Creativity drives life in isolation
I think I’ve seen thousands of articles by now where somebody says how bad they feel about isolation and how they have lost the sparkle of creativity and inspiration. Well, maybe they didn’t have any creative ideas already before the pandemic because as I see it, creativity keeps flowing and life goes on no matter what. Especially during isolation, we are more creative with everything, aren’t we? There is also so much advice what to do. Sometimes, I feel like everybody wants to give me some advice. The truth is our situations are so different that what works for that particular person, is often meaningless for me. We are all smart now, and we should be aware what works best for us. I personally prefer reading more about experiences.
Switching tasks
Generally speaking, I’ll do what I have intended anyway, or I won’t engage in what I believe is a pointless action. I don’t really need encouragement or push: when the time is right, everything will happen. I’ve been painting here and there, just as I always do. The weather has turned very spring-like, therefore, I’ve been busy with garden works: digging soil, removing waste. I didn’t have the right mood to publish anything, – heavy physical work can be very tiring. My idea was to continue with the series I just started and share drawings, but I ended up working on a few watercolors which were started probably 4 or 5 years ago. I had reference drawings, but none of them seemed to be exactly of these paintings, therefore, I just worked from imagination.
Painting progress with steps
I found this painting with light washes on the background and just one watercolor paint layer on apple blossoms and buds. Normally, the first step means to transfer the drawing onto watercolor painting, adjust it and make sure there are no strong pencil lines. After that, we start adding watercolor paint as we see fit. I usually add the first layer of paint on areas with the potentially strongest values.
Supply shortages
The first months of spring season always feel like a new beginning, a fresh breath. Except this year, we are again in a complete lockdown in Ontario, just like the year before. That doesn’t affect what I do too much, but there is a shortage of supplies. When I was at the art store last time, shelves were very empty. My favorite brands were pretty much absent, that included colors which are used more frequently for acrylic painting: artist grade Titanium white, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Golden Ochre, Carmine Red, different shades of yellow were not available. I use preferably Lamp black, that wasn’t available either. I ordered paints online once and the waiting was 6 weeks, therefore, I’m not doing that again.
Accepted into spring art show “Roots of art”
I just received an email notification that my paintings have been accepted into a virtual annual art show. Before pandemic, this was a live, real, very busy and well-attended art show. The show is local and that fits me well. Since I hope more traffic will come toward my website, I’ll need to spend more hours updating everything. It’s a time-consuming task and requires attention, therefore, that is my priority for a while. Including portfolio would be difficult because of all media options I use and various subjects. There is so much art in each category! I have currently 3 pages which display my available art. Acrylic paintings need the quickest update, however.
Inese’s original watercolor paintings
Inese’s original acrylic paintings
Special featured art, originals
You are very welcome to check out and see the progress of these pages.
As always, have a look at greeting cards, puzzles, coffee mugs, notebooks and art prints with numerous framing options:
Thanks for reading, stopping by and leaving a comment if you have time! Have great springtime!
Best of luck with the “Roots of Art” show! Cheers.
Thanks very much!
While the show is virtual and, therefore, it’s online presentation which doesn’t allow for impact of size and direct feeling of brushstroke, it’s at least one more place where to show something.
We are completely locked down here, the numbers are not good at all. I was trying to book appointment for vaccine for 3 days in a row, no results so far. Maybe next week. We’ve been eligible for a while, but probably not enough vaccines.
I hope you’re safe over there!
This past year has certainly been a divergence from what we expected. I agree – creativity continues to flow and how that flow continues comes from an internal conversation. While external advice has its place, there needs to be a profound understanding of what gives joy to our soul. This year reminded me that creativity is not static but fluid and flexible. Congratulations and all the best in the “Roots of Art” show, Inese. I enjoy our conversations.
Thanks Rebecca!
I am working on more paintings today, hopefully, I can get paints which I really need. Spring is here, but we have very rainy and cold days at the moment. Therefore, painting sunny places and subjects is a good idea.
There are different degrees to which people are creative or attracted to creating something.
