Val brought her eighty-something mother to class on Saturday.  After watching the demonstration, which was with the same image, on the same-size canvas, painted with the same materials as on Wednesday, she said to Val “It looks like in order to paint you have to empty your mind of everything else.”

In the kitchen Jane talked about how it felt to allow the process to lead her wherever it might—a little scary not knowing the end, but worth the risk.

Laura K. mentioned how hard it is to put your heart and soul into painting and have your family stare at it blankly but then rave about something copied that you have no connection to.

I met an artist named Therese’ Murdza  whose work I enjoyed at the SE
Portland ArtWalk  (which Lois and Leslie participated in).   Our conversation led
me to a quote by the sculptor Louise Bourgeois: In an exchange in early 2008, The Associated Press asked Bourgeois what advice she would give young artists just starting out. “Tell your own story, and you will be interesting,” she responded. “Don’t get the green disease of envy. Don’t be fooled by success and money.”

To sum it up the “magic formula” for painting was overheard in a series of conversations– Choose a subject that echoes your “story”.  Keep connected. Be present in the endeavor.  Be willing to take risks and follow where each move leads–don’t always try to control the process.  And focus—“empty your mind of everything else.”  Practice daily.

This week we’ll be practicing this “magic formula”.  Your choice of the specifics. By request I will take the demonstration  starts to the next level. (talk about scary…)