Friday, January 14, 2011

Tootsie Pops and Painting Ideas



This week, I was having trouble coming up with new painting ideas. That is when I start looking around my studio at things on my shelves. I have a supply of Tootsie Pops- a sand pail full and a mason jar full, to be exact. They are great little sugar fixes while painting- no hands required after unwrapping and only 2 points on WW (used to be only 1 point, but I will deal with it). So, I decided to do a 20 minute challenge with a Tootsie Pop. I kept painting for longer than the 20 minutes because I got caught up in the little wrapper details, but it was fun. Next, I am working on a watercolor of the Mason jar with Tootsie Pops inside- plenty of interest for me with the colorful wrappers and the shininess of the jar surface.

I came up with a lot of new still life ideas also, so hope to get some reference photos taken this weekend for at least a few. I spend so much time trying to think of what to paint- even though I have lists of ideas. So much painting time gets wasted. I hope if I have some good still life ideas ready to go, I will just sit down and paint. Then, I think I will paint at least some of these still life paintings two ways- in oils AND in watercolors. One of my other problems is deciding which medium to go with. I really enjoy both and some paintings are an easy decision. Beaches, and garden types are watercolors to me- but I love still life and there my decision can go either way. If I plan to paint a still life both ways, I won't waste the time choosing a medium PLUS I will have 2 paintings and I am bound to like at least one of them! I know, I know- most of this dilemma could be solved by just being a more decisive person, but that will never happen to me.

Any other of my artist friends have these problems in their studios?

14 comments:

  1. I do not, but I did not the studio :-)))))
    Hi Sheryl, great job!

    Ciao!!

    Franz

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  2. Loved the detail Sheryl! I have trouble sitting down to paint too, but if the rocks and leaves are looking at me I seem to get to it lately. Fighting with resistance is a daily battle around here.

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  3. Awesome Tootsie Pop! We need that in our Flickr group! I have changed my mind three times about my next painting... and today I finally came back to one of my old ideas that I was tossing around before I got sidetracked with all these other crazy ideas... When you work as slowly as I do, you're committed to a painting for at least a month.

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  4. Thanks, everybody! It was so fun to work on- sometimes the quick paintings are so rewarding! I am so glad to hear it happens to all of us - the whole "what to paint" thing! Thanks for the feedback, I love to hear what you all think.

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  5. Sheryl, I love this! I smiled the moment I saw it.

    I think making up your mind about what to paint is very difficult.

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  6. Thanks, Candy- those Tootsie Pops do bring a smile!

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  7. Sheryl....I do have the same problem. I find I spend way too much time determining what to do next....scanning my reference photos (thank goodness for digital cameras). I'm ready to start a new painting, but I'm also juggling working on my son's yearbook, which I chair. My first deadline is Jan. 24 and I have 10 pages to finish. Sometimes I'm just torn between projects. I love Tootsie Pops and I can't wait to see the painting of the mason jar full of them.

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  8. Gretchen, I agree- where would we be without our cameras and scanners? Good luck with the yearbook- sounds like a big undertaking!
    Sheryl

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  9. I'm going to buck the trend and say no, don't have that problem! Time to paint all the ideas and then all the challenges in the Painting Friends forum is what I lack! You should come over to PF, Sheryl, you'd love it there! xx

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  10. That's the thing, Pat- I have a million painting ideas and need to organize them so I can work instead of all of the "which painting now?" stuff I go through! I checked out your PF - do I just sign up?
    Thanks, Pat-
    Sheryl

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  11. Dear Sheryl,
    I love your beautiful work and..its "content", too! If I do not hit any idea, I just do relax. Pushing too much kills my work. Take it easy.
    Cheers, Sadami

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  12. Thanks, Sadami! I will try to relax about it, even though it doesn't seem too likely!

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  13. Yes, just sign up - put me as a reference if you need to.
    How to organise the painting ideas? Pop them in a notebook and work your way through them, one at a time!

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Thank you so much for your comments- I love to hear what you think!