New Year New Word

I chose the word and let the energy of that word 

guide and shape me.  I engaged with it.

 I took actions based on it.

Christine Kane

CEO of Uplevel You

Readers may recall that years ago I ditched writing new years resolutions in favor of choosing one word of the year.  This is not original to me, I learned it from a friend who learned it from a friend.  But I have found it so much more effective than a long list of lofty goals that seem to fizzle as they are written.

The quote above is from a woman who has taken the "word of the year" science to a new level even offering a (free) download as a guide for choosing your word.  Check it out...here's a link. And I found it in even another blog on the subject.  But none of this lessens the value of choosing only one word to sum up your intentions for the next 365 days.

I've never had difficulty choosing my word....they seem to start auditioning themselves as the days get shorter and the year comes to a close.  Most often they fly in and out of my head with a few of them "sticking" around for consideration.  By mid December the words have self-sorted and one stands out as the winner.  

Before I reveal my 2019 word let me add that some years the words are more "successful" than others, that is, they seem to resonate sincerely with my life; other years, not so much.  It is not a magic wand or a guarantee of any outcome.  Sometimes I am disappointed at my efforts or even my choice.  But I can say that it is a much more satisfying process for a fresh approach than any other I have tried.  So with that disclaimer, here we go:

Yep.  That's it: stretch.  

And while right this minute I interpret it literally (as in these bones could use some regular stretching) and somewhat figuratively (as in I need to challenge the boundaries of my comfort zones), the real beauty is that I am not at all certain where this word will take me.

I need to look at some of the tired ways I've gotten comfortable painting and: STRETCH.

I will be confronted with a challenging decision and need to: STRETCH.

I may be afraid to try a trip to the unknown that taxes me physically and need to: STRETCH.

I shall deal with persons whose opinions I do not share and I will need to: STRETCH.

Who knows?

Since I like to have the word visible first thing when I awaken I stretched to make it unusual:

just an old board, time to paint it

I made myself use up things I had laying around -

stretching to make the sign

hung over my door frame so it is the first

thought I see when my eyes open...

My husband's ritual is to tattoo his word on the inside of his arm so it is at the ready but I really like my method.  Put yours wherever you will see it several times a day.  Share it with others or not.  I love finding out what friends have chosen and why...and don't assume you understand the "why" of someone else's words.  We've had a great time discussing the meaningS and applicationS of a variety of words...it just has to resonate with the choser.

So HAPPY NEW YEAR!  

Let me know if you do this and share your word if you choose.  Best wishes in your own stretch for 2019.

FONDLY IN COLOR,

Cindy

Olive Me Paints...Olives?

Sometimes I give myself an "assignment" 

as a challenge or a push in my painting journey.

Herewith, for several reasons, I set out

to see how many different ways I could paint

Olives...olives?

I've painted 100s of pears, a few dozen apples and several sunflowers in an effort to learn by repetitive rendering.  Most were serious depictions, some more bizarre than others but all as an intention to study the subject and find new ways of presenting it.  So when I had reason to paint lots and lots of olives I decided to leave "serious" behind and go for "different."

Each would be on 4" x 4" cradled hardboard panels I got from Cheap Joe's.  Each would be a green olive with a red pimento in it.  Therein the rules ceased.  

Let the fun begin:

gold gesso set the stage for a dramatic olive,

I think the "pimento" looks like a red hole instead of a pepper piece?

oh well...onward

can you guess where this olive is residing?

trust me, without live "models" these little buggers were hard to depict

this collage piece was fun but oh so tiny for my challenged tearing-

fingers, the further back you are the more olive-y it looks

this was my feeble attempt at a wire sculpture olive...

I enjoy "mixed media" but

you have to use your imagination to know what it is

Now this was truly experimental, the olive is painted 

with a coat of oxidizing copper paint which dries and then

is reapplied, while wet it is then sprayed with green patina aging solution

which causes it to rust into this green on copper patina.

Both of these products are made by Modern Masters.

this is started with a bunch of random designs done in acrylic,

then with a background color a design is selected and the "negative" parts painted

out to reveal the olive

couldn't leave out fabric, could I?  a little boro, a little embroidery,

a touch of quilting and olive it works together

and now a clay olive....polymer clay, which is sculpted and baked in

the oven, this is my fav pimento: red cloth stuffed and glued into the 

pitted hole

admitting that I was running out of ideas on where

to place these olives I decided they could resemble

balloons at a party...

One last 4 x 4 remains...no ideas surfaced.  I think I will stick a fork in

olive this and call it done!

So what did I learn?  (1) that I really do not enjoy painting this small...I need space, I need more real estate, I am a 9 x 12 and beyond (preferably beyond) kinda gal;  (2) I do like the exercise of thinking of multiple ways to render something, perhaps I should make more effort to do this as sketching prep before a LARGER format of something; and finally, (3) I like drama, the contrast of bright colors and the play between dark darks and light lights.  

So what did I do with so many similar paintings?  Olive them went with my love to new homes.  I'll let you wonder about just who might want such a piece.

Olive Me thanks Olive You (for reading),

Cindy

Creative Comfort Zones

Everyone I know has a "creative comfort zone."  They may not label it as such but it is an area in which they feel competent, know the buzz words, and gravitate towards naturally.  It may be work or play but it gives them a feeling of accomplishment and pride.  Can you name (one of) yours?

Now, not many of us intentionally leave that zone when it comes to choice of activities.  Why?  I imagine that its because in a world that continually makes us feel less than adequate we tend to spend all the time we can doing things that we know are well done.  But maybe if we labeled this leave taking something else?  Would we then venture forth more boldly?

I don't know.  Just wondering.  Please share.

Meanwhile, I got a chance to dabble outside of my comfort zone recently at the Penland School of Crafts Community Open House.  This well known campus opened its studios stocked with volunteers to give visitors a taste test of the skills it offers in workshops.  Youngsters, blue haired teens, parents and folks like me all gathered to try our hand at a variety of skills.

Each studio had a project pre-planned.  Here I am experiencing the feel of a loom.  Waaaay out of my zone as it involves feet, hands and an ability to chart patterns.  Thankfully we were only making coasters....(since there was no line behind me I got a little extra length on my coaster....soon to be a hanging.)  But I left with a new appreciation for weavers and their art.  I also left thinking about color and texture and bo-coo things I could apply to painting.

Let's try something new this week....something that holds a chance of failure, a sense of confusion, a bit of imbalance when compared to the place we usually like to hang.  A new taste, a different skill...I know I'm not the first to challenge you, but I'd love for you to share.

COLORFULLY Outside My Zone,
Cindy