Norma Wilson Original Oil Floral Garden Flowers Painting Art

Dancing Divas!

SOLD

 © Norma Wilson, original oil on canvas 6" by 6"

Love the light on these sweet flowers and how they seem to be dancing! O.k. so you have to use your imagination. :-) As I am SO VERY excited to be back in my home after six years of beach and then city life, each day is so special as I appreciate things such as having my own garden again. I have oodles of space for new plantings but out front I still have a few perennials that made it through the six years that I was away and renters who didn't quite love them as much as I do. I took a picture today of my first Shasta daisies standing tall by my front steps! I have been talking to an expert in native plants for our
area and hope to add some more to the front soon. Perhaps some wild azaleas and ferns.
I didn't even know the value of using native plants and just how many common flowers and shrubs are not native to our area. Less water, fertilizer, and pesticides are just a few
benefits. And the bees, insects and birds are happier too. See how much my life is enriched by having a garden again?

Filling The Creative Well

Happy Hour

© Norma Wilson, original oil on canvas 18" by 24"

Available Through Gallery

So how do artists fill their creative well and stay engaged with their desire to create art day in and day out?  Last week, I wrote about the importance of showing up at your easel on a regular basis, but there are also things outside of the studio that help contribute to keeping things going.  I have been painting now and showing my work for going on sixteen years.  It was easy to stay excited in the beginning as there were so many new subjects to paint and so much to learn. Well, the truth is that there are still many things to paint and much to learn but there are times just like in so many areas of life, that you hit a slump or moods take over and you feel anxious about painting. It can become routine. Exercise is really huge for me. Taking a walk, a bike ride, or a yoga class really helps me have a better frame of mind but there are other things I do as well.  Visiting favorite artists sites to enjoy their works, going to a museum and soaking up the master's works, spending time doing something fun with a friend not art related, painting with friends and soaking up their enthusiasm, giving art lessons and sharing in a new painter's delight as they complete their first painting. I used to go to Barnes and Noble which was close to my house for coffee and flip through all the art magazines I could find. Becoming immersed in all the colors and styles of painting helps to reignite the desire to face a blank canvas and get busy! Sometimes it is just a color combination, great texture, light or a feeling of gratitude for life that can make the shift.  Here are a few examples from my neighborhood walk, my living room that has awesome light, my tastey lunch plate, 

What kinds of things work for you? If you are stuck, you might try some of these things. If all else fails....there's always.....

Looking Back AND Looking Forward

Another Red Please!

© Norma Wilson, original oil on canvas 14" by 18"

Available Through Gallery

Another Red Please is part of my series inspired by a trip to The Barns vineyard in northern Virginia.  It is available through Stravitz Fine Art Gallery in Virginia Beach. For more information or purchase, contact 757 305-9411.

For the past year, I have been working with my awesome coach, Lisa Call.  During that time, I have been exploring my values and expanding my vision of my life and art business. It has been an amazing journey of looking back AND looking forward. 

In January this coming year, it will be ten years since I wrote and shared my first blog post and began my journey of online art sales.  My first post began very unceremoniously with a few lines and absolutely no introduction to who I was or what my blog was all about.  I just knew everyone needed a blog.  I still cringe when I write the word. What a weird name! No wonder I didn't know what to do with it. I have to admit that I am still searching for a direction and will be focusing more on that in my year long masterclass which began in March.  It combines coaching with a group of artists with varying mediums, all working to grow their businesses. We began the year with our top three goals which is new for me to narrow down to three goals and then to learn to break that down into monthly goals, weekly, and daily. Then, we can choose to share them with the group which adds great accountability. 

Ten years ago, I wrote that first post in my room over the garage on a computer that I barely knew how to use, spending hours searching, poking around any site I could find on online art sales, not knowing the how as much as being determined that somehow I could figure it out. During that time I sold over 1,000 paintings and have learned so much. 

Now, looking ahead, I know that there is still so much more to learn and I am excited to do just that. I would love to continue to share that journey with you and catch up on all the paintings I have been working on. Check back with me on Thursday when I will share some of the changes I have already made with my class!  Thanks so much for stopping by.