Challenges

It has been well document in many resources about how when you are up against difficult challenges your meet your "best self."

Challenges make us grow, right?

I wonder if it is true in the plant world? I have certainly killed my fair share of plants. But I have a Clemantis that truly thrives on challenges.

I purchased this Clemantis plant way back in 2006 and kept in in a large pot. I trained it to climb the stair railing where beautiful blooms greeted me as I walked out the door. One spring I was possessed to create a watercolor painting of the emerging flower.


Last June I moved and decided to take the Clemantis with me. Detaching it from the stairs, and packing it in my car to move to our new location was traumatic for the plant. The Clematis suffered incredible summer heat and was whipped around by the spring winds. Regardless of all these challenges, this Clematis at the present time is donning eight fabulous flowers.

Way to go little plant!



TRULY AMAZING!

The Challenge of a New Art Medium

Do you ever feel stuck?  Similar to writer's block, but for a visual artist it feels more like doing the same thing over and over again.  After twenty-five years exploring watercolors, I am beginning to feel the urge to try something new. 

Jump start creativity?  Last time I felt this way, I began to tear up old watercolor paintings and create new paintings (watercolor collage paintings). Talk about a metaphor!  As a challenge of new art media, I have been playing with water-based oil paints (sounds like a misnomer) and tried a few small acrylic paintings.  

Most recently, I have picked up a watercolor pencil set.  Now, you are probably thinking that is not so different for an artist who has painted with watercolors. BUT IT IS! TOTALLY DIFFERENT! For you  control freaks, watercolor pencils are a more controlable medium..........well, until you add the water :)  It even looks different. AMAZING!

Later, I am off on another discovery...........