They say it is a sad day

when you find out that it was you who was standing in your own way of realizing your dreams....I don't know if it is a sad day actually, but it is some kind of revelation to find out that you and you alone were the obstacle between you and your dreams.

What am I going on about, right? Well, some of you might remember I took up painting in the end of 2010. I loved it, I was in the "zone" when I was drawing or painting and then.....I stopped. Why? Was I bored with it? Was it too messy? I think this is what I told myself, but what it was really all about, is that I got scared. I got scared of failing at the one thing I was doing just for fun. I got so scared that I packed all my supplies away and told myself that this was not really my cup of tea anyway....Oh, the things I tell myself....If you were to listen in on those conversations, you would be surprised at the number of rotten things I tell myself. Anyway, I decided to defeat that little monster inside, who insisted I was going to fail horribly and signed up for no less than 2 classes. One is Pet Dreams, which I told you about that last time and the other one is Life Book 2012 by Willowing

I jumped in a little late, so I had a lot of catching up to do. Life Book is a one year series of classes you see, so I had the entire month on January to catch up on. I dove right back in, allowed myself no time to think about the cold water, so to speak and when I did.....I entered that state of flow again, where there is no time, no world news, nothing, just me and my paper. 

This is what I made for Pet Dreams....the second week assignment was a Golden Retriever. I must admit to having used another picture than the one which was supplied, but I desperately wanted to paint a puppy instead of an adult dog. Mind you, this is the first dog I have ever painted, apart from the Nutcracker with a dog's head I did 14 months ago . 

This was made with prismacolor pencils over acrylic. The background was done using watercolour crayons with acrylics.

This is my work in progress for Life Book (Week 1). The assignment was to draw a 3/4 portrait of your inner goddess. I don't know about you, but I don't relate to goddesses much at all. I decided to paint the girl who I think lives inside me, the one who has not been affected by fears of failure, the girl I am meant to be....I have no idea how I was able to draw this girl, I really did not even know I had been painting for 8 hours when I stopped. This is my first 3/4 portrait ever and I think about the 5th portrait I have ever done in total. I am quite pleased.....She is not finished....I still need to shade her entire upper body and I need to add the fold-over page too, but have been reluctant to cover her face up....Here she is....

I also did the photo transfer of week 5 for Life Book, but am not entirely happy with the results. The photo transfer was very vague (and green....) and you were supposed to give yourself some divine hair, but I think I like my blond short hair better :) I am definitely going to give this assignment another go and will hopefully be able to get a better (read: more divine) result (and a smaller nose LOL)

The background is watercolours over collage, the face is a photo transfer on gesso, which I coloured with Prismacolor pencils, liquid watercolour paints and acrylics.

Lots to learn, lots to learn, but I am having so much fun. This time around I am going to enjoy the process and accept that I am a beginner :)

Have a great week whatever you are doing!

Comments

[Lyn]

Way to go Ellen! They are all very nicely done but I like the puppy one the best:o))
Keep going - like they say practice makes perfect:o)) I understand what you are saying about being scared as I think that is what happens to me when I try something that I have not done before but you have to push it aside and try again:o))
Take care now and have a good week.
Big hugs Lyn xx

[Kyles from Blissful Pumpkin]

Hi there sweet angel, Ellen. I thought I'd come on over for a visit. I love what you create for my class in week 5. You are far too hard on yourself. I look forward to seeing more of your work. Hugs, Kyles =D

[Joanne Livingston]

This work is beautiful! All three of them. I give you applause for taking on something like this that has been scary. It takes a strong person to do that.
I really like the last painting the best. There is a lot of character in that face.