Tell Me That You Love Me

In even the best of relationships, there are times when we need a bit of reassurance. My relationship with art has been a bit shaky over the past couple of weeks as I’ve gone from trying to do it all to doing nothing, from feeling that I’m making progress to wondering why I even bother! I love this art journey I’m on, but it’s never an easy path to follow. The road isn’t straight. It’s filled with twists and turns, and it’s sometimes an uphill climb.

I’m getting back to the studio now, gradually easing my way back into drawing and painting by choosing a few projects to work on instead of tackling a dozen different things, and also by playing with my art journal each day, making up my own rules for it, and not getting caught up in results. It’s the process that’s important to me right now.

And right now, I do need reassurance. I need someone to say, “Hey, I like what you’re doing.” So I’m sharing a painting I finished yesterday — or almost, at least. In this photo, it’s still wet and shiny — it’s oil — and I’ll probably go back to do a little tweaking.

Tell Me That You Love Me – Oil on 11 x 14 Canvas Panel

I’ll play around with the lights and shadows a little more, and maybe I’ll do a little more with the sky. Originally I had a few fluffy clouds — this began as another cloud study — but honestly, you know… I probably won’t do much more to this at all.

This was a painting with a purpose. It was intended to get me back to my easel with a paintbrush in my hand. It was important to me that I finish this painting yesterday, and even though I wiped most of it away and re-did it, I stuck with it and saw it through to the end.

Now, I’m sharing it with the hope that some kind, gentle soul out there will give me a virtual pat on the back and say, “You did good.” You don’t have to love me. You don’t even have to love the painting. But any reassuring words will be welcome.

Now… on to my next project!