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Only I Will Remain

1/17/2022

6 Comments

 
"Only I Will Remain" - acrylic and charcoal on gallery wrapped canvas, 16 x 20 x 1.5.  Ready to hang..  Available here and at Artfinder


Fear is the mind killer.  Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration.  I will face my fear.  I will permit it to pass over me and through me.  And when it has gone past me I will turn to see fear's path.  Where the feat has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. 
 - DUNE, Frank Herbert


Just a little progress is freedom from fear.
- Bhagavad Gita


​Let's talk about fear.

It can literally freeze you in your tracks.  Once, long ago, in a dark U-Haul parking lot late at night, a man pointed a rifle at a handful of college kids who were changing a flat tire.  All the kids ran except me.  My feet would not move.  My body would not respond.  I felt paralyzed by fear.  I stood there, the man and the rifle behind me, and did not move.
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Only I Will Remain
This is an extreme example, but still...

In smaller ways, fear freezes us in place, unable to take risks, feel feelings, try new things, set boundaries, change things that so need changing.  It is no different in art, where the fear of taking creative risks keeps us stuck in a rut and reformulating the thing we already can do.  Fear is the mind killer.  

But a little progress, like taking one step when the feet really don't want to move, is freedom from fear.  That first step is everything you need to take the next one. Ready? Set? GO! 

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​About the art:  using a reference photo notan in a four value study, creating a rough sketch with charcoal and dark paint on canvas.  Building layers of titanium white and titan buff. mixed with the charcoal and/or dark paint, adding slight color with the addition of some blue and raw umber.  Resisting the temptation to overly define, paying more attention to the movement and texture of the paint and the layering of shadows.  Liberal use of water sprayer and rubber wedge.
6 Comments
Carol Kitchell link
1/17/2022 06:12:39 pm

God knows, I'm excruciatingly familiar with fear. It resides in a very large area of my shadow side. Although, few would know. Sometimes fear paralyzes you to save you. But most of the time, the only way is through. You don't fly over the raging waves or the fire. As often as not, fear resides in our minds regardless of circumstances, but I also have stared down the barrel of the gun. And here we are.

Reply
lola (jen)
1/18/2022 02:46:13 pm

Carol!!! Here we are, indeed! And yes, the fear resides in our minds regardless. Here's to flying through the waves or fire, not over. Fierce warrior woman, I adore you!

Reply
Dotty Seiter Macbook link
1/17/2022 07:43:48 pm

1. spectacular painting.

2. thank you for writing this post for me.

Reply
lola (jen)
1/18/2022 02:46:54 pm

Dotty!

1. thank you deeply.

2. it is my pleasure, kindred spirit.

3. xo

Reply
Carolyn
1/17/2022 08:27:34 pm

This! I think that this is where I am on my journey of painting....not good enough, fear of not producing a spectacular painting, not being as good as my fellow artist! Fear can be overwhelming, I have enrolled in Nick's CVP 2022, again....last year I enrolled and did - NADA - absolutely nothing! Hoping that this year I persevere, and gallantly pick up that brush and it nothing else make marks on my canvas! Thank you for this, I will face my fear.

Reply
lola (jen)
1/18/2022 02:48:26 pm

Carolyn! Hi, friend! No matter how "good" an artist is, I think we all have that fear that we are imposters - not enough, not producing enough, all the things! This is the year - make some marks! Just one step. And I promise the next step will be easier. Big hugs!

Reply



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Here's the blue wild, where
tiny dreamers ride beasts, speak
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(by poet Mary W. Cox)
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