Painting by Numbers

Number of minutes spent painting today: 80
Shades of red used: 3
Shades of green: 1
Shades of blue: 0
Total hues used today: 11
Cost of 1.25 ounce bottle of yellow oil paint: $7
Paint brushes involved: 8
Paintings I've done that hang on the walls of our home: 12
Art by other people: 4
Paintings completed today: 1
Paintings completed to date: over 100

One brush stroke at a time

Paint on my nose and on the doorknobs is a good sign, at least in our house. It means that something creative is happening in my painting dungeon, or as it's more commonly known, the garage. I was suddenly misplaced when my son was born. We decided that he needed a bedroom more than I needed a painting room. Parents are known for making these difficult decisions...

My new veggie painting is finished. Now if it only had a name. Naming paintings is my most least favorite part of painting. It's high on my short list of not-fun things involved in the artistic process, along with scrubbing paint off my nose. I would call each of them "untitled" if I could get away with it. But even "untitled" is a name.

New veggie painting #2 is underway. I had some serious pleasure painting broccoli today, but green is quite the stubborn color. There will be other delicious foods involved...carrots, tomatoes, peppers, cauliflower. And some not so yummy cabbage, but it adds an interesting color so I'm including it despite objections from my taste buds.

I keep reminding myself "a little bit is better than none" as I try to squeeze in time painting between working full-time and being a mom to a toddler. I'm trying to take the advice that I give people who are struggling with exercise. A little exercise is better than none. Little by little the paint adds to the canvas.

Fussy Duck

I'm so excited to be renting space at the Fussy Duck, a very cool shop in Salem that has all sorts of art, crafts, collectibles, etc. I have a 4' by 5' space with original artwork, prints and greeting cards. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to have a "storefront" for my work.

My little boy, Finn, is now 15 months old. I'm no longer able to use the "new mom" excuse to put everything in my life on hold, so I intend to get some painting done this year. I love painting, and I did very little in 2010. I wasn't able to do much in 2009, as I spent most of the year pregnant (breathing oil paint fumes is a bad idea for an expectant mama). I feel balanced and calm when I am painting. I always encourage my health students at Chemeketa to create wellness goals and keep the 6 dimensions of wellness in mind (physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, environmental). We often think about the physical dimension of wellness when we think about health, but there are these other important aspects that impact our wellness. I have a few wellness-related goals for 2011, and painting is at the top of my list. I hope to share my progress here.

I started on a veggie painting today. I did a few fruit paintings and 1 vegetable painting a while ago and had plans for more when I embarked on my journey of motherhood. So I'm picking up where I left off. Don't worry, mom, I will still be working on your 4x5 painting. Promise. This new painting has carrots, peppers, an onion, broccoli and peas, among other things. I'm most excited about the peas. Art that makes you go mmmm....