Lack of essentials and necessity was initially the reason I got creative: when you cannot buy any toys, clothes at the store, you just create them. I never played much, but I loved sewing outfits for dolls and creating all kinds of stuff to play with for my sister since she’s 4 years younger. By age of twelve, I was a fairly good dressmaker and designer. Creativity became me over time and that’s why there is no other way to do things.
External advice has its place, but there is just overwhelming presence of it. Advisable ideas are simply repeated and repeated in similar versions so often that it gets boring, says nothing new.
Also: generalized advice has very little impact. People arrive at significant discoveries by certain age in their life. Our priorities change all the time in teen years, when we are young adults, middle age, and past 60, or 70, or 80. One size absolutely never fits all.
I know even where this overwhelming advice is coming from: all blogging guides tell you to teach something, to outline a problem and then show the way to resolve it. Over time it becomes like consuming something which one is already past and over. We are trying to generalize very personal experiences: grief, sadness, worries, satisfaction, happiness and feeling of achievement.
Therefore, I love reading about experiences, not much about 10 things what to eat, wear or use.
Have a good week!
I agree wholeheartedly – we do arrive at significant discoveries at different times in life. Recently, my sister Sarah and I discussed a self-help book that gave insight into happiness. We agreed that there were important insights, but these insights are found in many other books. To be reconciled with self, we must embrace our internal journey. Several years ago, I was in a course on Human Resources which was led by a well-known psychologist. The question was asked of him: How do you give advice? His response: I don’t give advice because no one wants advice. They want to find the answer within. That was my greatest takeaway from that course.
That is the best takeaway for sure, looking for answers within.
I also think that while many people are still looking for help outside, like counselling, meetings, as you mentioned self-help books, we have to return to exploration of our internal resources, and there is abundance of them. We are equipped with everything we might possibly need, with numerous mechanisms and systems. However, we do destroy them early with all kinds of substances, drugs, even medications and so forth.
It is interesting to read how other people get to discover their own path to happiness, I just usually stop when it turns into what somebody should do.
Deep inside we actually know what we should do, and it’s a matter of willingness or resistance.
I’ve been reading lots of books during pandemic, but it gets boring seeing the main characters frequently complicating simple things, acting irrationally and being always in self-doubt, confusion and mental mess which invariably leads them to a psychiatrist and they admit the help wasn’t what they expected.
The social scene of nowadays allows wishing for more self-reliance, independence and self-appreciation. It’s a broad subject and I probably should try to tackle it on my lifeschool blog. Yet, like we know, the true help comes from inside and our experience, not that there is something wrong with asking for help. The wrong part is becoming helpless.
Thank you very much for the very interesting comment!
Thank you for this most excellent conversation. Do you have a lifeschool blog that I can follow?
I enjoyed this conversation, too.
I’ve had the other blog for while, since 2015, maybe 2016; https://inesepogalifeschool.com/
I used to write a lot about things which felt interesting to me.
Just followed! Looking forward to our ongoing conversation!
Thank you, I am, too. I find that blogging is beneficial in that regard: we can communicate meaningful messages and ideas with insightful, interesting and amazing people.
I created the other blog to keep art matters separate from all other subjects.
“When the time is right everything will happen”
Kairos is an Ancient Greek word meaning the right, critical, or opportune moment. The ancient Greeks had two words for time: chronos and kairos. The former refers to chronological or sequential time, while the latter signifies a proper or opportune time for action.
The rest it’s up to the individual to take action, and seize the day.
In other words we need to have the proper attitude, or nothing get’s done.
Beautiful paintings, and I imagine, by the images, you produce, a beautiful garden you keep, as well.
Best regards to you Inese, and enjoy Spring, and it’s bounty. 😊
Thank you!
I suppose experience allows seeing that difference between two types of time.
That’s so right: to seize the opportunity when it comes our way.
I think we are doing our best not to let it pass. I wish I could do something better today, but I’m just returning to vaccine booking website again and again and trying to book the appointment. I will probably try phone later because it doesn’t seem the website gives any results.
