My head and my heart

My favorite kind of painting is intuitive (or meditative). I love to blast music and just paint.  Paining without a plan.  Sometimes I don't always end up with pieces that I'm happy with.  But, I always feel better afterwards. It is the process. The process is freeing.  I love taking the chance to get lost in the moment.  I like to mediate and free my mind.  Something about getting out all your emotions on to the page is cathartic.  The other night I got a chance to have some to do some meditative art.  I've been feeling a little emotional and unsteady of late.  I though for sure I would end up with some dark and brooding piece but instead I got this.

Maybe I've just been influenced by all the Valentine marketing but what came through was bright and filled with love and light.  And hearts, four hearts.  Afterwards I was looking at it and just couldn't help but think of us four Barks. I think the hearts are because I've been spending so much time thinking about my heart and desires.  About my wishes and dreams.  But more on this another day.

And the second painting I came up with was this.

Jason is wildly supportive but we don't always necessarily share the same artistic preference.  When I showed him these he wasn't really into them.  He said that the heart one looked like a doodle in a teenage girl's notebook.  And, I'll give him that one.  I mean, it kind of does.  The yellow one, he just didn't care for at all.  He didn't like the colors, he thought it might be a little simplistic.  I love it.  Happy and bright. I went ahead to took it to my printers to have it scanned.  And you know what?  The lady who handles my account, who has seen a lot of my work and never commented on anything, told me she loved this painting.  She loved it!  It was a nice reminder that art is subjective.  Different pieces speak to different people. Not everyone will like everything I do.  They might not like any of it, and that is okay.

One of the songs that played while I was working was the song "I will wait" by Mumford and Sons.  One line kept running through my head.  Trust my head and my heart.  I think maybe that is the underlying theme of these paintings.  I'm taking some big steps toward aligning my head with the desires of my heart.  Part of that is taking a leap into the whole process of working as an artist  I have so much to learn and so much room to grow in my work but I'm following my heart and not letting the insecurity of my mind hold me back!!

PS.  One of the steps I am taking is to create a little newsletter list for my art.  I've been kind of using facebook for communicating about my work but facebook has started to hide post unless you buys ads. Which kind of stinks for the little guy.  So, I thought I'd set up a mailing list.  Don't worry, I won't spam you.  I'm just planning on emailing every couple of months.  Just shop updates, upcoming shows (what?!!) and other art related fun.  If you'd like to be on the list . . .  sign up below.

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P.P.S.  If you are interested . . .  I have prints of these available over at my etsy store.