"Finding Water"

A couple of days ago, the leader of our Fearless Painting Tribe, Connie, challenged us to a little painting dare. She dared us to paint "our year". A self portrait of sorts. A symbolic representation of our year.

"The portrait doesn't even need to resemble you", she said....and mine certainly does not. Here she is. See I'm no raven-haired, skinny, girlie giant. I'm just a little ole Texas gal, transplanted long ago to the left coast. As you can see, I do have a thang for painting ethnic ladies, surrealism and nature. The mix makes my heart skip a beat or two.

Thought I'd share my process with you here....in reverse.



I finished painting "Finding Water" just this afternoon and I've already grown quite attached. (How does one let go and begin to sell their paintings? They are all my little babies - I can't seem to let go. They are so very personal.)



I actually thought I'd finished painting when I got to the stage below. But then Connie and I had a little chat. She wondered aloud if I were truly done. I insisted that yes, indeed I was. She's a simple portrait, I thought.

But that very night my painting visited in my sleep. She had more to say...she'd need shadowy mountains, a lake to stand in, a bit more lipstick and some shiny bubbles. Bubbles you say? Okay.



The rest of the process you can see for yourself. She appeared out of the blue. No planning whatsoever on my part - just an intention set of "capturing my year". I'm still here trying to decipher the message....how she symbolizes my year....I do know it's been a year of discovery and fulfillment and and purpose and belonging. I suppose that is it - my year of "Finding Water".