Can't I Just Stay Home With My Cats?

I finished painting number three last night. It's a smaller and narrower format than I usually work in but I'm happy with the result. I'm obsessed with tree shadows right now and whenever there is a sunny day, I am out taking lots of reference photos. Many of the trees are still leaf-less and cast the most amazing, limb-like shadows on buildings. Now I have the task of trying to figure out what to do for my next painting - so many ideas! I've got my work cut out for me.

I would love nothing more than to stay at home painting with my cat assistants by my side, but as I move further into the world of being an artist who wants people to see, enjoy and purchase my work, I am realizing that being social is pretty important. Like the old adage offered to shy girls and boys hoping to go on a date: Prince/Princess Charming isn't going knock on your door, you need to get out and meet people. While I do like to socialize and meet people, I am an introvert through and through. Where social occasions are energizing for extroverts, they tend to be draining for introverts. Because of this I am highly selective with my gallivanting.

A case in point--there were two opening receptions tonight that I had planned to attend: a printmaker's show at Avis Frank and Beth Secor's show at Inman Gallery. This morning I felt energetic and raring to go to both. As the day went on, I decided to skip the Avis Frank show, and later, after every shred of extroversion had left my body, I decided to stay home. What I like about receptions is that I usually meet new people, see friends, and meet the artists featured in the show. I also think its important to get out and be part of the art community.

The reality is that making art is a very solitary activity. Because of this, it attracts a lot of introverts who enjoy their studio time immensely and cringe when it's time to get out and be social. While I don't exactly "cringe" at socializing, I really do prefer staying home with my cats. Don't take it personally though, it's not you, it's me.

Is It Done Yet And Other Questions Painters Ask Themselves

I made my deadline with 11 hours, 45 minutes to spare! My painting, seen here and as yet untitled, is pretty much finished. There are a few things not shown in this photo that I want to fix. I usually end up changing the ground color, then the sky color, then changing the ground color again to look better with the sky color. Honestly I could go back and forth for days changing these colors ever so slightly until I'm finally satisfied. I've learned though to step away and sit with a painting for a while first because in a rush to finish you can really screw things up! Nonstop painting is also very tiring, so making decisions when you are exhausted generally ends up in disaster. I am also trying something new and novel: making small studies of paintings first to work out the colors and composition. Hopefully this will help me figure things out before spending hours mixing and taping and painting and mixing and painting, etc.

I very happy to be fully back in the painting groove. I am not struggling with distractions as much and have to remind myself to take breaks and go to sleep at a decent hour. It's so good to be back!