Balancing Art and Life

Even though I'd like to be an artist full time I cannot deny my pedestrian life. Five and half years ago I shattered my tibia. As I went from wheelchair to walker to cane I thought my life was going to always include pain. When I returned to the surgeon after four years he told me my leg had never healed which was why I was needing continuous supply of advil. Finally he decide a bone graft was necessary but in the meantime I had appendicitis which burst without the emergency staff noticing. I was septic by the time I went to surgery, nearly dying. A month in hospital fighting a post surgery infection followed by three months of home-care nursing. I started painting class during this recovery period. Last April I had the bone graft surgery. Success! The pain is all but gone which is a relief.

So why am I talking about this? Well during this time my husband valiantly tried to keep up with housework, cooking and taking care of me. A lot of things fell to the wayside. This brings me to my current pedestrian life. Although pain free I can no longer ignore and am actually excited about housework and repairs. Just finished painting the dining room and am on to the kitchen and family room.

In the meantime I did a drawing of my husband using a tutorial on The Empty Easel site. I was pleasantly surprised that it turned out as well as it did and ecstatic that I sat down and did it. I will post it once I can get to the scanner.

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts about your lives and art. I feel less lonely than when I started. You've opened my world to many resources and given me the courage to paint and share.

Sadie Jernigan Valeri

This is another thing about networking through blogging. You get to meet in virtual space very interesting and inspiring artists. Here is one I discovered this morning.

Sadie Jernigan Valeri

Getting Started

I did a still life drawing in colour pencil which I found at one of the blogs. It was easier because they gave step by step instructions to follow. I was pleased that I did it instead of thinking about doing it, LOL. I found another site offering weekly challenges at Paint and Draw Together and will paint each one but I'm not ready to commit to sending it in. I 'll post them here instead. I don't think I could keep up.

Working Alone

It's been 3 weeks since school semester finished. I'm feeling lonely and lost. So many things crowd forward that have nothing to do with painting. I keep thinking that if I get this done then I'll have the time to paint but I'm learning that this doesn't necessarily happen because something else looms in front of me demanding my attention. So is it fear/procrastination or is it too many demands.

My goal for the summer is to practice drawing to improve my eye-hand coordination enabling me to finish more quickly. As I write this I can see that this isn't specific enough. I have a book called Draw Like the Masters by Barrington Barber. It has eight chapters. I commit to doing one chapter a week.

I visited other bloggers and found a couple where a group challenge is posted every week or two. I don't think I could keep up but maybe as I improve through drawing I'll feel up to the challenge. I'd admire all of you who seem to do it so effortlessly. In the meantime I'll enjoy following all your journeys through your blogs and gain encouragement to continue.

This exhibit looks fascinating. Probably because it reflects my intentions as an artist. I really must make an effort to go see it.

Fiona Tan
Rise and Fall