Watercolors, patience, and slow season

Every year, January to February is a slower season for my business. That means that I mostly work on weekends and sometimes every other weekend instead of any given day, like during fall.

For many years, I wasn't accepting that reality. I had no patience; I felt I could make it busier if I did more work.

This year, I let that expectation go. I decided that i will focus on the things which i had less time to do: my personal education and hobbies not related to 'being productive'; reconnecting with my friends and family, doing things which actually inspire me.

Last month, I started attending a watercolor class, which my friend was raving about for the past year. And first time i went it was hard - i allowed myself 3 'unproductive hours' on Monday. OMG! I could be editing, updating the website, etc., etc. And i got a call from school nurse within an hour of the class starting. Coincidence? :) 

I thought about it, and I allowed it to happen in my head: do something new. Learn it, try it, see if i even like it. I had one good brush (I never knew brushes could cost $$$$) and a water jar; my friend offered to share everything else so I could just start.

I loved how effortless it looked when the teacher showed the steps. And definitely it looked different when i tried to replicate. What could be difficult in the movement of the brush? I suppose it's just 54 years of teacher's experience. It brought me back to the moments when someone would ask: oh, your camera takes excellent pictures. I reminded myself that there are thousands of hours of work behind every effortless-looking process.

Patience. To get good colors, you have to let the previous layer (I learned that it's called wash) dry completely. That was hard. But then you add another wash and another, and you have it. Same as in business, you do small steps daily, and the result eventually comes. 

As of now, I attended two full classes. And i liked my second painting more than first one. It was also interesting to see that other students who have more experience in that type of art would say, 'How can I do it better, I think it's only C on my internal scale.' And believe me, their paintings were AAA on my scale. I thought that every time i have a session, i still worry how to do the best i can. And I reflect afterward. The only person i should compare my work to, is me last week (or last session, or last year with the same people). Am I growing? 

Today, I got my own watercolors and two more brushes. Still more of a student than professional brand, but they shall last enough till i feel i have outgrown it. I had that with the cameras, at some point you just know that you need to upgrade. I read an article a long time ago that to become a professional, you need to have 100,000 shutter clicks. I completed that number on my camera some years back, but in watercolors, I'm just starting. And that's exciting.

I'll be happy to hear what's happening on your side. Just drop me a line and say how you are doing and what's inspiring you on this rainy day.