For me painting becomes an act of meditation - or reflection. It's not like I sit down and think, "today I am going to consider __________ ." It doesn't work like that. I paint, and I let my mind wander off in any direction it chooses. Sometimes I'm surprised by where my mind takes me....but most often it is a memory from my childhood that I ponder while I paint.
When I painted the Lemonade Stand for Superheroes I was remembering something my high school art teacher used to say to me.
"Stop being so cute."
"But drawing cute things makes me happy."
"Yes, but these things are cliches - you could do better."
Huh?
Oh, well. I knew I wasn't going to be Robert Bateman painting each fine hair on a bear, or feather on a blue heron. Fine detail made my head spin. I had a deep respect for my classmates who could concentrate over fine lines, and careful shading - but that wasn't me.
Today I paint what makes me happy. Little characters I think are cute - or seaside views like a rustic lighthouse - or my grandmother's cottage.
I wonder what my art teacher would say?
