Sunday, November 6, 2011

just imagine!!!

Yes. Just Imagine what you can do when you persevere....
About 6 years ago, long before I ever went back to school to get my art degree  (and my husband was in school getting his Bachelors degree), I called him and asked him if they sold canvas at his school bookstore. When he said yes, I asked him to bring me home the biggest canvas they had. He promptly brought home a 30 x 60 canvas. I, for some reason, had the urge to paint. Now keep in mind, I had done a lot of illustration and crafts but never had I painted a thing! I had a small set of acrylic paints and some brushes but no clue what I was doing. I had no art space and we lived in a 900 square foot house. So I hung the blank canvas on our only wall that it would fit on and this is what I painted...

my painting in 2006

Then I got stuck. I changed my mind. I could not decide how to proceed. I didn't know what I was doing. I quit. I left it like this for over 5 years! When we moved to a bigger house, I took it with us and rehung it, in it's pathetic state, and left it unnoticed and unfinished. Various family members, at various times, would ask me when (or if) I was ever going to finish. I said I didn't know but I thought I would someday.
Then last year, we moved again. Back into a smaller place and I was going to ditch the painting. My sister said, "No." and she took the painting home and hung it on her wall in it's pathetic and unfinished state for another year.
Two weeks ago my sister was packing to move. She asked me if I wanted my painting back. I did not have the heart to toss it out. I knew I must take it and finally attempt to finish it. After all, I had more paints and brushes and a bit more technical skill....

So, I brought the painting home and hung it on the wall! It only took me a couple of days of looking at and then I knew I was going to finish. I took it down and worked on it for 3 days. I honestly don't know if I am 100% finished at this blog posting...I want to live with it for a few more days before I declare it complete. But it sure is a whole lot closer and I am very happy. Happy that I did not quit, (only took a long break)! Happy to finish what I started. Looking back on this whole process and what the last five years held, I see now that I REALLY wanted to paint!! Here is to perseverance!!

my painting today
xokp


Posted by kae pea at 6:29 AM
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33 comments:

  1. DianeNovember 6, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    Sooooo glad that you kept it all of these years--it was waiting for you patiently to return.. this is just so beautiful!!

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  2. AnonymousNovember 6, 2011 at 7:21 AM

    Kae Pea! What a miracle story! And an amazing outcome. Just incredible.

    sue-chan
    x

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  3. UnknownNovember 6, 2011 at 7:39 AM

    Love it...just goes to show that there is a time for everything and your painting was completed when the time was right....wonderful xxx

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  4. HollyNovember 6, 2011 at 8:24 AM

    This is a GREAT story. One of the most fascinating parts is that before you were in school or pursuing art you had this "urge" and you acted on it. You called your husband, he was willing to put money on your impulse, and you actually started working on it without knowing where you were going. The beginning is the amazing aspect of the story, but the outcome is spectacular, too!

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  5. DeniseNovember 6, 2011 at 9:19 AM

    It's beautiful and very interesting to see it in it's different stages. You have added a lot of light and sparkle to it since the first photo. Amazing story and painting.

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  6. AnonymousNovember 6, 2011 at 10:30 AM

    Moral of a GREAT story... NEVER GIVE UP. MarieMarie

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  7. rachel awesNovember 6, 2011 at 12:24 PM

    oh kristen, how i love this story + like a fine wine, this has come into being, over time, beautifully. thank you for such encouragement. XOX

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  8. Demoiselle LibelluleNovember 6, 2011 at 12:26 PM

    This is wonderful! Such a beautiful story and it is the perfect proof that "creative dreams do not go away they wait for you" as SARK once said :-)

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  9. Sarah AndersonNovember 7, 2011 at 1:33 PM

    Gorgeous Kristen, just gorgeous! And so worth the wait; I'm really glad you kept hold of your canvas :)

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  10. MarcieNovember 7, 2011 at 1:55 PM

    Love how that happens - that over time - we figure out what it is exactly that we need to do. Terrific!

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  11. YvonneNovember 8, 2011 at 9:54 AM

    "creative dreams do not go away they wait for you" - that's beautiful, and SO apt! This is an amazing story of belief - even when you, temporarily, gave up, your sister continued to believe in you... Wow, this gives me chills!
    I LOVE the finished piece, & I love that you suddenly, within days, knew what to do with this canvas when you got it back! You have an amazing artist's soul & you inspire me! xx

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  12. Heather HaymartNovember 8, 2011 at 10:15 AM

    Aww, all you had to do was add the word "just" to "imagine". That's what you did to make this painting and to get where you are now. Excellent advice for us all. Thank you!

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  13. painted fish studioNovember 8, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    awesome. some things are worth the wait!

