The last two years I’ve been working so long and hard to get Nationally Board Certified as an Elementary Art Teacher. It is the work equivalent of getting my master’s degree, but without the huge cost and more student loans. It would mean a raise for me and more opportunities as well as networking connections. However, it completely took over my life! If I wasn’t working on it I was thinking on it or feeling guilty about not working on it! So this year I made some goals for after I was done- the most important one was to get back into my art studio and paint! I bought opaque paint for myself and recently have spend an enormous amount of time making this goal happen!
I took a workshop back in the fall with an oil painting teacher. Years ago I gave away my oil painting equipment, thinking I would never be any good at it anyway. However, now that my life is easier (my kids are almost grown-up) but I am less mobile (thanks Lupus) I thought I would try again. The workshop completely confirmed that I should! I had the best time and forgot how much I did love to paint this way (which is completely opposite to how I have to work in translucent paint mediums). It exercises my brain and I love it! So this past winter I bought oil paints and gouache paints for myself and promised myself that as soon as my National Boards test was done on June 4th that I would go paint again!
I have my tea and journal time in the morning, get ready for the day, then I go into my studio, cue up some ghost stories, a true crime podcast, or something I can listen to, but not pay super-close attention to and I put on my apron and get into it. I can paint for hours and competely lose myself in my work, which is so fullfilling!
And I did! The lightning of inspiration came from a lightning rod that I purchased on E-Bay. I wanted to paint it- so I am! I am over-the-top happy to be back in my studio again, working with a medium I haven’t touched in almost a decade, learning new things and having a grand time!
The next challenge will be how to maintain this after school starts …
With studio happiness to you from Kansas Street,
-Jaime
Life on Kansas Street 