"Let Go, Be Bold, Unfold"

As my blog will attest I've been searching for my unique stylistic voice.  I have this huge vision for my work but it gets clouded by the pesky little voices in my head that tighten me up and restrict creative flow.  Last week I was introduced to Flora S Bowley's book "Brave Intuitive Painting - Let go, be bold, unfold"

It is an inspiring and encouraging book that allows me to explore "working from a place of curiosity and letting go of fear." I am taking the rest of this year to explore the exercises in this book and thought I would share a few of the unplanned paintings I generated this week.  Except for (1) there were no sketches involved, no value studies, no color studies, just pure unadulterated painting with all the inherent imperfections.

I am realizing that the imperfections are what give a painting life and character.

What's Old is New

I've been working on my painting skills with some old sketches.  I think, deep down, I am really fighting the urge to work with the real stuff: gouache, crayon, cut paper; you know, the scarey things that go bump in the night and make you wake up in a cold sweat screaming "WHAT IF I MAKE A MISTAKE?"

NEW

OLD

NEW

OLD

I think I am finding a happy medium, though!!!

*pun* 

Slow and Steady...

has helped me find my groove, my aesthetic & my favorite tools.  Now I am finally figuring out how to work it.  If I have one word of advice to the newbie/novice/more beginner than me types it is PATIENCE!!!!!!!!

Keep working at your own pace.

Know that the work you are doing today may not be your best work.

Keep at it.

Don't show it all...

Listen to your gut...it knows if you aren't being honest!!!!