I think it’s time to admit that I will not be joining my daughter in Camp NaNoWriMo this month. I just have too much going on and I can’t crank out the words as easily as my daughter can. She’s set a goal of fifty thousand words in the month of April and she already has nearly forty thousand. She will reach her goal. I will let this one pass me by and hope to get back on the bandwagon in July. That’s the next session of Camp NaNoWriMo and by then I will have survived the grueling tie-dye marathon that others call April and May.
So far, I am still managing to do a little bit of painting. While I was in North Carolina, I tried a small landscape. I did it from life, but I did not go out in the snow. I set up my paints on the windowsill of my sister’s cottage and painted what I could see out the window. I was excited about the unexpected snow but, of course, I had never tried to paint snow before. I don’t get too many chances to paint snow in Florida.
Windowsill set-up
I’m proud of this little study because I successfully used my new scumbling brush to create texture on the trees. Look – I scumbled!
Scumbled trees
More recently, I’ve been adding to my series of itty bitty paintings of vegetables. Last week, I painted a red onion.
Onion
This week, I painted three different potatoes (red, russet and sweet) in a blue bowl.
Potatoes
These are not the only things I’ve worked on lately, but the others were studies that have not yet developed into anything I want to share. I get excited when I paint a decent potato and then I try things that are way beyond my skills. In times past, my unsuccessful attempts would have made me give up, but not now. I just keep telling myself that I’m a beginner and I have a lot to learn. Learning takes time. I am going to put in the time. I’ve made a commitment.
Last year, I didn’t publish a single blog post in April, May or June. In July, I committed to posting at least once a week and I haven’t missed a week since. Commitment makes a difference.
A More Colorful Life 
Great job! You’re a much better painter than you’re willing to admit. I enjoy the updates.
Thank you, Sarah!
Scumbling is my favorite. Good job! Wait … “new” scumbling brush? I usually just use an old, worn out brush. 🙂
I actually bought a brush called a “scumbler.” I haven’t worn out any brushes yet! 🙂
It seems so little just to say: “That’s great!” But it really is beautiful!
Thank you, Pam.
Commitment definitely makes a difference
Absolutely, Katie. I find that I have to make a commitment or I will just lose track of things and let them slide for months. Once I make a commitment, I will do everything in my power to keep it.
Enjoying the journey is key. For me, it’s all about the experiment and seeing where that goes. Sometimes it leads to intense compositions, other times it’s a quick abstract, but I learn so much from every painting or un-finished painting. I loved Jackson Pollock’s response to the question “what are you painting?”. He said: “I’m just painting.”
The things I have learned from just “scumbling” around, have really helped me in the more complicated paintings. This snowy landscape of yours is really wonderful. I can’t wait to see where this commitment leads. As your sister, I have witnessed some amazing blossoming, in the last few years. Further up and further in!
Thank you for that thoughtful comment. I am enjoying the journey now, but I have to say that last year was not always an easy road. Without the commitment, I don’t think I would have done all the things I did and those things led me to this year, when I am actually excited about doing creative things again. I was losing hope, and that was why I started the blog and made the commitment. Finally, something worked!