Wednesday, January 30, 2008

The Daily Art- New work in progress-Surrender

Surrender full painting
No flash
surrender close up no flash

Surrender close up with flash


'Surrender' from the Choir Series #8
24" x 36"
oils
Painting extends around sides of canvas, no frame needed.

This is a work in progress.
***

Good Wednesday!
This is my newest large artwork that I have been slaving over for the last few days.
Before I start blathering on about it, here are the two quotes for this work. (it's a big work, it needed more words before it would shape up and fly right):

***

Self-interest is but the survival of the animal in us.

Humanity only begins for man with self-surrender.
Henri Frederic Amiel (1821 - 1881)

***

Everything is on its way to becoming something else, and therefore, nothing can be held onto. If you see this clearly, if you consider and examine this deeply and fully, then letting go is the only thing left to do. How can you hold on? What is there to hold onto? So the art of spiritual surrender is really the art of not knowing. Then it doesn't make any difference at all whether you are walking down the street or eating lunch or responding to your email or making love or sitting alone on your couch. This is the first and last time you will ever be doing this. If you truly understand that, it changes everything.
Scott Morrison

***
So, I am not done with this work yet, I am still waiting on it to dry some more so I can finish out the details. 'Surrender' is an act of submitting to my own self. Not submitting to the world, authority, society or religions. Allowing myself to just be, and continue to become. I surrender my resistance to my own eternal flow. I am what I am, I am what I think, I am what I am becoming, I am what I believe I am.
I am an artist.
No formal training? Yup no formal training.
Can you still be an artist of International caliber if you don't know what the hell you are doing?
Yup, it seems you can.
Or at least I can, and not even think twice about it.

If I had known going into the art world what I know now ten years later, I would have still gone in head first anyway.

Rules don't apply to me unless I say so.
(You know what I mean, I don't eat babies or run stop lights)
I was encouraged at the beginning by professionals (galleries) that I hit up just months into being an artist, to treat this as a hobby.
To not think I was going to make it, because truth be told, most artists don't.
It would be a one in a million shot for someone with my background (or lack there of) to become a income producing artist.
At the time, I poo-pooed them and said that doesn't apply to me,
I am a one in a million person. I make things happen.
I was wrong.
They were right, for a time.

You can't be a realist unless you believe in miracles.

If you don't believe in your dreams, who else is going too?

I just stuck out my neck (and my families income earning potential, Mate Man fully agreed to do what needed to be done to cover the family) and kept on going.

I surrendered to my own inner directive.
I have always been an artist.
That isn't going to change.
This January marks my tenth year as a full time, self-representing artist.
I have learned so much, and failed more than I care to remember.
I have also found my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Surrender is homage to that small choice I made to risk it all and let myself become what I was born to be. No one can twist that up, tie it knots and take it away from me. I am art.
I surrender to my creative insanity.
Ah-Ho!
Let it be.
Let the art flow!
***
What in your internal life do you need to surrender to?

Can you relate to this feeling?

What do you do when this comes up for you?

Tell me I would love to know.
***
Hope you all have a great day,
thanks for being here.
Heather


7 comments:

Celebration of Life said...

Wow, Heather! Love what you wrote about self-surrender and your journey!

Thanks for visiting my blog and I appreciate your comment. I am going to bookmark your blogspot so I will be back!
Jo

Heather said...

Hey Jo! Thanks for coming by and taking the time to comment, I sure appreciate it. I followed your trail back to your blog from San's place and was wowed by your story. I'm glad to meet you and I'll be adding you to my blogroll so I can better keep up with you too. :)

Cynthia said...

Heather, I could have sworn that I already commented today - but I think I realized that I read your blog in my in-box again and just thought I commented.

Do I think you need to be schooled in art to become an artist? Hell no - you just have to have the desire, passion, talent and drive to make it work. Last time I checked your blog and work I would say you have all three covered... ✓, ✓, ✓ & ✓.

Look at me, I am an art school graduate and I'm marching right along side of you! Doesn't matter. If someone tells you that you can't do anything, it's their insecurities and limitations talking - and says nothing about what YOU can do. What does matter is that you stay true to yourself and the rest will follow.

P.S. That doesn't mean it will be easy. ;D

jafabrit said...

Heather, you are such a JAFAGIRL, and I LOVE it. What a great attitude, and I love the theme of this painting.

Heather said...

Cynthia: Hell to the YESSSS! You so rock, thanks for being here.
Cor: That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me..."you're such a JAFAGIRL"...you don't know how much that makes me SMILE!!!!
*sigh* I love you guys.

San said...

Heather, every time I'm away for a few days, I return and see you've done something else remarkable. This latest in the Choir series is ANOTHER favorite.

You rock when you surrender! You surrender to the rhythm. You rock! You roll!

Kris Cahill said...

Heather, I am an art school graduate, and I know LOTS of people who went to art school who are no longer making.any.art. And you are! So are many others I keep meeting.

It's all in the spirit, and yours is fabulous and strong. I love the title of this piece, and the energy behind it. It's my word of the day! Which is funny, because today is Superbowl Sunday. I am laughing out loud. :))