I Have No Idea What I’m Doing

This past month in Bootcamp, the assignment was to create wall art on a piece of wood (think antique plates). We were also encouraged to work traditionally, especially if that isn’t our typical approach.

There is a painter that lives in me, I’m sure of it. What began as a whisper has been getting louder, encouraging me to pick up a paintbrush. There are so many reasons why painting, at this point, doesn’t make any sense…

I don’t have a space where I can get messy. I don’t have anywhere to store canvases. Buying all the required supplies is expensive. Editing is more difficult–you can’t hit ‘undo.’I have no idea what I’m doing—I don’t even really know where to start.

And yet…there is this voice urging me to get my hands dirty. To mix colors by brush rather than onscreen.

For this assignment, I bought several pieces of balsa wood–six of them so that none would be too precious. I painted them brightly, then added white and gray until they had this lovely distressed look.

I created a design that I wanted to paint, and with graphite paper, transferred my sketch onto my canvas and went to work.

In my neuroses, I ended up creating both a digital and painted version, and…I don’t love either.

The teapot image above is what I ended up submitting to the Bootcamp public gallery (which is now live, check it out if you are so inclined–my submission is on page 2). I’m happy with how it turned out, but it feels like a bit of a cop-out. Created digitally, there is nothing about it that pushed me outside of my comfort zone.

The image below is the digital version of my first idea, followed by the (as yet, unfinished) painted version.

As is so often my approach (in more than just my art, ahem), I tried to control everything. Leaving little room for artistic play, I missed the whole point of painting.

So I will try again–sometime soon.

In the meantime, the amazing Christine Mason Miller has invited me to be a contributor in her upcoming e-course, The Conscious Booksmith.

“This thoughtfully created course is a guide for aspiring authors and book-makers. It is filled with tools and inspiration designed to support the creation of a comprehensive book plan reflective of your values, priorities and ideals.”

If this resonates in your heart, class starts March 9. Come join us!!

 

 

All Who Wander Are Not Lost

I just finished this commissioned piece for a client, who plans to gift a framed print to her adventure-seeking, world-traveling, sister-in-law.

My client is the kind you dream about–we discussed the project and she gave me parameters.

Then she let me fly.

At one point in our conversations, she laid it out for me like this: “Final thought–have fun with this and make it your own. Then it will be perfect.”

Swoon. What a way to kick off the new year!

Bootcamp has started again as well.

Beginning this month, Lilla Rogers Assignment Bootcamp runs through June. The pace is relaxed–one assignment per month–and it pushes me out of my comfort zone. Last year, I was able to turn a few of my projects into licensing deals (still in the works–I hope to share details soon!). There is also the ever-positive, uber-talented group of participating artists–an entire international community of my people!!

This week, we are sketching Edwardian brooches. I’m not sure where we’re headed, but my guess is pattern design. Yahoo!