Spring is a bounty for sure, and garden is waking up. It’s bit too cold to plant seeds yet, but that time will be here soon.
Stay safe and I love your philosophical insight into all things life!
Spring it’s here now in full force all the trees are full of flowers, even if today it’s a low 15C, just a few days ago was about 25C
Take care Inese! 😊
We are not there yet, but eventually everything will be in bloom here also. We got a lot of rain this week, and it’s not warm, but the first greens are sprouting out.
You, too, take care and stay safe!
Wonderful inspiration too is your Art Inese…. And that is what life is all about… CREATION….. may you continue to enjoy your creative art dear friend…
Love and Blessings your way <3
Thanks so much Sue!
I could say life is all about creation, yes, for me it is very true. Creation is the main driver for me.
I am very happy to know that my art is seen as inspiration.
Thanks for blessings, too, and I hope your week has started out well!
Very well….. Lots to do….. planting seeds etc… and yes your art is beautiful Inese.. <3
That’s good to know. I’ve got seeds now, got them just a few days ago before they shut down everything, but it is a bit too cold at the moment, rainy, windy. Maybe next week, I can also plant some seeds.
Such a pleasure when the spring starts. Some trees are getting slightly green, nice change on the grey background.
I know you love gardening, too, that is such a blessing actually. Plants give us so much, never moody, never angry, right?
We will stay in touch, and take a good care of yourself!
Wow, this is beautiful!!! Love how you posted the progression of the painting. I’m not too thrilled with the amount of time spent keeping up with social media and posting because then I lose that precious creative time in the studio. So I had to look at all the writing and posting as a form of art that brings a smile to others. Or at least I hope it does, lol. Congrats on getting accepted in the Roots of Art. Wish you the best of luck!!
Thank you Maria!
Any posting whether on blogs (I have 2) or on any other site, or on social media takes time. You said it correct: our precious time. There are days when time simply disappears. It’s easy to forget about meals and chores once I start working on a painting.
I decided to apply for one more art show, this time international. It seems to fit my subject and theme of art as a healing medium. Let’s see how that goes through, maybe I will get accepted again, but as you know competition nowadays is huge and fierce, therefore, getting in a well-known show is not that easy. I have been accepted many times in different shows when jury acknowledged I’ve done my part well, but it’s always hard to guess.
Participating in shows takes extra time because one has to put together the display pieces and with my numerous paintings, it can be sometimes hard to choose. Photos are also not always that perfect, and for a show to be accepted, they need to be flawless. That is another time-consuming task with taking pictures, downloading, reviewing, deleting, deleting and then taking new ones until something fits the original.
I’m working just on that at the moment, deciding what to use and maybe I will paint a few new works until May 1st. I still haven’t updated sale and display pages, oh, that takes many hours.
I think your chosen path is right, and putting smile on somebody’s face is an excellent thing.
Have a good weekend!
Thanks Ines, hope your weekend was great too! Good luck with the international show 🤞
Thank you very much!
My days are kind of all the same, I just hope to get the vaccine soon and then I can focus more on all shows. I hope they will be fine.
Have a good week!
gorgeous!! many congrats & wishing you the best with the show!
Thanks!
The show was in May, virtual show, so you can imagine. There are so many virtual shows, but it was still good to participate.
is that how you sell your art or do you do Etsy as well?
My website is the best place where to refer anybody. I wouldn’t say I sell much online, it’s rather I get people interested. My art sells way better in person. Everything looks small and the same size online when in reality the paintings can really speak to the potential byer. Colors and textures cannot be captured in photos often, therefore, it’s just a distant glimpse into what it is. It’s very unfortunate to deal with selling because it takes away time and often results just aren’t there.
I don’t like Etsy, they pretty much sell everything, art, especially original art, is a little part of it. They also charge a lot, and there are so many demands artist has to comply with. Middlemen, meaning, places like Etsy, make this all difficult. Add to that all millions of online galleries and print selling sites and you get the idea. I think it’s extremely difficult to sell anything now.
unfortunately, sounds like publishing
It’s the same or even worse. Say thank you to the big guys who won’t let small ones be seen.