filling the gap

I keep thinking about what Ira Glass said, about there being this gap that creative people must go through to get where they want to be.   Lately, I’ve been feeling that my art work is missing that “special thing” that I want it to have. I’m not really sure what that is exactly, but I feel like I’m getting closer and closer every day.

I’ve been wanting to paint portraits, but feel like I need some work on my faces. I want them to have my own style — real, but with character.  So I whipped out my charcoal pencils and a drawing pad and all I did was draw faces. All day! It was fun, nice and relaxing.  I still have a lot more work to do, but I am really enjoying the process.

I think it helps to learn from others too, like Misty Mawn and now Jane DesRosier.  I treated myself to an online workshop on portraits by Jane and it’s really fun. I know a lot of the stuff already, from years of art classes, but collecting different perspectives really helps me to get a grip on what I like and don’t like.

I figure, the more you learn about what you love and the more you work at it, the closer you get to closing the gap.

I’m printing Ira’s words to hang in my studio. A nice reminder I think.