Keep the Mess, Reach Success
"Almond Blossoms" 9 x 12 Chalk Pastel on Paper Click here to view large or purchase There are times when it's hard to work in the face of a mess. When faithfully making daily paintings, I had a little monthly ritual that consisted of collecting all of the works I'd completed for the month and packing them away. It gave me a chance to clear my mind and start fresh. These days, I have to work in small spurts on several projects at a time. When my energy is low (which is most of the time, as I have a baby due next month), the task of cleaning everything up and putting it away each time I work becomes a little daunting. So, I've decided that it's ok to leave the painting messes out for a while until a piece is finished. This means having several stations to work, with materials ready and works in progress displayed where I can see them throughout the day. The pieces I'm sharing today took longer than planned to complete, as I kept gett...