I've been camping in a figurative way. I basically pitched my tent and have stayed a while on a lovely plateau. I've been camping in the land of faces and I've really been having a lot of fun painting and taking the time to study them. I've spent about a month here - working on skills and really noticing a positive difference. I will say that it really does make a difference to stay in one spot with one focus and really get to know one thing. Good things come from tunnel vision.
Yet, like any good camping experience there is a time to move on - a time to break camp. I still haven't figured why oddball things to paint come to my brain. I've been so focused on faces and then I couldn't get bugs off my mind - specifically beetles. The thought wouldn't go away until they were complete. I've learned to not question it any more - I just paint. I used to get stressed about what I paint and whether it fits a style or even makes sense to be painting faces then painting bugs - and now I have a giant horse on my work table and a whole lotta bird ideas flitting through my brain. Not sure when I'll be back in the land of faces, but I do hope to do 29 Faces this year - coming in February :)
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Happy Friday everyone!!
Wow, your bugs are fantastic. Happy PPF
ReplyDeleteBeetles are fabulous subjects and glad you have moved your tent... not that i didn't love you faces... I love them hugely but it is fun to see you attack other subjects as well... xx
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bugs Marji. you are right that we can see and observe more when we are still and put fully attention and intention into it. Have a lovely PPF!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's good of you to paint, what comes to your mind! These beetles are wonderful to look at!
ReplyDeleteHappy PPF
Ilona :-)
I have to learn about encaustic, looks very interesting!
DeleteYour beetles are wonderful, I especially love the last one, wonderful detail. Happy PPF!
ReplyDeleteWise person to not question where the paintbrush takes you! I love how these look together in the trio- it really adds a powerful level to them!
ReplyDeleteLove these beetles! When they turn out this well, who cares why they are begging to be painted?
ReplyDeleteOh Marji, I just LOVE bugs - or the look of them at least. You did a great work here
ReplyDeleteWonderful paintings - Happy PPF :)
ReplyDeletewow terrific bugs. Happy PPF and enjoy the weekend, Annette x
ReplyDeleteYou have found tender beauty in those beetles. Have you ever seen Michelle Mathey's beetles - I think you would enjoy them: http://msmathey.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-bevy-of-beetles.html Happy PPF!
ReplyDeleteYour beetles look great! Looking forward to seeing your 29 faces!
ReplyDeleteGreat bugs, lovely contours and textures, they feel so real and tangible!
ReplyDeleteWonderfully creative beetles ~ we all need to explore and venture out ~ good for you 'playing and exploring' ~
ReplyDelete(A Creative Harbor) ^_^
I like that you are willing to follow where your ideas lead! I think that's how we stay creative, when we listen to our intuition that way. Lovely beetles and I'm interest to see the birds, horses and whatever comes next. Happy PPF!
ReplyDeleteThese are incredible. I think whatever you decide to paint is going to be wonderful. You are so talented! I always mean to focus on one subject for awhile, but I never seem to stick to that plan very well, even though I know it's a good idea.
ReplyDeleteit just goes to show that it doesnt matter what the subject is-its how you do it.
ReplyDeletelooks great!
Your beetles are excellent. They look like they are about to move. Really good job of capturing them. Happy PPF and thx for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAmo la tua arte! hai reso belli anche gli scarafaggi!!
ReplyDeleteBellalullo
your words really made sense to me...... I love your beetles!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment - I will (try!) and do a video of my Life Book when it is all finally bound :)
Karen x
so interesting where our hearts and minds lead us. good not to fight it, as I feel it is a gift. i love your beetles, and the third is my favorite, although like them as a triptych, too.
ReplyDeleteoh wow-your encaustic beetles are FABULOUS!!!
ReplyDeleteI have never seen such gorgeous beetles!
ReplyDeleteWow! :)
♥♥♥
Happy PPF!!
Mary
Mixed-Media Map Art
Love your beetles, the colors are great but god knows I dont like them alive :)
ReplyDeletelove this line: "Good things come from tunnel vision" LOL! I agree. Beetles are streangely mysterious and enigmatic creatures - the Egyptians among others thought very highly of them! Beautiful pieces
ReplyDeleteLove the beetles, learning to go with the inner self can be a struggle sometimes, but it well worth it.
ReplyDeleteWonderful ... Fantastic compositions, I really like. Precious beetles. Greetings.
ReplyDeleteWell done. Some of those creepy bugs are really pretty. :) No wonder you wanted to paint them. HPPF
ReplyDeleteLove these - individually and (especially) grouped together!
ReplyDeletehappy ppf,
Rinda
Marji, you have such a unique gift. I think you can paint anything that appears in your mind. Your bugs are so realistic. I hope you don't wait too long to get back to faces, because that is where your talent really takes off to unusual heights. Each face has such expression and emotion. I feel like they are almost alive. It's always such a learning lesson as well as a pleasure to visit your blog each Friday. Thanks for visiting my blog. I think my knee will be OK, but it will take time.
ReplyDeleteYour beetles are awesome but that does not surprise me. I love all of your work. I am anxious to see what you create next.
ReplyDeleteLove your beetles. They are marvelous.
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love that you painted what came to you - and the results are beautiful. YES, beautiful bugs! AND I hope to do 29 faces too :) xoxo
ReplyDeleteWow I am not a bug person...but boy you do good bugs!! So talented!! Prettiest bugs I've ever seen!! I'm sure the faces will appear when you need them to!
ReplyDeleteHugs Giggles
Bugs work for me. :) I think it's good to know when to move on so you don't get fed up with the subject.
ReplyDeleteThese beetles are lovely. And they're encaustic, even better!
ReplyDeleteI love that you have gone from faces to beetles! I have nominated your blog for the Leibster Award. to see what it's all about, and to participate, please head over to my blog post. Thanks! Kristin http://krisatlarge.wordpress.com/2013/01/21/oh-my-goodness-its-a-major-award/
ReplyDeleteWow your sweet bugs looks so alive...I have to look twice, to be sure this are paintings ore better encaustic-art ;)... the last one with its green wings reminds me of that little bug we called "greenlander"...it was on a holiday in Italy where we met him...he was very affectionate and so he become a name, hehe
ReplyDelete