Johanna

Gouache on Paper, August 2010

Inertia is fuel for the lazy.

Acrylic on canvas, July 2010

Finished (for now)…still unhappy with the background… will pick this up again before giving to them for their anniversary.

This was the first acrylic work I started, but didn’t finish it right away (I still don’t think it’s done). Step-by-step process here:

Made papa smile more:

Now filled them in…

…

painting mom and dad (step-by-step)Read More »

Gouache and pen on paper, August 2010

Yesterday I got to thinking that maybe I’ve satisfied that need to do everything I’ve always wanted to do but was never able to. The last one on the list was to be completely alone–and now, I’m at the end of my rainbow, and I don’t know what to ask for. I don’t even crave for food anymore. I don’t have intense feelings for anything.

What happens now?

Gouache and pen on paper, August 2010

What’s your lifemap? What lights your way?

Many friends are asking the big questions now… at this age…29-30-31.

I think once we figure out the why, the whats, whens, and hows will follow.

Brings to mind one of my favorite quotes, from Lewis Carroll:

Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?

The Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.

Alice: I don’t much care where.

The Cat: Then it doesn’t much matter which way you go.

Gouache and pen on paper, August 2010

Why does life have to be a cycle? When you’re happy, you know something sad is coming next.

Everything passes. Good or bad.

What happens when you get stuck in between?

I don’t like in betweens.

Been feeling out of sorts lately, haven’t been able to paint. 🙁

Sat down with my journal and forced some doodles two days ago…

I always come back to Rilke.

And Rilke always brings me back.

Acrylic on paper, July 2010

Go for the house on top of the hill!

Lazing, Acrylic on canvas, 12X16, July 2010

I like painting quietly.

For two nights now I’ve been experimenting with a new medium…acrylics.  Water-based, so I can paint indoors, yay.  Dries super quickly, so results are almost instant.  Very interesting possibilities, but trade offs are: not much blending allowed and can’t mix big color batches in one go (the paint dries up quickly!).  Challenge is to work on color mixing, and mixing the same shades again and again.

Just the same, excited for the many adventures ahead.  I have a new toy, time to play play play!

Ink on Paper, May 2010

Although we try to keep a proactive mindset everyday, at some point we do catch ourselves waiting. Waiting for inspiration to hit, for new opportunities to arrive.

This slipping–for days to become better on their own, or for elephants to fall from the sky–is there a constructive or win-win way of doing it?

When does waiting shift from being passive to active?

Ink on Paper, May 2010

Ink on Paper, May 2010

Ink on Paper, May 2010

One of my favorite questions, and also one of my favorite answers.

When I am lost or confused, it always boils down to it–I go by Truth, it is my radar.