Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Play

I haven't been feeling my usual stable self the last three days. Each afternoon, somewhat stressful things happened. Each afternoon a fragile mood came upon me. You know, like it would be good to have a cry but you can't. Nerves on edge - feeling like a glass of beer would be a good idea to settle me down. (Though I have no addictions except coffee, I have come to appreciate why so many with bipolar disorder become addicted to drugs or alcohol.)

I now know the things that happened these past three days are not at fault. If all was well with me, they wouldn't have bothered me.

So - what to do? I have decided the best thing to do is to play. I need to have some creative fun. This afternoon I played around, making photo-cards as hand-outs for the next Living Room meeting. Tonight I'm writing this post - blogging being a very creative outlet - and sharing one of the paintings I recently did. Amateur Dancer commented on my last post, about the painting I told her I've been doing. She's the one who inspired me to get into it. Such an encourager! Thank you, Jessica.

This is a very small painting - notecard size. I can't bring myself to make anything much bigger. I used a photograph of a Havana street scene that my husband took, using bits and pieces of the scene for the composition. I think street scenes are one of my favorite subjects and I like to include people in the picture. So far, I most like to draw the scene with ink and then paint it.

Watercolor is a much more complicated medium than I realized. There are so many different techniques and so many surprises come along as you work. That part is kind of exciting. I have an awful lot to learn.

So, tonight perhaps I will sit down and try to make another little painting. Play takes my mind off uncomfortable moods. It keeps me from becoming introspective. It focuses my mind on something positive and colorful.

11 comments:

Bleeding Heart said...

Wow...did you freehand this painting or was it outlined and you colored it in.

It is awesome! Great work!

I hope you are feeling better.

marja said...

Thank you, Dream. I draw the picture first with India ink and then paint. I am feeling somewhat better today.

Di said...

Way to go Marja - I love seeing what you are working on.
WOW!

EastPAWZ said...

hope you are feeling better.. Art is a really good outlet.

Amateur Dancer said...

BACK UP THE BUS!!!

I need Lessons from YOU!!!

WOW!! That is SO beautiful!!
WOWWW!!! Marja!!! I am smiling so big right now!!! You should see my face!

Gorgeous! How do your draw and then paint over?

I have actually been trying to figure that out for my oils recently.

You GO Marja!!!

You could SELL those!
Wow!!
love,
dancer

Marie said...

I am glad to see you are fueling your creativity. It seems to soothe in times that try the soul. When things get crazy or I am faced with an unpleasant situation (like the one I am in now)I turn to my poetry and short stories. It helps me stay focused and prevents me from shifting into a state of depression.

Stop by the blog and read the post "A Day In The Life" to get a clearer picture. If you want to comment on it you can use the comment section on the previous post.

marja said...

Marie: Thanks for dropping by. You're right. Creative play is soothing; it comforts.

Dancer: You ARE such an encourager. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your "wows". You encouraged me to paint another little picture this morning.

I draw the picture freehand with India ink, which is waterproof. The watercolor paint is transparent so the lines of the drawing don't disappear. I doubt that you could do the same thing with oils.

You keep having fun with your painting too, ok?

marja said...

Zawadi: Thank you for your comment. Yes, I am feeling better.

And Di: Thank YOU too for your encouragement. It's sure fun to have something colorful up on my blog.

sbwrites said...

Marja,
What a great painting! I love it. My husband is an artist so I know how difficult it is to paint with watercolors. But I think your "street scene" is marvelous.

Sorry to hear that you've been feeling a bit "blue." It happens to the best of us. Hope you're feeling better.

Susan

Syd said...

Marja,

First the photos and now the painting. You are an extremely talented artists. Thank you for sharing your work with us.

I agree with you about creative play. It is so therapeautic. In fact, you've inspired me today. I've been trying to decide for the past hour if I want to take my camera and explore a riverfront park that I learned about earlier this week. I've been really on the fence about whether I "feel like" going today. But after reading your post and seeing your painting, I decided that that's exactly what I'm going to do. If the day goes well, I'll post about it this evening.

Keep up the beautiful work!

Cristina C. Fender said...

Your painting is absolutely beautiful! It inspires me to pick back up my oil painting hobby.