Small Steps in the Right Direction

I had originally planned to make this post during the waxing crescent moon but we are now waxing gibbous, practically to the Super Full Beaver Moon in Taurus (chuckles immaturely to self). I've been too busy working steadily on my other intentions to write about what I'm doing, which is a very good problem to have. The waxing moon to me is about this slow grind, like the clicking of a roller coaster steadily climbing in preparation for the drop. It's a time of taking small steps towards the intentions I've set while also standing back occasionally to do some clarifying, refining, or prioritizing. I've felt like a very solitary busy beaver sorting through my thoughts and schedule and ambitions, which is apt for this coming Full Moon. The theme here is very much preparation, thus I've been doing lots of the background work and getting things ready to have this platform on which to share my art and have been doing a bit less writing and art.

I found myself with a pocket of time in the evening this weekend and decided to get these canvases started. They don't look like much at this stage but I love to see them evolve. I was too tired to bother with an aesthetic flat lay sort of photo by the time I remembered that I sometimes like to track this stage

Some of my intentions this cycle are around sharing my art with others by making it available for sale. Going forward, I want to blog alongside progress photos of my work so that there is context for anyone who might feel drawn to a piece. There is also the archive aspect of blogging alongside my work that I am excited by. For me, this is key to staying focused and motivated. I need to look back at what I've done occasionally so I can see that I make strides forward even when it doesn't feel like I am. Sometimes, it works in the opposite way and I can recognize I'm about to repeat an unproductive pattern. Looking back often yields a prompt to apply to the work going forward.

I was extremely discouraged through almost this entire painting, but I'm glad I kept track of my progress because I can see the process I used and pick the bits I like most to apply going forward.

Listing my paintings for sale feels like a huge step for me (although I am still having some troubles getting the website store working). I habitually edit and tweak paintings and other creations for months, sometimes years. They sit and wait until I'm ready to try another tactic to achieve what's in my head and when they fall short of that, they sit longer. Listing them for sale makes the overwhelming declaration, "This is a finished piece and I've deemed it worthy of financial value." The problem is, I always want to add more. The work is always in progress. I have to choose a day to set myself free from a piece and stick to it. I make sure my inner critic is in an advisory role, giving constructive criticism, rather than taking control and saying, "This is not good enough to accept money for." There are billions of people on the earth, I'm sure there are at least a few who enjoy my aesthetic. I pour my whole self into everything I make, so the actual price feels so very arbitrary with relation to the value. I sincerely hope my work speaks to someone enough that they want it on display. For now, I'll focus on making it available.