Confidence, I’m learning, is cumulative. The risk you take one day (like yesterday’s massive changes to the face) builds the courage you need for the next, or at least, that seems to be what arose for me since today, I felt truly emboldened by yesterday’s choices.
I’m feeling ready to move into the “home stretch” with this painting now (only FOUR DAYS LEFT WHAT?!) and focus not just on process, but on purpose—on what will look good and support her final presence.
I started with a bit of a fix to her neck, which was too thin and made her look like a bit of a bobble head. SO NOT THE VIBE I’M GOING FOR HERE, so out came the Iridescent light copper. I felt my shoulders drop when I made that change, because that supportive neck now feels just right.
The boldest move of the day, though, was to create a new ground where I could give her a sparkly aura —one that connects to the little universe by her face. I took the most assertive, opaque medium I’ve got in my toolbox—black gesso, my magic potion, my mixed media bestie—and created a new ground around her head. EEP!
Letting go like this, and that is exactly how it feels, is going to be necessary if you’re going to make room for what wants to come through next, though. The background, which supported me beautifully through every step of this process, is now becoming a distraction, and I don’t know about you, but I can’t achieve clarity if I’m distracted.
It felt incredibly empowering. It was the opposite of how I began—tentatively, without any idea of where this was going to take me. The final vision is now so important to me that I am willing to eliminate this entire background to serve that vision. It’s a little like the background was a safe and cosy nest, but this bird is growing up and needs to stretch her wings.
If you are moving into the “home stretch” of a project (or a phase in your life), you’re going to start thinking in terms of final decisions, and some of those decisions are going to be about what to keep, and what to release.
Once again, this painting is a life coach masquerading as an icon, and I’m not mad about it AT ALL. *Giggles*
Here’s my take away for today. Maybe it will serve you, too:
- Be Bold: Don’t just glaze over the noise; cover it entirely if necessary. Use your most assertive medium to clear the way.
- Trust Your Vision: The clarity you seek (the final purpose, the aura) requires the temporary shock of elimination (the blackout).
- Serve the Purpose: Use elimination to frame, support, and elevate your final intended outcome.
I think we gain the confidence to eliminate things by first proving to that we can do that without ruining everything. Now, we get to use that confidence to pursue our vision.
See you tomorrow,
xo
Effy
P.S. Folks who are in my classes over on Into The Wild (my teaching network) or Patreon are getting video content every day throughout the course of this challenge. Folks who are subscribed to my YouTube channel will be getting video updates weekly or so. There may be stuff going up on TikTok. There will definitely be posts going up on Instagram.
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