vitaminCreativity

Sigh...relief!

Yes, it's a sigh of relief you're hearing from me today. Yesterday I completed one phase of a writing/editing project for a client. I had my second art class project critiqued (very positive). And I met a few other important, but less last-minute-rush deadlines. I gave myself permission to sort-of-relax on the sofa last night with feet up and an ice pack on my knee, which I must have twisted in my mad dash to cross a street with the crossing signal in my favor.

I say "sort of relax" because as I sat there with feet up, drinking tea, and popping M&M Peanuts, I was sketching thumbnail compositions for my next class art project - a mixed media self-portrait that must incorporate a grid and a stencil. It seemed overwhelming in its unknown/untried mix of requirements until I had done a sketch or two. Now I'm beginning to see how I will get this done and I'm getting excited!

That's the most exciting part of the creative process for me - thinking, visualizing, planning. The actual "doing" of it is exciting, too, but sometimes so filled with risk and fear that I feel more anxious than excited, at least until I dive in and start to make the vision a reality.

Now I'm on to new visions, new projects, and new deadlines. See the Daily Art album for my latest painting.

Excitement of Learning

I'm about half way through my semester at the University, and my painting class celebrated by hanging our first completed class painting on the wall in the hallway. Most of us had never painted in this particular style of glazing layer upon layer of oil paint to achieve a very smooth finish. Though none of us may look back at this painting as one of our best ever, I thought they turned out pretty great. But the real excitement was in the learning. I feel like I've added some new tools to my tool kit and thereby enhanced my competence as an artist. 

Next, we're painting alla prima using a still life set the instructor created for us. I can look forward to another great learning experience, if not a masterpiece.

Meanwhile, I'm also taking a Saturday class on painting abstracts with acrylics. I wondered if I was overloading myself, but I'm finding the shift between mediums, styles, and subjects is good mental exercise, and I'm loving the challenge.

As I take both classes, I realize there are gaps in my knowledge - color theory, for example - so I've checked a bunch of books out of the library for study. Whether I'm learning from books, from instruction, or just by experiential doing, I couldn't be happier. 

I'm posting my painting, "The ABCs of Life Balance" (from my painting class) in the Daily Art album.

Further Adventures of a "Mature" Art Student

The part of my painting class syllabus that caused the most anxiety was the requirement to build my own painting supports (canvas stretchers, canvas-wrapped panels, etc.) using power tools in the art department woodshop. I did not want to be the subject of stories about "the student who got her finger stuck in the mitre saw." I'm pleased to say I completed the three required supports without a drop of blood. (Never mind the fact that at home, in my own kitchen, I sliced my thumbnail into the quick last week!)

Anxiety aside, what has turned out to be the biggest challenge is organizing and transporting materials to/from class. I applied for and was assigned a locker in the art building. On Friday, when I first occupied my locker, there was miscommunication with the department office and my lock was mistakenly cut and removed. The very apologetic employee replaced it on Monday. But in the confusion of having to take home what I had intended to leave at school until Tuesday's class, I didn't carefully organize for class and forgot to take some critical supplies - like paint brushes! I felt like a first-grader confessing to forgotten homework when I approached the instructor with my sad story. She was most gracious and let me use a few of her old paint brushes, barely adequate for the day's work but better than nothing.

Today I will create a checklist of supplies - those I will leave in the school locker and those I will carry back and forth from home. 

Fountain of Youth

I started college today. I'm working on my second bachelor's degree, a BFA, 40 years after earning my first one! It's so much easier this time around in so many ways - greater self-confidence; no worries about boys and relationships; no more acne! On the other hand, it's a little disconcerting to be in a class with students who could be my grandkids. Since my kids haven't yet blessed me with grandkids, this fast-forward glimpse of 19-year-old grandkids is especially scary.

I was relieved that my classmates didn't seem to relate to me as a grandma. Though there was little chance for interaction in the first class, I actually had a peer-to-peer conversation with one student in the restroom afterward. 

My greatest trepidation involves the distance from parking to the classroom and all the stuff that we art students must carry back and forth. Though I have no physical handicaps, 40 years is 40 years of wear and tear; I don't have quite the strength and speed I had in my first college life when I could easily walk from one corner of campus to the other loaded with books and notebooks. Will I be able to handle paints, palette, canvas, and other supplies? Note to self: practice packing in a variety of bags and boxes to find the system that works best.

I fully expect that this experience will add years to my life. I certainly don't feel my age; nor do I look it. In fact, when I examined the ID card with my picture on it yesterday, I saw a smiling young woman who doesn't look a day over 20!