Happy Hour Fridays: I'm painting, I'm painting!

There is really only one major thing to celebrate this week, and that’s the fact that I’m painting.

Every single day. For at least 3-4 hours. On Monday, I painted for 8 hours. Count ‘em – that’s EIGHT HOURS.

How many hurrahs have I had this week? Ohhh, something like a million.

Really though, I can’t describe to you my excitement

The show I told you about on Monday that’s probably going to eat my life? Yeah I am so stoked for it. I can’t even describe to you the butterflies I get in my stomach when I think about it, or how freaking well the paintings are going.

No really, they’re going so well. I actually can’t show you the paintings online because it’s all secret and stuff and plus its a nude show, and would you want your naked bum plastered all over the internet? No, probably not. However, if you’re on my mailing list, I will be occasionally sending out shots of the paintings in progress. You just have to promise you won’t plaster them all over the internets. But I trust you guys.

My Confidence – it’s back!

For the last year, and I’m not exxagerating, this was my thought process while I painted:

“Good God, what are you doing? How come you suck so much? Where did your talent go? How on earth did you ever trick yourself into thinking you were any good at this? You suck man. You really, really suck.”

“What the heck is that?!! Why did you put that there? You’re useless. Completely useless. You’ve ruined it now. If you can save this painting, I will be shocked. Completely shocked.”

“Well it’s done. It’s awful, but at least it’s done. God I wish I didn’t suck so much. I should just quit now while I’m ahead.”

And I very nearly did quit. There were a few days over the past 12 months where I would find myself looking into medical transcriptionist courses, figuring that was the only real way for me to make a living.

But I didn’t quit. I’m not sure why I didn’t, but that’s not important. And now, my confidence is back baby. Oh it is back, and I am rocking. This has been the course of my thoughts the past week:

“Damn that looks good! Seriously. I’m a genius. Total genius. How did I make that look so awesome? Those brushstrokes are sexy! Damn. I am good.”

Okay, so maybe it’s not that conceited all of the time, but I’m continually stepping back and thinking, “I don’t remember being this good before.” It’s like the work is coming from someone who isn’t me. Maybe I’ve been possessed or something? If that’s the case, whoever it is is welcome to stay for as long as they want. I haven’t enjoyed painting this much in so long.

This show is possibly the most self indulgent thing I’ve ever done. I mean, I don’t have high hopes of selling anything. The pieces will be large, and they’re going to be expensive because hey, they’re good. And being expensive in this economy is probably like shooting myself in the foot, but whatever. I am doing this show from a place of pure love. That’s all, that’s it. Literally, just for me.

The basement

We actually have one! Well we always had one. But it was more like a bomb shelter. If zombies invaded, or the Apocalypse happened, we’d be fine, but as far as living quarters go, it was less than hospitable.

As of this week, we now have walls, semi-painted walls, and some subflooring, as well as lights, plugs and heating! It’s practically the Hilton.

On the somewhat morbid side, since work on the basement has started, one guy has broken his leg, and another guy nearly lost the top of this finger yesterday. He had to be rushed to hospital to sew it back on. Gross. Ouch.

And the most random event of the week was…

A deer. Running down our very residential, very subarban street. Which is nowhere near any kind of forested area. It was confusing to say the least, but that’s nothing to what that poor deer must have been feeling – he was just booking it down our street as fast as his little legs could carry him. I sincerely hope he found his way back to wherever  he came from.

Prints and cards and other stuff, for sale, for you

If you’re on my mailing list, you’ve already seen this, but if not, head on over to here – It’s Art Stuff! Just for you! Go there! Buy stuff! Help me pay my rent on my shiny new apartment! (I’m only partially kidding!)

That’s it for me and I hope you all have a delightful weekend! See you all on Monday!