Listening to the Marks

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.

Thornton Wilder

Yay for spring break!  The weather has been gorgeous...I mean absolutely gorgeous this week!    Keeping up with with Sketching My World has been a bit of a challenge since spring break = extra mom duties, but I do have a few things to show you.

Monday's sketch is of weeds wildflowers in a pretty blue jar.  I have to confess I find it hard to resist adding a little watercolor here and there (and everywhere) so my sketches keep turning into paintings.

Tuesday morning's blueberries lasted just long enough to be immortalized on paper then they were history.

On Thursday (Did you notice I skipped Wednesday?)  I sketched a montage of spring flowers, once again crossing the line between sketching and painting. 

With watercolor less is definitely more, which fights against my propensity to splash paint everywhere.  Too much paint and poof... your beautiful white space is gone forever.  It is not for the faint of heart.  Watercolor artists are my heroes as they know just when to stop and let it be.  

I believe art mirrors life.  Our art wants to inform us and give us direction.  I find myself wondering, "What does my way of creating art say about me?  Why do I find it so hard not to add more marks, more paint when I so love the peace and vibrancy of white space?"  

I crave simplicity in my daily life.  For the past many months I have been in reduction mode... clearing away the unnecessary, enjoying the openness of empty space.  I want to learn what I truly need and let that be enough.  Sometimes I desire these things in my art as well and this begs the question:

If art mirrors life, does life, in turn, mirror art?

If I follow a desire to work with less color, fewer lines, fewer supplies, will a peaceful, vibrant simplicity spill out into my every day?  If I listen carefully will I hear my heart whispering through the marks as I make them on the page? 

And, while we're on the subject, I can't help but wonder...What is your art saying to you?  Do the marks you make whisper of your heart's true desire, your calling, the next step on your path?  It might be worth a listen.

Linking up today with 

Paint Party Friday 

***It's a special day at Paint Party Friday today as Eva and Kristin have arranged an Auction Blog Hop to benefit Sandy Hook Elementary School.  Be sure to check out the lovely artwork up for auction as well as the usual links to some amazing art blogs.  It's a great way to get your weekend off to an inspired start!***

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