Miz Sandy's encore

And now, onto the next project. To get my feet wet again, so to speak, I am working on a small portrait of my lovable and beautiful sister-in-law, Sandy. Her parents, my terrific in-laws, requested a portrait of her to go along with the one I did of their son (my husband Bob!) and since they have been so incredibly generous and supportive of all us "kids" I am only too happy to do this. I started over a week ago and have had some trouble getting it rolling but now feel I am getting somewhere. So many of the artist's sites that I go to express this difficulty with motivation and persistence in the face of possible failure in the work. It is indeed hard to keep going, to keep trying when you see so much of what you are doing doesn't turn out as expected or hoped for. I know it is only paper or canvas, pencil or paint, but the expressions coming from the hand are directly from the heart and soul and to expose yourself requires courage and stamina. Today I posted a list of shows to enter this year - written in bright red so I can't fail to notice them. I dislike entering shows but feel they are a necessary way to get the work out there, to find a market, to connect with other art lovers. The pain of possible rejection never really gets easier but I find I can let it roll off me much easier now that I am older. None of it will matter in the long run, but living up to my potential (I got a lot of that as a kid) requires the struggle. I tell my students and artist friends who ask for help that it is important to keep doing the work no matter what. Put those miles of paper or canvas behind you! Just do it! Enjoy the process while you're at it. Don't allow discouragement in the door for too long - kick it out and welcome in the joy. Improvement comes in spite of yourself if you practice, practice, practice.