36x48 l Oil on Panel

Week 36

So sweet are the moments before bedtime, when you are watching your spouse snuggle and read to your little. You exchange a knowing glance of "I know, SO cute right? And, I love you both tremendously". Since I had the rare opportunity to spend a few moments to myself before our painting time together, I ran into the kitchen and took out our image we were to work on. Alex is always talking about how you paint really with your mind- our hands all function the same. I wanted to get a head start by getting to wrap my brain around our concept, to feel connected to it- and really to be able to keep up with my husband! We had talked about this piece being a pair to the woman in the lighthouse, like maybe they were looking for one another. Planning out the texture and color, how we could achieve the feelings and look we wanted, I began to feel confidence.

I have to give props to Alex who spends the day painting and after a days work still wants to jump in the art studio with me. In the studio, confidence is in practice until Alex starts to do something that "gasp" was not part of the plan! It shook me but this time I did not let it derail. There is always a point in your big plans when something is thrown your way and you must choose: to be thrown off, angry and withdraw/quit or to push in and trust yourself and your partner that you can handle it good or bad- you can make something new, something beautiful.

Towards the end, I noticed our wanderer was missing some life in his skin. I don't know if Laert left it for me or not but I started to work on it. Usually I'm scared to do the skin. I started with some strokes, bringing a flush under his cold cheeks and then added a bold puff where I was sure Alex would have to go back over--- but it looked good. I kept going and my confidence was growing, loving the feeling of bringing something so beautiful in someplace that needed me to overcome what I was scared of. Each time we paint together, we learn. Of course about this art, but about ourselves, about us. And how often these lessons are life lessons as well. This time building this will always be a treasure.