Ok, as you may know I jumped on the train and signed up for the live version of Mindy Lacefield (from Tim’s Sally)’s online class «Paint Your Story».
I committed this year to really be careful when deciding about a class I wanted to take. Because honestly, last year I signed up for way too much classes, did not follow properly most of them and so it felt like I was wasting my money.
I often speak about how I feel like something is missing in my artwork, how something is kinda off. All of my Nixies have a story to share, but I was feeling like writing paragraphs of them was boring (I am bored very easily). I was lost and confused and needed direction.
This is what I found in «Paint Your Story». A new way to tell my stories, to fill my art with my own symbols and non sense and wildness. It helped me to accept that it does not have to look perfect to be meaningful, that a face does not have to actually look like a real face to be expressive. Acceptance is the key (I should count how many times I’ve written you that mantra in here ! ;)).
I will tell you more about them, but I have now a new… genre of painting, that I am calling «the Sprixies» (thank you Anu for spending time with me brainstorming to come up with this name). They are not human looking neither beast like, they are something totally different. I know I am just chanelling whatever comes. Maybe are they from a different Universe than ours ? Who knows ! Each have a strength to share.
And I would have not dare sharing them without what this online class opened for me.
So… back to Sonya 🙂
I created her on a 11×14″ canvas board. I used color I don’t use much like this red *Pyrrole red* for example. But love how it came together. From Chaos comes Calm.
I had lots of fun seeing her emerge from it. But at first, I was a bit confused by the paradox between the sadness I feel coming from her and the message she gives: PLAY.
And after thinking of it deeper, I realized that her message is more than that. She is there to show me (you) that no matter how sad you are, no matter how beaten by life you feel, if you keep a sense of playing, it will be better. Lighter on your Heart. Don’t let the dark part of you take over, give it some love because it needs it for sure, acknowledge its presence inside of you, but know that it does not define you entirely.
About the video… I finally was able to record a voice over, not without sweat and hair pulling (I am blessed with a wonderful husband who can help me when it comes to technical computer stuff). It makes me really nervous to speak on a video but i did it. FEARLESS I am. Uh.
So here it is:
If you have questions, and/or want to know more about the supplies I used, just tell me 🙂
Love this! Thanks for showing your whole process!!
Thanks a lot Suzanne. I love sharing my process.
I so enjoyed this and really appreciate it when other artists take the time to share their process and gifts with the world. Awesome. Thank you.
I LOVE watching other artists while they create too 😉
I greatly enjoyed your video. Thank you for explaining each step. I like the finger tips dabbing of paint. I like using tissue paper also but I never thought of stamping on it ahead of time.
If you try the stamped tissue paper, tell me how it went for you 😉 It’s like doubling the love for me, it adds visual interest and yummy texture all at once.
Wow!! amazing dear girl. i LOVE and adore your voice. you have a real knack for this! bravo darling girl. xoxo.
love your art and your spirit!
m.
WOW thank you Mindy. I am so grateful for you doing Paint Your Story, it changed everything for me <3
Thank you for stopping by
Thanks so much for sharing. You did a wonderful job and I absolutely love hearing your voice after seeing your work for all these months! Bravo brave girl! xoxo
[…] I loved loved loved making my last {Painting In Progress} video, Sonya. You can learn more about her and enjoy the video here. […]
Beautiful process. I could actually see all the images emerging for you.
the most amazing process – i’m awed !! thanks for sharing and inspiring me. Need to get my courage up to try this awesome process on my own. love it !!!