Pink Peony Progress

Scroll to the bottom to see the 27second timelapse video of me painting this pink peony.

One January a few years ago, I did Leslie Saeta’s 30 in 30 painting challenge to paint (almost) 30 paintings in 30 days. It was a a lot of work, but fun, and about a quarter of them sold within an hour or two of posting on Facebook!

I did the next challenge that September – she usually does it twice a year and artists from all over the world participate. That time I used it as an opportunity to try out some ideas for painting subjects, and techniques, which resulted in some of my first peacock feather-inspired abstract paintings. 

If you do a search on my site for “30 in 30”, you’ll see some of the paintings I did previously.

Why now?

This time I’ve set myself the challenge to post 30 timelapse painting videos in 30 days.

My main objective is to build up some painting momentum, because in the last year or more I’ve been struggling to put my art practice first.

My second objective is to get back into the groove of marketing my own art, because this is my business, my career, my passion, my creative outlet, my legacy all rolled into one, not a hobby.

Years of volunteer work in my local Arts and Culture community has led me to the point where I’m lucky enough to be able to help create opportunities for other Creatives.

And instead of slowing down, now that we’ve started an Arts & Culture Council, and helped develop a Grant Program, partnered with local organizations to do some fundraisers … bigger and better projects to help develop the Arts & Culture scene, and spotlight fellow artists, are coming our way.

I cannot let this be at the expense of my own art-making, my own business.

So, this February, I’m going to show myself some love. I’m going to put my art first.

Starting out

It has not been easy so far. Yesterday I was on my laptop for most of the time from 9am to 9pm going between meeting notes in Evernote, and my Membership spreadsheets etc, to prepare for the first AGM of our Arts & Culture Council, as well as doing some social media for the not-for-profit.

Thankfully I had done my first timelapse video some time before, (technically it was my second time working on this peony), and I was able to create yesterday’s blog post and add the link to the 30 in 30 blog a few minutes before midnight.

I had a late start this morning, at first spinning my wheels not sure what to tackle first. If it weren’t for the challenge, today would have been just another day lost to a never-ending to do list.

There is something magical about telling people you are going to do something, especially if you then have to do that thing in the public eye.

When I first heard the concept of accountability as a motivational tool, I knew I’d struck gold.

Why it works

It does not even matter if no-one ever reads this blog, if no-one ever watches the videos. Just the threat of letting someone else down by not following through with what I’ve promised, is enough to keep me on track. 

The beauty about the 30 in 30 is that it isn’t just one big deadline, where I procrastinate for weeks, eg. cleaning and organizing the house.  Then pull an all-nighter just to come through in the nick of time (a skill I perfected during 4 years of University).

It is a series of 30 smaller deadlines. The idea being that somewhere during that month, the little things you do start to add up to greater insights, and even change.

Someone like myself who has to fight through analysis paralysis at times, has no time for perfectionism when fighting this clock.

I can’t spend all day refining each post, I can just let the words flow, try to clean it up a little. Then move on to the technical aspects of  preparing the pics, videos etc. for the blog post, and then share the link on social media etc. Hopefully before everyone has gone to sleep!

I believe in the process.

Timelapse video newbie

This video makes me laugh. I had a technical malfunction with my tripod, but my husband fixed it in 2 seconds flat & I have higher hopes for tomorrow.

I do need to change my camera position though, because so far I’ve been working fast, and sitting close, right up in front of the peony painting.

At some point tomorrow I’m going to need to stand at the easel & walk back & forth as I evaluate how the values in the painting are working as a whole, and make the necessary adjustments.

I hope you’ll return tomorrow to check on the progress.

While you’re here, take a look at the menu to see some of the flower/landscape/abstract paintings on my website.