendships unique to each of them. Friendships with grown children are not a one size fits all. They are growing, learning, as am I. I am truly blessed to have friendships with each one of them. 

During the six hours of painting I committed all nine of them to prayer. It thrilled my heart to be in thoughtful and intentional prayer. I know their stories. Their success, their challenges, and the struggles of adulting. I am so glad that I can play my small part in praying over each one of them through a creative outlet. 

Abstract Painting in Session

 

It was going to a be a hot day in Palm Desert. Still recovering from plastic surgery I am getting ants in pants.  I cannot not bike, swim, play tennis, or even swing a golf club. A friend of mine started sharing his painting pieces on Facebook.  He truly inspired me to jump back into painting. I started missing all my craft supplies in Oregon. In you are like me and love to craft you have bins and bins full of all kind of fun activities waiting to be created. 

Most of my painting over the years have been on furniture pieces and larger canvases to match my displays in my store. I started painting furniture in the summer of 1993 when I first opened my store. As with any new retail business your day is spent watching to see who is going to walk through your door. After a few slower days I bought paint and painted a stepstool pink with flowers. It gave me something to do instead of hovering over those customers coming in. Stepstools turned into canvas art that matched the room displays, which turned into painting large pieces of furniture

Last summer I bought all new paints, brushes and canvases for a summer camp where I would be, "The Craft Lady". With Covid camp was cancelled. Here I am a state away pining for some painting. I finally gave into Amazon and ordered just enough supplies to get me through the next few weeks of recovery. I woke up early, and started painting and just kept going. 

It was always easy to schlep what you made in your own store. Now, not having a storefront I am pretty sure I will be able to fill my own gallery by the end of my recovery. Especially since I just ordered more paints and canvases.  Gordon was kind enough to give me my own room.  That room now called my, Art Studio. This room is a semi outdoor art studio room to keep this mess of colors and canvases contained. 

I have always been an easy breezy creative gal. The funny thing about painting is that I actually could not master the paint and the brush at the Art Institute of Seattle in the 1980's. Because of that experience I thought I was a terrible and painter.  I loved all my classes but I dreaded my painting class. I learned very quickly that I could not connect my brain with the rules and specification presented for the class projects. My brain wanted to create my own art. However the goal was not to know yourself, but to know your future clients and be able to approach each project with your client in mind. I have a lot of energy and I could not concentrate on specifications presented to me in paintings.  That was over 35 years ago.  Once I took the time to learn my own style I enjoyed painting.  All my kids have been exposed to their share of paints and brushes. 

With my own style and with no specifications I found my groove. When I started painting custom orders for customers I did find my way to meeting my clients criteria. It's been years since I had my own store and the internet is a great way to get your products out to the world. I have had my Etsy shop now for a few years and all my pieces will be thrown up on the shop. 

I posted pictures on Facebook of these pieces. I was truly blessed by all the comments my friends made on Facebook. As I look at each piece I smile. Painting makes me happy. Painting is a quiet thought process of self expression. Painting is my connection with colors that make me smile and make me happy. I hope after looking at these pieces you are smiling and these pieces make you happy. 

Here is my etsy link if you want to purchase a print. 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/skiptomyroom

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