Letting the Paintbrush Lead Me

While reaching for new heights in the art world I got cold feet. Not only painting on top of the mountain in the cold but in my spirit regarding putting together art work for a jurying process.

It seems to be a natural struggle to not worry about what people think while wanting to be accepted by others, particularly peers in ones field.

My cold feet wanted to go into the warmer ground of my self indulgent studio. I tried to convince myself that I didn’t need the validation of being accepted by others or even show my work, when the joy of my process was what drove me after all.

Painting landscapes was where my current joy was fostered. Wasn’t life about finding happiness in the moment and protecting my peace of mind?

Mountain Reflections, 11 x 14 Oil on Board

The truth of it was that I was just procrastinating and making excuses to avoid possible “failures”. The cloak of human nature was stuck to my skin.

In my paintings, supposed failures often were the springboards of new expression and lively paintings so why was I being so resistant? I finally recognized it as Fear …. I have known it to attack unwanted, this time like an icepick chipping on a frozen block of ice.

So I decided to face this cold feeling and hope for some lovely ice sculpture to result inside of me (maybe a jumping dolphin or a souring eagle like those on a fancy buffet table).

Winter Wonderland, 11 x 14 Oil on Board, Whistler Mountain

I decided cold feet could soon become warm in the field of proper judgement, perseverance and courage and in believing in myself (frozen or otherwise).

In the end I continued to paint on top of the mountain, hoping my paintings would do what they are suppose to do… revealed in time, and hopefully accepted or viewed by someone that appreciate them.

I decided that whether my paintings ended up in a juried show or not something warm germinated in my heart, and even my feet felt warm.

The Lions from Cypress, 8×10 Oil on Board

Image Credits

All Images Are © Jane Appleby

Jane Appleby Artist Bio

Jane Appleby is a prolific and intuitive painter who paints with the vigor of her love of life, inspired by the Canadian landscape, often painting outdoors in the tradition of the Group of Seven.

She has taken instructions from many artists over the 18 years she has been painting and completed an Emily Carr Certificate in Fine Arts Technique last year. The late Robert Genn coined her a full member of the “37 club” (fast and purposeful painting) and her work is also described as “Emily Carr meets Gaughin”.

Jane currently works in oil or acrylic, capturing the emotional response that she finds herself in. Her flowing brushwork and colours continue to be a strong statement in her work.

Jane is an active member of the Federation of Canadian Artists and founder of the Passionate Outdoor Painters Group. She teaches workshops at Port Moody Art Center and Place des Arts in Coquitlam. Jane lives in Burnaby, is married with five grown children, and enjoys hikes with her dog and time in solitude with nature.

Website: JaneAppleby.com

Blog: ArtistsReflections

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