Am I going Through that Ugly Stage?

byremann

57 followers

3 years ago

Hi everyone!

The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a bummer for me. I’ve had some serious brain-fade, doubts, extreme frustration over social media and really beginning to wonder if I was doing the right thing the right way (although I hadn’t heard that little voice yet).

I had to have a break. Over the weekend my painting pal, John, and myself were at a craft fair of a local farm shop and café. We’d strong armed our art club members to donate some of their artwork in aid of fundraising for the bone cancer charity, Sarcoma UK.

There we were with other small businesses and crafters in the barn with some new born lambs, a couple of goats, some beautiful Norfolk cattle and a couple of very noisy donkeys. You can imagine the smell!!

It was fascinating seeing the other stalls and what they were selling.

There was a lady who made homemade dog treats; her friend who made pictures from tiny pebbles from our local beach; the man who took up woodturning to save him from a breakdown due to losing his job through illness just before the pandemic; there was a tiny micro-brewery situated on the banks of the River Yare close to a ferry that’s been in constant use since the 17th century; then there was the man selling pure juice from English applies; and my personal favourite, the lady who, during the pandemic wanted to keep occupied, started making homemade fudge and has now given up her fulltime job and makes fudge all day; the young girl making cushions, pillows and throws; and finally, the man who sources teapots on eBay and charity (thrift) shops to make the most unusual bird feeders.

As I looked around at all these innovative people who for what ever reason took a change of direction in their lives, it was so apparent to see what their niche was, and how much they loved what they were doing. When I chatted with the stallholders they were all so enthusiastic about their businesses.

I’d been grateful for the break from my laptop and to meet everyone. We sold about half of the artwork donated by the art club members and raised £550 for Sarcoma UK.

Thinking of the frustrations I was having over the last week or so, following the training, tweaking my website by trying to get a logo up and a bit of colour, setting up my socials (still can’t get Twitter to play and Instagram is having a bit of a hissy fit), getting some notes down for future blogs, it was all starting to become a bit ugly.

It was then I remembered. In most acrylic and oil paintings there’s always the ugly stage. That time when you’re wondering if it’s worth it? Where’s that vision? Whether it’ll all turn out OK and, will it sell?

But you press on. Push through and paint over those ugly bits and gradually something amazing starts to happen. It all comes together and there’s that beautiful painting you had in your head, there on the canvas.

Today I sat at my laptop and those bit that were so frustrating were finally coming together. I just now need to decide what to do about my second Twitter and Instagram accounts and all will be well with the world!!

Have a great day everyone!

Ruth

PS. The painting at the top is one of my acrylics on canvas. It's called 'Storm Front' and inspired by the marshes near where I live and was awarded 'Best in Show' at an art show last year.