Deb Ward, GWS, OWS, PWS, WSI - WATERCOLOR/WATER MEDIA - My passion is teaching adult “beginners”. Weekly classes in my home; workshops; classes for Cincinnati Recreation Commission. My work is nationally recognized and published - see “Featured” on my sidebar. I’m a Signature Member of Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana state Watercolor Societies, Cincinnati Art Club, past-President of Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society. Contact info below under “Class Information”

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Painting with Humor

I began my artistic endeavors by painting in watercolor, which I have been told is “the hardest medium to master”. I don’t know if that is really true, but I did quickly find that, if I didn’t laugh, I would cry! So I laughed (at myself and others!).

As I go through life I realize that the ability to laugh is a wonderful thing. And the ability to laugh at myself may be my greatest gift. I don’t understand those people who take everything so seriously (although, sadly, in my earlier years I was one of them).

Nothing in life is perfect. So, when things go wrong (you don’t make it into that art show, you didn’t win a prize) don’t take yourself or your art too seriously – laugh it off – there will be more opportunities.

So my advice to you is to have fun with the process of making your art, and anything more is icing on the cake!

For instance, I get together once a year with a group of artist friends. While painting (and eating) is our primary concern for that week, our real job seems to be to laugh – sometimes we laugh until we cry, sometimes we cry until we laugh. We have a ball (or bawl??). Sure, we have all had our ups and downs, our successes and our failures, in both our personal and artistic lives, but we muddle on through, supporting each other with respect, love and humor.

2 comments:

Nancy Van Blaricom said...

Isn't that true. Anything more is "icing on the cake". Nice to be with friends and paint also. The best of both worlds.

RH Carpenter said...

Gosh, Deb, and here I thought, "Why laugh at myself when there are so many others willing to laugh at me?!?" ha ha
You have the right attitude. Life is much too short to be taken so seriously - unless you have PMS and then rant away!!