The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Shades of gray appear no longer for this Kentucky state bird. It is now a beautiful red. This transition from pencil to color was not an easy one and required a great deal of practice and perseverance. Painting can still be a struggle for me at times and I don’t have all the answers or even pretend to have. This cardinal was painted in watercolor, and this medium can present itself with its own set of problems as well as pleasures. It is not one of the easiest for me. Often it still leaves me at times thinking, “I don’t know what I’m doing.” I often ask myself, “Ok, how do I fix this mistake?” The trashcan is always an option which I have used on several occasions. However, I think it is really best to keep all of your work even if you think it should be waded up, mashed on the floor, and thrown in the trash. Yes, at times it can be very frustrating as well as extremely rewarding! Regardless of how you may feel at the time, it is important to save your work. The pencil drawing of the bird has many mistakes that pop out in my face as I view it, but I am happy that I kept it. Not only can I now share it with you but I can see how I have grown as an artist. I’ve even reworked a few of my older paintings to make them more successful. Mistakes are a huge part of my journey to becoming a better artist today than yesterday. So keep all of your work, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Bring them out of hiding and take a look. You will appreciate your past mistakes and grow from having experienced them.
