What have you painted lately?

If you are feeling stuck in your daily mark-making habit, I have an idea that just might help.

What if you fall in love with “painting,” the verb (the action), and forget about “painting” the noun, the result?

In other words, what are you longing for?

Do you want to paint, or do you want to have painted?

Do you want to jump on the watercolor roller coaster, take a deep breath and give it a go?

Or do you want to have created a masterpiece you can later show your friends while you feign humility?

If you want the latter, a well-controlled “Painting” (noun) that displays the exact same shapes and edges and colors that you intended, you might want to skip watercolor.

If, on the other hand, you would like to “Paint” (verb) by pushing water and pigment around on an absorbent surface on a windy day, when not only does the paint dry much faster than you expected, but the easel also threatens to blow downstream before you are done, then you are definitely in my tribe.

I don’t want to tame watercolor. I want to learn to partner with it. I love both water and color. When put together, wow, just making color swatches can be an endorphin spa in a troubled world.

Would you love to have a daily practice to develop your watercolor brushstroke skills, but struggle to think up interesting subjects each morning? Do you still live in fear of wasting a perfectly good piece of paper?

Do you long for those childhood days of “painting” on a hot sidewalk with just a brush and a bucket of water, then watching the image evaporate, slowly fading away with no evidence left behind?

Abracadabra, it is yours! The very sleek, adult, portable version. “Buddha Boards.”

Imagine this conversation:

“What did you do today, Bobbie?”

“I painted. It was great.”

“Wow, can I see?”

“Nope, it’s gone.”

I have had a Buddha Board for years, and it lives on my worktable, ready to welcome me each morning before the serious work of the day begins. And if I find the water isn’t drying fast enough for me, I grab my sketchbook, and smile.

Basic drawing and color-mixing skills are important in all forms of painting. But for watercolor, the biggest challenge is learning brush technique, “getting in and getting out” with minimal brushstrokes and maximum effect. Nothing will build your skill faster than a bit of Sumi-e painting training.  There are many books available, and the exercises automatically solve your problem of, “What shall I paint today?”

Imagine beginning each day by honoring your highest value:

If it is Music, then sing.

If it is Fitness, then stretch and celebrate your amazing body, no matter what shape it’s in.

If it is Beauty, then create a space to make Mark-Making as effortless as possible. Take a deep breath before and after each Awakening Session.  The Universe will thank you.

Remember:

“The most valuable real estate in the world is the graveyard.

There lie millions of half-written books, ideas never launched, and talents never developed.

Most people die with everything still inside of them. The way to live is to create. Die empty.

Get every idea out of your head and into reality.

Calling yourself creative doesn’t make it true. Make finishing your top priority.”

– Derek Sivers, How to Live

~~~~~~

Feel free to forward this or any post to friends and family who might enjoy them.

Click on the “Word Cloud” on the right if you’d like to read more about a specific topic.

All three of my books are available on Amazon in eBook and paperback formats. The newest book, Look at That! – Second Edition, is also available as a beautiful hardcover.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualified purchases made through links in these articles. Thank you for your support.

A big thank you to the recent supporters of the Tip Jar. If you find these posts valuable, I hope you will contribute to The Tip Jar. It is my preferred alternative to having this be a subscription website. The Tip Jar is a secure site, and it helps keep this website solvent.

I would love to hear from you! The public “Leave a Comment” box is shown below.

Private questions or comments will reach me by using the Contact link here.