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  14. Luna LevyNovember 8, 2011 at 10:11 PM

    Good for you Kristen! That is a wonderful story and thank you for being so bold and daring to share it here with us :) xo

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  15. Sadee SchillingNovember 9, 2011 at 5:50 AM

    Beautiful! I love your colorful and happy style. So fun to see the progression of 6 years. And thank you for sharing this story with "Storytellers!" :)

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  16. Catherine DentonNovember 9, 2011 at 8:13 AM

    Love, love, LOVE this painting. I relish everything about it--the vibrant colors, the imaginative patterns, and the enduring message.

    Thanks for your sweet comment on My Blog.

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  17. EstherNovember 9, 2011 at 12:53 PM

    I love it! And so neat that the painting is a bit representative of your journey as well.

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  18. PiaRomNovember 12, 2011 at 2:35 AM

    I think it is sooo satisfying to finish what to begun long time ago and have such a great result, very heartwarming :-)

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  19. Buffalo LucyNovember 12, 2011 at 11:17 AM

    So inspirational! Thank you for sharing this story! Now I'm inspired to go back and revisit some abandoned pieces.

    Your work is just beautiful!

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  20. Mary C. NasserNovember 12, 2011 at 6:38 PM

    Very inspirational!
    I love your story and the before/after pics of your painting! :)

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  21. aimeeNovember 14, 2011 at 8:43 AM

    Amazing! It was meant to survive and thrive. What a beautiful piece. xo

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  22. ShannonNovember 15, 2011 at 6:33 PM

    This is sooooo super cool fabulous. WOW! So inspiring. Ok girl, you've reminded me that I have always wanted to paint BIG. Hmm.....

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  23. cathyNovember 16, 2011 at 4:27 PM

    hey kristen - how are you - love your art (found u thru artists in blogland) did you paint your banner -love love it!~

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  24. Sandra van DoornNovember 16, 2011 at 4:28 PM

    Hi Kristen! have not be around for a while, and then i come here and what do i find? amazing inspiration! i love your final work, it’s beautiful, and totally magic! just love it.

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  25. AnonymousNovember 19, 2011 at 7:56 AM

    Wow, so many inspiring, creative I'm coming across this morning. Must be the universe telling me to get busy creating again and get out of this blue I'm in funk:)

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  26. WiniNovember 26, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    Ooooh! I LOVE what you have done to complete this painting. It looks amazing!!! Wini xo

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  27. Beth MoreyNovember 26, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    I'm so glad you worked up the courage to finish this! I'm sure that was no easy thing to do...but it totally paid off. What a great result!

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  28. CameronNovember 27, 2011 at 9:40 PM

    .....and it's beautiful!! I bet your sister will want it back now...haha!!

    Amazing journey that life and art takes us on...love the road this piece led you to!!

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  29. Tracy VerdugoDecember 15, 2011 at 11:48 PM

    Thanks for sharing your inspiration Kristen...I'm so glad you are well and truly out of your stuckness..you have much beauty to share in the world ♥

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  30. Julia DeanDecember 17, 2011 at 2:27 PM

    Wow, Thanks for sharing this story, of how a painting came into being..supported all the time till it was ready with it's message...I love your use of colour, so clear and vibrant...x..julia

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  31. MyraDecember 28, 2011 at 7:54 PM

    Thank you for the inspiring story. I'd like to share mine with you, too. Would you check me out at whole-heartedart.blogspot.com? My blog and my art are just getting started although I finished my BA in Art Ed. several years ago. I still haven't found my muse or my groove or whatever, my style... just looking and loving and hoping... so you can see why your story appeals to me!
    One of My New Year's "Ideas" (some call them Resolutions, don't think I like that), is to finish many projects I've started. I'll keep you "posted" on my blog!

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  32. BiomouseJanuary 2, 2012 at 8:38 AM

    Oh my goodness, how can this just be here for me to gaze at when it's perfectly right outta my head?? I agree with you my dear, I have no idea how we haven't known each other yet in bloglandia, other than I can go through great long funks of "no shows", but still. I mean really, it's the coolest thing to see the stuff in your head out on a blog and then realize, "wait, I didn't do that?!" Rockin!

    I love that you finished this finally (that's a big canvas btw), and I'll get the guts thanks to you and take a picture of a piece I've been carrying around since 2004...8 years. I'm so lame sometimes I just have to laugh :)

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  33. BiomouseJanuary 2, 2012 at 8:40 AM

    P.S. would you be interested in giving me permission to put this baby up in a post or a sidebar on my blog as a lovely totem to my word for the year-cited and linked back to you of course with lots of love?

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