The cold weather is back, which makes January a perfect time to hunker down and paint indoors.
I actually considered doing another 30 Painting in 30 Days Challenge – briefly. I realized that I never explored the exciting ideas coming out of the September Challenge paintings, such vending machines, macarons, and pomegranates, in larger formats.
In fact, I am rather haunted by this small wood panel painting, and can’t pass a vending machine without whipping out my camera. And my camera has a semi-permanent position next the stove when I make eggs, just in case there are some double yolks.
“Vending Machine” by Beverly Shipko, Oil sketch on wood panel, 5 x 7 inches
Besides, I already did two 30/30 Challenges in January and September, 2015, accounting for over 2 months out of 12 (probably closer to 3 if you include planning time). So I know I can do it.
My dilemma: At the end of each Challenge, I was truly inspired, confident, and painting far better than ever before, but was exhausted. I loved the structure of knowing my routine (which I miss) – drawing, painting, posting, getting feedback. The Challenge also pushed me to throw aside my mental constraints and experiment with new subjects, something I hadn’t done for a while.
However, painting and blogging at the end of every day isn’t compatible with two of my New Years resolutions: to go to bed earlier and get more sleep. And then real life intervened with such events like a pantry moth infestation and a cracked tooth requiring a crown, eating up my preparation time at the end of December.
My desk and dining room table are piled high with pantry items rather than my photos, like they were in 2015. Instead of using my large dining room table, I’m temporarily reduced to working with this small chair.
In short, I came back down to earth, and starting thinking differently (hello Steve Jobs!).
Eventially, I came up with the idea of doing my own version of the Challenge, a much more relaxed and less intense challenge.
Here’s the bottom line to my own personal January Challenge: I am not committing to do a painting a day. I am committing here to focus on art the entire month of January, and to get into the studio every day during the month of January and paint.
While I considered setting a goal of painting one larger work a week, I am leaving myself the flexibility to do some small paintings too.
I may work larger, or I may work smaller.
I may blog every day, or I may not.
Two things I definitely know are: I will be doing a lot of painting and will definitely get more sleep!