One day in November, I decided that I would not make a calendar this year. I simply did not have enough paintings that went well toghether to make a coherent product.
To be honest, it was a relief. The previous couple of months, this had always been in the back of my head. I was learning and experimenting with painting people and picking up the oil paints again, and didn’t see how this could make a calendar. Now I didn’t have to think about that anymore.
So I had to figure out what to do next.
I did have fun rediscovering the oils this fall, but I was also not feeling great physically. Turns out I am still sensitive to the oil paint fumes, even though I work without solvents and toxic products. So, it was time to take a break, and see if switching back to acrylics for a bit helped.
The ideas for figurative paintings had also dried out. I felt a bit done with it. There were some things I needed to explore and now I was satisfied. Christmas was also approaching fast, so I wanted to paint something that felt joyful and easy, as this season is stressful enough as it is.
I chose landscapes, more specifically, forests. This is a very familiar subject to me. My solo show in 2021 was all about the forest. The other brilliant thing I did, that artist friends have done before, was to make myself a challenge. I will make 100 landscapes on 20x30 boards. The goal is 5 a week. This means that every day when I turn up in the studio, I know what to paint, and what surface to use. I prepared a stack of boards ahead of time.
I did do some forest paintings in my sketchbook before deciding on this challenge, to be fair. I have learned from some good teachers to do more of what feels good and easy. And then challenge myself within that sphere. And doing those sketches, was like a song and dance. I wanted to paint all the time!
14 days have passed since I started this, and I am having the best time painting. Yes, seriously, I have never had this much fun in the studio before. Going back to acrylics was like coming home. The consistency, layering, colors, brushes, mixing, just felt wonderful. It also turned out to be a good decision for my lungs and energy levels. No more coughs! I love the subject too and can’t see how I can ever run out of ideas.
After 2 weeks I have more than 20 big and small paintings and sketches to choose from, which is more than enough to make a coherent calendar. And there is still enough time for it to reach everyone before Christmas. I know this is a popular present to give, and where most of my orders go. Under the tree.
And even if NO ONE likes the calendar this year, at least I had a blast making it…
As for the challenge, as I am writing this blog post, I have painted 10/100 20x30 panels and looking forward to the rest of them! I am also using what I learn from the panels to start painting big, stretching several large canvases ready to be forested.
So the takeaway here is that when I take the pressure away, find what comes naturally to me, and do what I feel is joyful, I paint so much that the results will naturally follow.
Thank you for listening!
You can see the result here: 2024 Calendar
Love,
Elisabeth
