When I finished painting this girl, I thought her hair was weird and wondered if I should change it. In the end, I decided to leave it as it is and embrace the “weirdness”. Much like I am embracing my own “weirdness”… Or things that make us different. I love this quote. Very thought provoking…. Watercolor painting.

I came across this interesting quote about how life can be like an arrow, that can only be launched by pulling backwards… So when life pulls you back, get ready for it’s going to launch you into something great. This means a lot to me as I think of the times when life just keeps throwing curve balls at me and I can’t see the way out.. And the changes that have happened due to those curve balls.. I am thankful and grateful.

I love to listen to Ted talks or YouTube videos when I paint. Last night, I came across one about the book Quiet, by Susan Cain. About the power of introverts. Being an introvert myself, it was very powerful to me, to recognize that bring an introvert is not a weakness, and to learn to harness my strengths and give myself time to recharge…away from all the stimulus and people. She mentioned a quote by Ghandi in her talk which was very inspiring to me..”In a gentle way, you can shake the world”. Yes you can…

Now about the painting. Many Facebook art friends have asked me to show my painting process with video. Alas, I have not learned how to do that.. But here are my steps with pictures..

I painted this in an altered book. I glued the pages together to make it sturdier and thicker. But I did a terrible job and created lots of bubbles on the page. Not an ideal painting surface. Nonetheless, it’s an art journal, it’s not meant to be perfect, so I continued.

I started just messing around with paint to create a background. Then I drew a face in.. Wanted to practice a 3/4 face.

Time to paint the under painting for the face, establishing the lights and the darks. This was when I wondered if I should abandon project give how many bubbles were on the page😰 but I perserved.. It’s my art journal, I can do what I want..

More layering and blending in the face. Then comes the hair… Hair in the wind 💃💃💃

I debated if I should leave the hair like that or paint it in…. I kept playing with it until the decision is made for me.. It was painted… With gold and brown.. And I added the quote to finish it off.

Here are some close ups to show the stencils and marks I made on the page too.  

  
As someone who loves deeply, feels deeply, I have more than my fair share of having my heart broken. This quote is a good reminder for me to love myself first and foremost and guard my heart.. Because everything I do does flow from it…

Here are some pics of my work in progress…

  
Decided to take a break from watercolor and get back to some yummy mixed media goodness. Made myself a watercolor journal and used a Manila folder for the cover. Collaged, stenciled, used spray ink, acrylic paint and to finish it off,  drew half a face and added a quote “if only our eyes see souls instead of bodies, how very different our ideals of beauty would be”.. Yes! 

  
Trying a different color palette to break from my usual red hair routine. I like it! Here’s to SPRING!💃💃💃

  I posted this sketch on Facebook and asked for suggestions on hair color. I received many wonderful suggestions. And funny enough, the choices actually paralysed me for a while as u could not decide which way to go. I finally decide to just go for it and see what happens. 

I starred with light gray and purple 

  
But I felt it was too cold…ski decided to add more colors to it… Pink! 

  
The colors felt better but I was still not feeling it..so I thought, as my favorite eyes! But now she looks like a crazy woman😱

  
 I was frustrated but I thought, what the heck, I have to keep going. The worst that can happen is I start all over. Not the end of the world. So I worked and worked on it until my daughter came in and said,”she looks like a rocker”.. And viola, I thought, that’s it!💃💃💃 a rocker chick😉

  
I added this quote to remind myself of this process and how I worked through my hesitation and just did it. And it could be the start of me painting rocker chicks💃💃💃

  
A friend suggested I paint Violet Crawley from Downton Abbey. I wasn’t sure I could do it… Not good with older women. But I gave it a go. And I actually enjoyed it! Glad I gave it a try. You never know if you don’t try… Violet Crawley is such a hoot, has so many quotes I liked. This is only one of many that I like.

  
Having been travelling for a few weeks, I realized how much I missed painting. Hence I have been painting with a vengeance. Tonight, I decided to paint with acrylic. Something I have not done for a while. Forgot how long it takes to paint with acrylic, the layering and blending takes a long time! However, it is good to change it up once in a while so as not to be stuck in a rut….so here’s to spring and flowers in our hair and magic secrets in our eyes! 

Being comfortable in your own skin sounds so easy but it is not. We are bombarded by pictures all around us, of women that never age, their skin never sags and their bodies show no sign of going through nine months of carrying a baby inside. One can’t help but compare and despair sometimes. But as I grow older, I am closer and closer to this goal. I will get there, eventually… Being comfortable in my own skin…