Stepping out of my comfort zone

This week I had an opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone and try something a little bit different...a painting party.  I have found, that if given step by step instruction, I am capable of producing a picture that actually looks like something.  So to Bill and his wife, Amanda, the owners of The Starving Artist in Clarksburg and Buckhannon, WV...you are geniuses.

Since my friend Lori's birthday was coming up, her mom invited me and some of her other family members to a painting party to celebrate.  Every time I do one, I get nervous.  Actually, while I'm participating I get frustrated.  I always want to over think the process.  With quilting, for the most part, you have lines and angles that match up.  Of course there are always exceptions.  But with painting it's free flowing, creating shadows and blending colors. AHHHHH

When I walked into the studio I had no idea what the project for the evening was.  An easel at the front of the room revealed the cutest little chickadee.

Painted by Bill at The Starving Artist

I love it, it's amazing!  But I have to recreate it???  He did take it a bit easy on us and had the bird's body marked on the canvas in pencil instead of making us draw it ourselves.  

After some instruction from our fearless leader, we were ready to begin the step by step process.  

 I'm always amazed when we add things like bright pink paint.  I look at that and then the finished one and think, what??  But I just trust and keep on going.  I also have  to keep reminding myself to not grip the brush and to let it glide across the canvas.  Forcing your strokes is bad.

Always remember to paint the sides

When we start layering paints on top of each other and I start to get overwhelmed.  I have to just walk away.  The stick started out as basically all red, then we added a mustard yellow highlights to the right and black shadowing to the left.  If I don't stop myself I will keep adding strokes until none of the red shows through.  Take a deep breath, drop the brush and walk away.

Not too long after this point, I have a headache and a completed picture.  I'm usually not sure if I've had a good time or not.  I can see every mistake I've made compared to the original painting.  Yikes.  Though, Bill tells you from the start, artists do not make mistakes.  Then, Bill sends us away and the most amazing thing happens. 

Mine is the second from the left on the bottom

You come back into the room and hanging on the wall are all of the paintings.  Suddenly, from a distance, you realized that, hey, I painted a chickadee!  And it does look like a chickadee!  

Again, why do I always looked stoned???

If you haven't had a chance to try one of these classes you should.  After I get home and hang my picture, I feel refreshed.  The act of creating anything and learning something new can just be good for the soul.  With each class I attend I get a little better.

This was the first class I attended several years ago.

This was a paint your pet class I did this time last year.  Don't be too impressed...it's probably 30% me and 70% Bill.  I was thankful for all of his help.

I even talked hubby into a couples paint.

One of my favorites that I've done.  I was able to recreate another one at home on my own.

So on that note, I would also like to wish my friend Lori a Happy Birthday today!

Knowing us, we will paint something again very soon.  It's always a good time.  Especially when we bring wine...wink, wink.