Metamorphosis

So I've been hiding out.  Really, I've just been busy.  Life has been shifting for the better, which I am so happy to report.  I'm about to switch from a part-time position into a full-time postion this coming week.  Also, last week I became a bit of a mechanic...real mechanics would laugh, but for me it was a big deal changing my battery.  I cringe everytime I see jumper cables, so yes, it was a big deal that I actually disconnected the old one and installed the new heavy black box of magical go-go power.  To my surprise, I did not get electricuted.  Hallaluiah! haha

As for painting, I've been working on a commission.  It's a portrait that will be finished by this Friday.  I'll be excited to share the result with you.  For now, here's a sneak peek at a small portion of it.

Sneak Peek of a Painting in Progress, Krystal Booth

 

 

Nothing has changed in terms of the one hundred works goal.  I know it will be more difficult with working more hours, but it's still on.  It's important to keep going.

So with the new full time position, I'm having to switch stores. I'm not wanting to say good-bye to my current coworkers, but it's happening. I'm hoping that we can all still get together every now and then because I am truly going to miss them. There will be a lot of phone calls to pester them. I'm looking forward to getting to know my new co-workers. Nervous and hopeful. Excited. 
 
On top of all of that, I've been trying to get my health habits on track.  Exercise, eat better, sleep, repeat.  I've been reading about alkaline and acidic foods and wondering how far I'm going to get into this.  It has been making me re-assess my coffee habit, so perhaps it's getting a bit more serious than I'd like to admit.  I've been eating mostly vegan/vegetarian since mid-December.  Documentaries on Netflix are all fun and games until you see the quotes about the pigs followed by the footage.  It was too too too much.  Now I'm trying to get more of an education about health and eating veggies from Kris Carr's Crazy, Sexy Diet. 

Right now, I'm just being open.  Trying to be as open as possible to new information and new opportunities.  Life is just changing a lot lately.  I'm holding on, and going with it where it leads the best that I can.  Cheers to change! 

Hope that the Spring season is being good to you too.  Love to all!
 

Sneak Peek

I refilled my coffee cup and am looking at the painting in process.  Here's the sneek peek of what's on the easel today.

Painting in Progress, Krystal Booth

Oil on paper, 24x18"

 

So this is what I have to work with so far - it's not a bad start, but yes, there's work to be done.  It's very crude right now, but there are some areas of poetry to work with if I look close enough...straining my eyes and mind, but it's there. haha

 

I think I've stumbled onto an idea.  A big idea.  One of those good ones that I've been dying to get for years now.  I've been circling around it for ten years now when I look back at previous works.  I'm getting closer to what it is I am wanting and needing to paint - at least it feels that way.  That feeling is progress in my book, since I've been grasping at other ideas that don't seem to hold my attention for much longer than a few works.  I am hoping that this is indeed different, and if my intuition is right, it is.

 

Cheers to big ideas - it's time to work, work, and work.  RESEARCH. Do some digging.  Tackle it down before it sweeps up into the universe again - I don't want to wait for it to cycle around again.  So today, I'll be in the studio with music playing and probably a cat on my lap as I try to get it down.

 

Love to all!

Look! You're Surrounded!

This morning I finished out the work week and have made it home in time for afternoon coffee.  I am cheers-ing you by showing you a couple of work themed daily sketches.  Just in case any management sees these, no need to worry, as I used my ten minute breaks to make these.  :)

A Delivery Truck...

 

 

and the scribbling down of the inside the store looking at the entrance.

 

 

Are these the most entertaining subjects?  Not really, but they were fun to get down on paper.  The thing that is fun about daily sketches is that they are kind of a collection of places where I have been - a visual diary of my everyday.  Some days are less than inspiring - it can be the same old, same old, and I think once we get into that frame of mind, we miss out on opportunities.

 

I've actually been pretty hum-bum about daily sketches lately.  I've been uninspired by the same surroundings everyday.  The truth is is that I'm not paying attention enough.  I made myself draw that delivery truck the other day.  It wasn't inspiring at first, but then the different sharp angles caught my eye a bit when looking at the cab and under the truck itself.  Once it began appearing on the page, it was interesting, and I wanted to capture more and see how all of these shapes fit together.  If I had had my way, I would have sat out there for another ten minutes at least to try to record the shadows and tones, but break was over.  I'm learning that it's only boring if I'm not really looking. (This also goes along with what my Mom always told me when I was growing up, "Only boring people are bored.")

 

For the next three days, I'm off at my day job and planning to have a few more works finished.  One of which will hopefully be this one -

 

 

It's in a rough starting stage, but there's potential, if I'm willing to look!

 

My challenge for you is to find something mundane in your environment this week and really study it.  What was it and how did it change before your eyes? 

 

PS.  If you really struggle with this, just pile up a blanket, and you've got yourself your own miniature mountain to capture your imagination and Tonka Trucks.  Tah-Dah!  Challenge complete!