Will I ever learn?

My latest painting is reminding me of a very bad habit of mine, being too timid! While I know, in watercolor, one begins light and goes darker, there is a happy medium. It takes me way too many layers to get as dark as I need to be. Why can't I remember that each time I sit down to paint? Still have a lot to do on the painting, it isn't a lost cause but I sure get mad at myself when I realize, once again, I am being way too stingy with the paint!

Fun or Work?

I just read a comment made by an artist who wrote that when folks tell her that being a professional artist must be fun, she immediately replies that it isn't fun, it is work. Then she says she enjoys what she does. That confuses me. If you enjoy what you do, isn't that fun? Yes, doing art is hard work, we sweat bullets over it but, if it were all bullet sweating and no fun at all, why do it? Can't one work hard and have fun too? Does one exclude the other? I don' think so. Sometimes, when I am working on a painting, it is a roller coaster ride! And that can change from one minute to the next!
I think that artist may be feeling that those who tell her she must be having fun being an artist, is feeling she has to defend what she does; somehow, if it is fun, it isn't legitimate work. Perhaps a more appropriate answer to the comment would be that, "yes, being an artist is fun but it is also hard work". Such a response might just start a dialogue so that the person who made the comment is then educated in a pleasant way about all that is involved with being a professional artist. The "lay" person only sees the art and thinks of the artist painting away joyously. They haven't a clue about all that goes on that doesn't involve creating the art!
Perhaps the artist means that the art is fun but the business end isn't, which is totally understandable.

Productivity

Lately, I have been painting way more than usual and have some finished work to show for it. All of these were learned and/or started in my art class. They were fun but not sure I will do many or any more like them. Will be more likely to do flowers than pots but I did enjoy doing the pots.

Haven't felt well the last few day so haven't been painting. Got back to it today and ended up tossing a work in progress. Was trying a watercolor canvas, thought it would be a nice change. Well, I was wrong. Guess someone needs to give me lessons but I couldn't get the thing to wet, paint wanted to bead up. Also, if you go back in to add shadows or second washes, the first color that was put down, comes up again. Like I said, guess there is a trick to it that someone needs to teach me but, until that happens, won't be buying any more of those things. The pots were done on watercolor board and I didn't mind that at all. It is different than paper but easier to figure out!

Started a painting of a cat today. Hope I can manage it!

Excited

I promise to post a photo next time I write here. Just haven't gotten to it lately.
Had to write to say how excited I have been over the last couple of weeks. My level of creativity has just overflowed. Not sure why or how long it will last but has been so much fun. Some of it comes from learning new things in my art class, subjects and techniques I hadn't seen before or never thought of doing. Mostly, though, I think I am finally relaxing and enjoying myself, not worrying so much about the outcome but what I learn in the process.
There are times when a nasty little thought creeps into my head. "Why bother with your art? There are so many other artists out there doing the same thing, what makes you think you can do it better or that anyone will ever like what you do?" This thought used to stop me in my tracks and kill my urge to paint. Now, however, I answer back, I don't care!!! This is fun, no matter how things turn out and no matter if anyone else likes it or not. So there!
I know I have a lot to learn and I am going to enjoy getting to the next level, which I know I will, eventually. Until then, because I am having so much fun, I am painting more. By painting more, I will get better than much faster.
There are no deadlines and I am fortunate not to have to sell my art to survive (thank goodness for that or I would starve!). I can relax, have fun and gradually get to where I am going, where ever that may be!