Perspective

 

15 x 24" original oil

sold

This painting is the result of a last minute change. I had a 15 x 24" painting planned out, my husband had the panel built, I had the surface prepped, and at the last minute I hated the photo reference I was going to use. I rifled through all of my photographs knowing I wanted something with reds and yellows and found three that I went "Meh..." on, thinking I could make it work. Lastly, I found this photograph and went "Gasp!" The reference is actually very zoomed out, this painting is only a small piece of the center, but I love it like this. It's a painting full of shapes and colors, not so much full of "tulips". These tulips that look like peonies are crazy to paint. 

Thank you Becky for the awesome title idea. I posted this painting-in-progress on Facebook and Becky commented that she loved the perspective, and as soon as I read that comment I knew that was the title for this painting for two reasons: one, there is a unique perspective literally in this painting as the viewer is low and in the flowers, but two, there is a life lesson in the idea of perspective and how you choose look at your life and your place in the world. I have been thinking a lot about that for the past few days and so the idea and word/title was a perfect fit. 

I have written candidly on this blog before about my struggle to accept the trial that my husband and I can't have our own children. I've been thinking a lot about my situation, and I love the idea of how perspective comes into play here. I can look at myself with the perspective of being a failure, being broken, and being less than all of the other women around me who are mothers (which is an easy way to look at myself), or I can look at myself with the perspective that I'm trying to make my life what I can through my painting talents, and that I can build a career that will enable me to touch countless others through my artwork. When I feel really down, I am so glad I have my positive, bright and colorful tulips to help me see myself with the right perspective.

 

This is what my studio looks like right now. 

 

Here is a detail of a favorite area. 

 

This is a photograph during the painting process for Perspective. I started with the blacks, then did the reds, then finished with the yellows. The painting Like Bees to Honey, which I just finished this week, is in the background hanging on the wall. 

 

Aaaaand this is where I live. Really. I come out at 8 and I go in at 5. Sometimes I cheat and take a long lunch or run an errand at 3. When I really have it all together I'll get up even earlier so that I can fit in some exercise before 8. I do play ball a few mornings a week; that gives me a good break from hunching in front of an easel.  My idea of a perfect day is to play ball all day long, then sit in a hot tub after dinner. Who needs to work? Work shmerk.