I feel a bit burnt out.
I am feeling freaked out about keeping up the pace with my painting with the semester ending, and I have to deal with challenging the pre-requistite on the class I want to take in the fall. I'm nervous about that.
I didn't get the scholarship I tried for. It's fine- it was a bit of a long-shot, I guess. I had to try, right? And now my job is to NOT get discouraged about something little like this get me down and shut of my ambitions. (which I'm quite prone to)
So, I press on.
Yesterdays class was mostly comprised of working on our abstracts of the the paintings we did last week. We also turned in our end-of-semester portfolios. I'm getting excited about the painting I'm doing now- especially since its beginning to take shape. I've learned a lot about abstract painting. I thought you just kind of did whatever you want- and then I wondered why no one likes my abstract stuff. My professor said that the most compelling art is the most subjective. Pieces that try to tell a story tend to be less effective. Keep it free- go towards a meaning and story of your own, but, dont pigeon hole the painting. For example, in my painting, I put a woman struggling to hold on to a chair thats on top of a mountain of eggs. She said this: "Take the figure out- for two reasons. One- you don't know how to paint a figure yet. And two, I think the same idea can be portrayed without her. Let the viewer feel it- don't over-describe."
I was blown away. A little stung by the comment about painting figures- but from this professor, I know she means I'm just not ready. And she was right- I painted the woman out and the painting feels less forced. The perspective is more open, and it forced me to have to use other elements to portray the feelings.
Fascinating!! It pays to have someone in your life who is wise!!!
In other news...I'm going to start my re-write again. I know, I know...I'm crazy. I need to write this book. It's good for me to write. Without writing, I tend to grow in discontent with my own life, which is completely ridiculous. I have everything someone could want....but my mind wanders. When I don't write, I tend to look around and get down on myself about missing out on things. I'm a freak. I *need* imaginary friends so I don't destroy my real life.
I'm weird.
