My daily connection to art

i realized that even if I don't paint I am still connected to art. Allow me to explain. Totally confusing thought and even more confusing to talk about. I assumed that if I don't paint Im not a real artist. I go to galleries, art walks, look up artists, read art books, see posts about art, watch my kids do art, have my favorite artists I read about, connect to local artists, look for art openings, try to become a featured artist in galleries, manage an art page, make products and services around my art, buy art supplies, tweet and blog about art and I'm sure there's more but I can't think of them at the current time. I recently asked myself a question, in what ways do you connect yourself with art? I pondered that question for days. Like I said before I thought that if I'm not painting I must not be connected to it. The more the I thought about the question the more I noticed the ways I was connected to it. I now realize and consider my involvement with art to be extensive. I also feel less guilty about taking a day away from painting. And I have a new found appreciation for how much art is a part of me and how much I am a part of art.

my latest painting session

Last night (roughly 10pm) I started to get into "paint mode", that's a random, made up saying I for my description for when I want to paint. Anyway I found a canvas, every brush i own (literally), paints and a comfortable place to do it, check out twitter @ACRYLICTRUJILLO for the picture. I decided to put down a layer of white paint, concentrated into one area (the middle) and quit. Good music was playing and I got up out of my chair, pick up the canvas, opened the door and put it outside. Next I grabbed another painting from roughly three days prior and began working on that, put colors on it and hated it. What turn started as a good night completely sucked. I wasn't going down without a fight so I at the very least wanted to correct my mistakes. I found and went with old faithful (black and white). I worked with those 2 colors and things started to click and come together, the evening was not in shambles, when I finally looked up, 2am (EST) was nearing. I decided to stop and go to bed, after eating chocolate of course. The point I stopped and the progress of the piece can be seen at facebook.com/JamesRichardTtrujillo.

Puzzled

Today I was doing touch up work on my piece titled 'puzzled'. It has been hanging for awhile now. I am very happy with the way it turned out. I have seriously considered donating it. To have a piece of my work displayed and accepted for donation would make me ecstatic! I really hope it works out that way but if not, plan B: Hang it in the gallery. As you can see, the decision and fate/destiny of this piece in very puzzling, the name is shockingly appropriate.