Getting Started

This is my very first oil painting.  Yup, my very first oil painting ever.

I painted this in 2012. 

I was sitting out on the porch and night after night the sunsets were stunning.  I couldn't help it, I was and am in  awe of the colors lighting up the sky.  I still get a bit choked up at a sunrise or a sunset.  I guess I'm a big softie. 

Lots of mornings, on the island, I would get up before dawn to go for a walk just to see the sunrise.  I love to see the sun as it comes up over the distant blue horizon. I also love to catch the sun as it goes down.  

This painting is from a sunset photo I took in St Thomas.  We first moved down there in 2012. 

So why did I wait until I was 54 years old to get up the nerve to try an oil painting. Well, I could probably fill a book with reasons. 

It just boils down to - Getting started is so very hard.

Once you're in the groove, you've got the habit and it's not as tough but I've found it's  way to easy to put things off. 

Why do we put things off?

Why is it so hard to get started?

Maybe you don't get started because of fear or timidity  or time.  It could be you lack gumption because you lack money or lack talent or lack vision.

Yeah - I've used those too. 

You could use any number of excuses to rationalize. I think I keep a handful of excuses in my back pocket.  I try not to take them out any more though - they're habit forming and  they'll kill you. 

What's more important to me is the solution,

What's more important is doing stuff. 

If you make excuses other things will take priority. 

Right now, I think posting this blog regularly is important for me. 

Why is it important?  I want to get better at writing and painting and drawing. I use this practice to make sure I get the work done.  I use it to make sure I don't slack off. 

I'm making myself accountable to the world by promising to write something every week.  I'm convinced you only get better by sharing your work.  So I'm sharing.

You've got to be a bit brave.

This whole thing is an exercise in growth and getting better. 
 
Believe me, I'd rather hide. I'd much rather do this whole drawing thing in private. 

But, you see, in private I'll lie to myself.  I'm good at at making excuses and lying to myself. I've had lot's of practice. 

It is about me in a way but by sharing it can be about you too. 

Maybe somebody who reads this will get motivated to start playing the guitar or painting or writing or it just might help somebody else find out what they're all about.

Because we're all the same you and me. 

You see, it's about me, but it's about you too. 

It, for me, is all about sharing and trying to be a better human. 

So - here's to being a better human! Happy sunsets to you. 

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