"Peacock in the Garden"mixed media & layered resin
18" x 24"
giclees available at Etsy
I'm a bit behind this week. I have been a little under the weather. I'm better now...but trying to play catch up on everything. Last weekend, I had the opportunity to go on a special art retreat with my 9 year old, Logan. The Mermaids and Mamas retreat was hosted by my dear friend, Kelly Warren. Camping has never been my forte, mainly because I seem to be a bug magnet. And this was no exception, as I learned the hard way that I'm very allergic to horseflies.
The retreat was awesome. An art retreat, filled with fun projects all day long. Working side by side with my little one doing what I love to do! Kelly did an incredible job. A few hours into projects, I noticed that my rambunctious 9 year old would rather be leading the other girls in skits outside than creating art inside. And if she wasn't in the center of an outside activity, she was busily writing letters to fellow campers to leave in their personal mailboxes. Anything, but creating art.
She did manage to make it through a few projects...but it made me wonder if me being a full time artist had turned her off her creative spirit. Maybe she sees me work too hard...maybe it doesn't look fun....maybe she's too overwhelmed with art on a daily basis that she's sick of it. Other daughters were happily creating alongside their moms....why wasn't mine? Why were we so different?
Later on...Logan took the the time to work on a project. Projects were designed for both the mom and the daughter to make the own creations. I decided to sit this one out, and let Logan complete her own. When she was finished...she hated it. I couldn't believe it! I praised her and told her how great it was...but it didn't matter....I couldn't say anything that would make her believe it was good.
And then she turned to me and said, "Mom, why are we so different?" I was a little shocked and asked her what she meant. She said, "Well, we don't look alike, and we don't really like the same things."
It hit me....she was comparing her art to mine. And in her mind, it would never be as good as Mom's. I told her, that we really do look alike. It's just my funky hair that throws it off a bit. And that we were both highly creative.
I got to thinking....how often do we as artists compare ourselves to someone else? We put others on pedestals and think our art could never be as good as theirs. When in all reality...it is good! It might not look the same, or be done with the same techniques...but if it is genuinely done from the heart.....someone, somewhere will always, always think it is great. When will we learn to stop the self criticism? I do it, you do it....we all...at some time or another...compare.
But, different is good...
I decided from that point on to really emphasis how GREAT it was that Logan was so different from me! She is more outgoing, more dramatic and funny! She captivates everyone with her storytelling and acting skills. I compliment her on her imagination and how she uses it verbally, and she now compliments me on how I'm able to paint my imagination.
Yes, we are both different. But, both the same. Creative, passionate, and complex. No longer comparing ourselves to each other... just learning, respecting and appreciating each others individual talents. And we found if you look a little closer...there are a few resemblances.
Here's a new video for you:
This winner from last week's Karma giveaway is:
Jan from the UK! Here is her comment:
Thanks to everyone who left comments and helped spread great Karma all week. Now if we could only get that to work for bug bites!
For this week's giveaway...I'll be giving away an 11" x 14" giclee print of "Peacock in the Garden". Here's what you need to do to win:
Leave a comment on this post and your name will be entered. Only one comment per person, please. I'll use the random number generator to pick a winner the following Thursday evening at 11pm EST. I'll announce the winner of the previous week's giveaway, and we will start the next giveaway. Just enter a comment below...and send lots of positive thoughts and prayers my way. That's all you have to do. And if you want to know more about the giveaway and how it came about...click here. But remember....you need to leave a comment on this post to be entered in the current week's contest. :)
Thanks for all the love you send my way each week. You are my inspiration.
Let's celebrate how different, yet the same...we all are.
Love to you,
Wyanne
PS. A very special thank you to Kelly for a fabulous, fun, learning, creative weekend. I highly recommend it to all moms and their daughters. You can find more info here.
The retreat was awesome. An art retreat, filled with fun projects all day long. Working side by side with my little one doing what I love to do! Kelly did an incredible job. A few hours into projects, I noticed that my rambunctious 9 year old would rather be leading the other girls in skits outside than creating art inside. And if she wasn't in the center of an outside activity, she was busily writing letters to fellow campers to leave in their personal mailboxes. Anything, but creating art.
She did manage to make it through a few projects...but it made me wonder if me being a full time artist had turned her off her creative spirit. Maybe she sees me work too hard...maybe it doesn't look fun....maybe she's too overwhelmed with art on a daily basis that she's sick of it. Other daughters were happily creating alongside their moms....why wasn't mine? Why were we so different?
Later on...Logan took the the time to work on a project. Projects were designed for both the mom and the daughter to make the own creations. I decided to sit this one out, and let Logan complete her own. When she was finished...she hated it. I couldn't believe it! I praised her and told her how great it was...but it didn't matter....I couldn't say anything that would make her believe it was good.
And then she turned to me and said, "Mom, why are we so different?" I was a little shocked and asked her what she meant. She said, "Well, we don't look alike, and we don't really like the same things."
It hit me....she was comparing her art to mine. And in her mind, it would never be as good as Mom's. I told her, that we really do look alike. It's just my funky hair that throws it off a bit. And that we were both highly creative.
I got to thinking....how often do we as artists compare ourselves to someone else? We put others on pedestals and think our art could never be as good as theirs. When in all reality...it is good! It might not look the same, or be done with the same techniques...but if it is genuinely done from the heart.....someone, somewhere will always, always think it is great. When will we learn to stop the self criticism? I do it, you do it....we all...at some time or another...compare.
But, different is good...
I decided from that point on to really emphasis how GREAT it was that Logan was so different from me! She is more outgoing, more dramatic and funny! She captivates everyone with her storytelling and acting skills. I compliment her on her imagination and how she uses it verbally, and she now compliments me on how I'm able to paint my imagination.
Yes, we are both different. But, both the same. Creative, passionate, and complex. No longer comparing ourselves to each other... just learning, respecting and appreciating each others individual talents. And we found if you look a little closer...there are a few resemblances.
Here's a new video for you:
This winner from last week's Karma giveaway is:
Jan from the UK! Here is her comment:
Thanks to everyone who left comments and helped spread great Karma all week. Now if we could only get that to work for bug bites!
For this week's giveaway...I'll be giving away an 11" x 14" giclee print of "Peacock in the Garden". Here's what you need to do to win:
Leave a comment on this post and your name will be entered. Only one comment per person, please. I'll use the random number generator to pick a winner the following Thursday evening at 11pm EST. I'll announce the winner of the previous week's giveaway, and we will start the next giveaway. Just enter a comment below...and send lots of positive thoughts and prayers my way. That's all you have to do. And if you want to know more about the giveaway and how it came about...click here. But remember....you need to leave a comment on this post to be entered in the current week's contest. :)
Thanks for all the love you send my way each week. You are my inspiration.
Let's celebrate how different, yet the same...we all are.
Love to you,
Wyanne
PS. A very special thank you to Kelly for a fabulous, fun, learning, creative weekend. I highly recommend it to all moms and their daughters. You can find more info here.