I know I’ve been quite lame about updating my pictures from Paris. We moved in France at the beginning of July, 2009 … and at first I was really good about posting all of our new photos.
Well, as of today, I’m going to post one set of pictures per day until I’m caught up! (oh, I won’t email you EVERY day to say that there’s new stuff here. You should just bookmark the site and check back often 
)
OK, here’s what I was up to on November 2nd. André and I met in painting class back in 2005. He’s a super talented, amazing painter. Then there’s me. I’m a baby-beginner painter, but I liked doing it…
Then something happened when we got married. I got intimated by his super-talent, especially up close and personal. He can create such amazing things with no thought and no angst. I couldn’t (and still can’t).
So I stopped painting. Entirely stopped.
Too busy, I said.
Then in November last year, a few months after we’d moved to Paris, I was feeling brave enough to start again. Guess that’s what an international move will do for you – make you feel brave! I only paint when A. is at work. And only with the help of a private coach who could talk me off a ledge. And so far only on disposal materials (this one is on a piece of foam core). Hard to believe I can be so intimated by this … (I must remember that we don’t have to be rock stars at everything we do in life!)
So I get the items set up on my desk, arrange how I’d like them. The mentor said he wanted me to try painting from still life instead of from a photo.
Michael-the-Mentor also wanted me to practise drawing thumbnails in a notebook before I started painting as a way of warming up. I found this quite weird and frustrating. I couldn’t figure out where to start the painting, and where the edges of the canvas would be.
I got out the paints. And I put on a podcast of “Writers & Company” from CBC Radio.
And I ‘drew’ with the paint, right on the foam core for about an hour. If the green wasn’t going how I wanted it to, I painted over it again with white, like an eraser.
Then two days later I did another hour:
This canvas is called “Smoky Tea,” named after the Chinese smoked tea I love to have in the afternoons. More later
~ all best, Shelley
Oh my dear girl! You have the sensitivity to do this painting thing and very well. Keep at it. I am an art teacher and I know very well how self-effacing my new students can be about their efforts. The HECK with that!
You are doing the best work that you can and it will keep getting better. The HECK with allowing yourself to be intimidated! Remember how little kids are? They come running up to you with drawings of heaven knows what and they are proud and excited to show you! This is before society, school and culture steps in to knock you down so that you start doing the invalidation thing to yourself without help from anyone.
So that is my love message to you today, fellow artist!
Lynne Oakes