Swim, Walk, Grow...

My new paintings all have words <suggesting action> incorporated into the body of the work...

Swimming to find our way through the murky places in life...

Walking the path that God calls us to...

Growing even though we may resist, and realizing it's the right and true choice...

I love what I'm seeing in my work now, and the renewed energy that Flora Bowley's Bloom True class has brought to my paintings. I highly recommend this class. It's a way to approach your art and your life with new vitality, and energy. I think it has truly changed me...

x, Val

One Hot Mess

Rather, I should say 5 of them... Five big hot messy canvases staring me down whenever I walk into my studio. I just thought I'd take a moment to document the ones I am actually comfortable sharing with you. The others are even crazier and zanier than these are!

The canvases above and below are the same. The photo below shows the image, whatever the heck it is - some sort of floral and leaf arrangement- after adding white and black, and some electric translucent colors...

And then this one. Words just escape me at this point....

I should mention I am a very good direction-follower, and am trying to go through Flora's prompts as she takes us. Um, so that's what it is all about over here...

Ok, back to the hot mess. Wish me luck.
Val

It's all topsy turvy in my artist brain right now

Do you ever get that way too? The organized side of my brain is all about sewing things professionally, then needle felting them with perfection, and paying attention to getting things "just so". Then, when I get myself in front of the painting easel with a brush in hand and paint on the palette, things just go all haywire... 

For me, painting is about the Not Knowing, it's "venturing out" and all 'going-with-the-flow'. It works me over, and even though I struggle with it, I crave the process like a dog craves a bone....

An under painting by Val Hebert, from Flora Bowley's Bloom True class

My art journey began when I was young. My first teacher was my mom. My mom's schedule in my earliest memory was like this:

Go into the woods with friends and gather pods. Return home and make pod art ensemblages. Go to fabric store and get enough supplies to make curtains or a dress. Go home and sew. Try painting classes. Give up and declare "I have no painting talent!" Instead, paint the room a different color. Sew up new curtains, and give the room a whole new look. Move the furniture around. Then take up wallpapering. Go into business wallpapering friends homes. Drink lots of beer. (Wallpapering works up a thirst!) Lol! Remember I said this is an early memory, like before I was 5!

So, this week, here I am sewing. Then cleaning everything up to paint. Then cleaning everything up to sew... I don't sense a good trend here. I find myself falling back to sewing and needle felting because its predictable, safe, and easy for me to do. When I paint, I am groveling at the painting easel, and asking for divine intervention... Just let my inspiration flow... please... flow.... Ugh! These colors are killing me. Things seem muddy, bland, too predictable. I can certainly see its time for me to paint, and if I'm smart, I will just pack the sewing away for now. 

Perhaps divine intervention will find a way to take over my bleak hesitation. Yes, this is what I've missed. This is what I need. This is why I paint...

I'm taking Flora Bowley's Bloom True online class, and even though it may sound like I'm not enjoying it, I'm actually loving it, along with all the frustrations and unease the paint puts in my way... 

Grrrr... Paint, I will warn you: I will win!!!

x, Val

Taking a Cuppa

After the busy holidays, I just need time to veg... and regroup... sit and ponder a bit over a cuppa tea... It does me so much good!

Source: duduadudua.blogspot.com via V a l on Pinterest

Plus, I have been spending quite some time over in the Arena, as Moms of Teens are bound to do. I have learned that Time in the Arena requires my full and undivided attention, and though I sometimes begrudge my time there, it is always time well spent. I always get a lot done when I apply my energies, especially after a cuppa tea... and that is certainly a good thing!

As we venture into the second week of 2013, I am very excited to have signed up for Flora Bowley's ecourse called Bloom True (more info here). I have wanted to take this course ever since I first learned of it. Happy to leave the struggles of 2012 behind, I find I am looking to reenergize my art and creativity. Never one happy to sit and keep creating the same ol' thing, I look towards finding a new lease on my creativity, and am thrilled to do it through my painting. I can't wait to see what will emerge, and feel the time is right to open this door and forge forward with a surge of expectations. Can't wait + so excited!

Happy Sunday to you and yours :o)

x, Val