Painting Process: Woman in Blue Stripes by the Ocean

Sometimes, the most challenging thing is not to care and just get things done. Going with whatever set of skills we’ve got at the time and not having a roadmap for success can lead us to enticing discoveries. In such cases, I can’t help wondering, is being good really important?

When working on a painting, I rarely work on sketches or preliminary studies, and the painting on this post is no exception. As I get older and have had the opportunity to grasp a few things over the years, I realize that workflow reflects my ignorance and laziness to push myself.

Before committing to complete this small board, I went for a long time without bringing any given painting to its final stage. I gave up in frustration, going over multiple canvases and boards, painting layer over layer; It felt like being entangled in a spiderweb.

Looking at this painting, I find a few qualities that turn my attention toward future pieces. Arranging the compositional elements more carefully through drawing would deliver a more precise definition, but more importantly, it invites me to explore deeper into why I must continue to paint.

Making Room for Boredom: Getting Out of the Social Media Grid

We live in a time when consumption justifies our existence. We don't exist unless we show our possessions and abilities. For a while, I was struggling to adjust to that idea, but not anymore.

There are times when life hits us hard, making us put things in a different order. Suddenly, what once seemed innovative and exciting, it's just not. When we become used to hitting a 'delete' key, taking a break or starting fresh shouldn't be difficult, but it actually is!

I started taking breaks from social media when I started focusing so much on techniques and style. Being on social media for nearly ten years, investing so much energy into that process, deleting my social media accounts, was liberating. No longer I have the need to show off, which is excellent!

Social media was making me exasperated. I began hating how I kept comparing myself to others, feeling rushed as in a hamster wheel. I discovered how striving to be creative was losing its luster. There were a dependency and a false sense of accomplishment I didn't like. I was not critical with what I was doing, and In fact, I felt I was adding to the noise.

Being off the social media grid leaves me with nothing to prove! I feel excited to get bored again and keeping a sketchbook. With boredom, I get a relaxed state of mind that prevents me from being envious or insecure about what I do. I get a new appreciation for daydreaming and building ideas on what I want and not on what's subject for approval.