Jen Jovan Art Musings and Random Thoughts

Sit Still and Come Undone

12/16/2019

Sit Still and Come Undone

"Sit Still and Come Undone" - acrylic on cradled aquabord, 24 x 18 x 1.5. Ready to hang.. Available here and at Artfinder.

I am trying to live slowly during the busiest time of the year.

Being present in the season of presents is my new favorite pastime. Stepping off the temptation to over do, over commit, over indulge (well, mostly). Substituting a big pause, a deep breath, counting all the things right here in this moment. They are myriad. And precious. And I don't want to miss a darn thing.

Because maybe I have missed things in the past. I was never good at the pause.

Until life conspired with the Universe to slow me down, make me look, help me listen, make me sit still. Which is how art happens at all - slowing down and looking. And how I learned about this song - slowing down and listening.

Today's painting began as a figurative piece. But I was rushing, not listening to the paint, not feeling the figure. It frustrated me for days. Until I slowed down and surrendered to its desire to be something else, and it became effortless, joyful painting. Let's sit still for a moment, shall we? I'll make tea. :)

8 Comments

Carl Stoveland

12/16/2019 11:07:01 am

In this GOGOGO world there is nothing better than slowing down and just being. The paint has it's own ideas about what it wants to do. We as artists have to be along for the ride. My least successful paintings happen when I try to force the paint to do something it does not want to. When I started painting I was working full time and painted on Sunday mornings. I expected magic for 8am to noon every Sunday. I soon learned painting and the best of life does not work that way. I try to approach each piece with an idea of what I want to do but ok if it goes somewhere else or even sideways. If nothing else I have had the joy of pushing paint around and how good that makes me feel.

jen

12/16/2019 11:17:52 am

Carl! I am chuckling at the thought of magic from 8-12 on Sunday. ha ha! I happen to know the muse is nearly always present for you these days, but you are also present for the art every day - the hardest working painter I know! The joy of pushing paint is way better than forcing anything. Funny how I have to keep learning that over again. :)

12/17/2019 12:14:17 am

Forgot to say the painting is heavenly!

12/17/2019 10:06:16 am

OOOOOH! Carl, thank you!

Dotty Seiter link

12/16/2019 01:48:54 pm

Perfect invitation visually and verbally.

Perfect.

I accept.

12/16/2019 04:30:31 pm

Dotty! I am putting on the kettle now....:)

Carol

12/16/2019 08:06:43 pm

Another night waking in the middle! Trying to take it in my stride. Funny that just the other day I took a figurative painting and obliterated it. Thanks for your permission! With a cup of milk and with hope of few more hours of shut the before workshop. Hoping to slow down a take it where it wants to go.
Happy holidays taking them in your stride!

12/17/2019 10:05:47 am

Carol! We are in sync, obliterating figures! ha ha! I am sorry to hear of your middle of the night wake-ups...wishing you restful sleep and a FANTASTIC workshop!

Sit Still and Come Undone

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