outside the lines

well. that was fun. i learned... a lot? umm how to paint? actually, i did learn a lot. one thing i learned was to let go and not be so AR about every bloody detail. i may have even developed a bit of an attitude.

this was the first class that i've ever gone through that i didn't read every word i was told to. i can't even tell you much of what we were supposed to learn... lots of stuff about contrasting colors and itten and albers.

what i did learn was how to mix and use paint. i learned that no matter how AR or meticulous you are, it's one hell of a feat to recreate a photo with paint. i learned that the right shade of brown can be tricky to get. i also discovered that indeed i, the obsessive compulsive, can indeed splatter my paint and create abstract art. holy crap. a miracle that one.

i also found that i have more confidence in myself and my work than i knew. when i had something that rocked, i said so. when i had something i hated, others taught me the lesson of your best work being the one that you hate. in the end, i was no longer afraid of wasting paint, of getting the wrong color, of painting over, changing the plan entirely. nowhere on the syllabus did it mention this sort of growth.

i discovered that my work doesn't have to look like yours. i discovered that i have a lot to learn, but i've covered some ground already. i've discovered the joy of painting outside the lines. and no offense, your opinion? my day isn't made or broken by it.