Art Exploration…

Toward the end of last year I was very excited to discover that I had won a spot (thanks to Effy Wild’s giveaway and Tam LaPorte’s generosity in donating a spot) in Tam’s LifeBook 2013.  While I was excited, I must admit more than a little apprehension.  Looking through the course description, I was afraid the gift would be wasted on me, because I considered myself to be oh-so talentless in the realm of Art.  I mean, really… the last time I remembered picking up a paint brush was in grade-school art class (which, by the way, was one of my favorite classes evah)!  I’m a crafter.  I’m a cut-n-paster.  Art?  That’s downright scary.

With trepidation, I did promise myself to open my heart and mind and just TRY and PLAY.  I promised myself to embrace IMPERFECTION (with Cheri’s voice echoing in my head).  I promised myself that I would not compare or judge.  To that latter statement, I do admit I rarely go look at what other class participants are doing for fear that I will do exactly that, so a piece of me feels guilt for not participating more fully in the class with regard to socialization.  But yet another piece of me is so super-duper proud for achieving the no-judgment/no-comparison goal so much of the time that it outweighs the twinges of guilt about being antisocial.

However… as is always my way with classes, and as I know some of you can jump on my bandwagon… life has gotten the best of me and I have not been “keeping up” with the class offerings.  In acknowledgement of my own time-management imperfection, I’m “okay” with being so far “behind”, though.  And why am I okay with it?  Because the few classes I have completed have blown my mind!  I CAN do “Art” with a capital “A”.  It’s not all just cut-n-paste.  I have picked up paint brushes and watercolors and markers and stamps and ink and masks and templates and … wow… a graphite pencil and used them to draw and color and … ART.  I did not realize how good it feels to learn from these fantastic instructors and learn things that I LOVE to do and things that are … eh… not my “thang”.  My only longing wish is to have more time… to make more time… to do more of the lessons and keep growing my own niche of Art. 

It seems that every lesson I do becomes my “favorite”.  This is the last lesson I completed and she’s absolutely my Favorite of all favorites.  I drew... yes, drew her from ‘bones’ up and while I know the wolf howling in the background is a little hard to distinguish, I’m fantastically proud and happy and excited with her... and moreso, inspired by her.

I just wanted to share a little bit my art exploration this year.  What I love most about it, is that by exploring art, it is helping me explore myself.  

I hope you are exploring new things too!