A couple of days ago I found myself back in the studio, after a long break while my teacher/mentor was traveling. And what did I do while there? I went bat-shit crazy, is what.
It’s funny. Sometimes I’m painting something so ordinary, so common, and other folks in the studio couldn’t care less. In fact, I’m sure that if they glance in my direction, they find my work boring. And then you have a session like this week’s. During those occasions, the other painters don’t know what to think of me. Sometimes someone will ask what the heck I’m doing. And sometimes that person will flat-out tell me how bonkers I am. Most of the time, however, people just avoid talking to me during my crazy sessions. Even when they’re curious, they don’t ask me what I’m doing. They go to our teacher. And during those moments – God love him – he answers quite loudly, so that I can hear him.
It is also during these experimental sessions that my teacher hangs out with me. I think he’s intrigued by my willingness to step outside the parameters that seem to bind so many students. I’m not afraid to try something new. (Well – I am often afraid, but I try to be brave and do it anyway.) To be fair, there are a few of us who are willing to take a chance in class. And while ordinary can be perfectly lovely, beautiful even, there’s nothing wrong with painting outside the lines once in a while.
So I’ll keep working on this one and report back once it’s finished. And for the record, those are stickers…
