Friday, March 15, 2013

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 

***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!***

17 comments:

  1. Can't wait for spring break and the warmer weather here, too!
    I love, love, LOVE your floral and fruit paintings!!
    Delightful!
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  2. I so love your flowers and the closeup pics are my fav, love seeing all the detail and color in your work. Fabulous! HPPF!

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  3. I love your style of painting. It's what I would choose to do if I had the talent. Beautiful works.

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  4. Oh you are just rolling with your beautiful work. Whenever I need a pick me up I will just come here.....xox

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  5. The Mason jar full of wild flowers is a joy to behold!
    Xx

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  6. oh, these turned out beautifully! love the mason jar of flowers...and the shadows on the lettering are a nice touch...happy PPF!

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  7. Simply beautiful! I love y our paintings! I find it so hard to find a balance between white space and colour (mostly I dont!)

    So often I find my oaintings reflect what is going on in my life, but I also know that if I am in a foul mood and start painting a serene looking girl, my mood will smooth out and I become serene too. So maybe painting does influence my life, in small ways!

    Great post x

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  8. You are so prolific with paints and words!! Love this post so much!! I love all these pieces... I think you need beauty...it shows in your art...Your art is full of romance, tidiness, color. It's rich, deep and vibrant!! Maybe there is a part of you needing to show that!!

    My art is all about color...I love it more than lines...I have always surrounded myself with it. I am quirky and love whimsy. Like you though I am trying to simplify...but it's harder than it looks when you have a bit of an old school mentality!! However I am working on it!

    Inspirational thoughtful post! Very powerful....thank you!

    Hugs Giggles

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  9. Your sketches / paintings are beautiful. Love all the details. I know what you mean about watercolour! I like working with it every now and then, but generally it is too restrictive for me. I find that I have different "periods" that I go through in my art. Sometimes I really feel the need to paint big and splash colour all around, other times I want to work in black & white, other times I just want to sketch. I just go with what I feel at that moment, and yes, in that way my art is a reflection of my life and my feelings...

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  10. Loving your fabulous paintings, wonderful work. Happy PPF, Annette x

    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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  11. Gorgeous art work! Wow these sketch paintings are beautiful, you have such a way with water colors, I love these and your words that go with them, I can so smell the scent of Spring here, wonderful!

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  12. All your sketches/watercolor pieces are beautiful. Whenever I do art, the most difficult thing for me is to realize when to stop/ Love seeing the white space on other artist's work but for me it is very hard to retain that space.

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  13. Fabulous sketches, love your line work, colors, freshness - everything! <3

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  14. Gorgeous sketches! They would be beautiful framed and hung, too.

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  15. Glad you did not resist adding the watercolor. The sketches are delightful!

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Your lovely comments make my day!

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