Wrapping The Summer

WHAT A SUMMER!!!!! 

I had ideas of what I hoped to accomplish this summer when the school year closed. 

I wanted to paint full time, I did. 

I wanted to teach workshops, I did.

I wanted to work toward building my solo show for November, I did. 

I wanted to travel and work with artists one on one, I did. 

I wanted to grow as an artist and a professional, I did. 

I wanted to be in a show at the Mobile Museum of Art, and I was!

I wanted to paint with magical young ones, and I did! 

And I wanted to spend time with family, new friends, and be present, and I did. 

I didn't achieve everything, but I came pretty close! 

This summer was hot as heck....there were days I thought I had lost my mind to be painting outside but I was determined to paint large and my only option was my outdoor studio, so I sucked it up and made the best of it. What that taught me was huge. Nature is important to my creativity, working hard adds a ton of confidence to my heart, and facing challenging circumstances builds character. 

I am deeply grateful to have had the time. 
















The paintings that I created were beyond what I had visioned. They were tied into my creative framework, totally connected to story, and really helped my heart understand that painting is my path and teaching is my path as well. I am proud of what I accomplished, beyond proud, and tomorrow I head back to the classroom to kick an amazing year off. 

Facing forward is important to me so I have chosen to let go of some social networking things such as groups and pages and engagements that I don't have time to engage in well. This was hard, I adore my connections, but when we choose to seek a path that requires commitment and passion, sometimes sacrifices are needed. I am up for that. 

Looking ahead you will see a lot more of me here. 

I want to share my struggles and joys of getting a solo show ready and launched.

I want to share with I learn as I grow through the occupation of being a full time painter and teacher. 

I want to keep sharing my love of art journaling, the techniques that keep me tapped in, and share some videos with you all about process and freedom. 

In essence, sharing with you here has moved up on my priority list, and that excites me. 

I am on a journey...one of beautiful marks, courageous impact, and a heart filled with the belief that if I work hard enough, apply myself, and dream a little I can achieve what I set out to. I am deeply grateful that you have chosen to take the journey with me. 

Stay tuned, I am just getting started :) 

New Works From My Outdoor Studio

I am in the throes of summer and my outdoor studio is in full swing. Yes, I live in lower Alabama and YES, it is hot as Hades some days, but there are reasons that it is the best studio ever for me. 

First: I made a decision to paint BIG this summer and had no personal studio large enough to accommodate a 6' by 4' canvas. I could have said, "I just can't do it, I am not equipped." But I gave it a lot of though and figured if it was good enough for Van Gogh outdoors could be good enough for me...and I am determined to get this done. 

Second: My husband works on our property every day, creating an amazing place for us to live and retire by building a handmade house and I really wanted to spend as much time with him as I could on my summer break from teaching. 

Third: Nature is a huge force in my inspiration, and I get all I want here....including crickets, foxes, squirrels, birds, owls, dogs, horses, caterpillars, lizards, baby bird hatchlings, daddy long legs, and yes...the dreaded yellow flies. In fact, there is so much nature within inches of my work tables it is easy to get distracted just being mesmerized by it all. 

and lastly: 

I am a mess when I paint big. I sling paint, I drop things, spill things, and move through canvases quite often so this type of studio is perfect for me. As long as it isn't pouring, I am good to go! 

Here are a few snapshots of my set up! 

I have also set a few very specific goals this summer to begin laying the foundation to build a body of work for gallery representation on a national scale. It has been exhilarating and daunting, but worth every bit of sweat and work that I have given to date. When I considered what type of subject matter I wanted to focus on I really wanted to move to a softer, peaceful color palette with a thread of summer and coastal spirit intertwined. I also knew I wanted to make an impact with marks, step out of my comfort zone, and connect these pieces to my daily practice of writing and praying/meditating to begin each day. 

So far.... oh my word...what a journey! You can view these pieces and read their stories on my website: www.ardithgoodwin.com, they are located in my mixed media gallery. 

WORKS ON PAPER

"The Extinction of Fear" (sold)

"An Underlying Strength" 22" by 30" acrylic on paper

"A Walk Through Dulcinea" 22" by 30" acrylic on paper

"One Potato, Two Potato" 9" by 12" acrylic on paper

"Once Upon a Summer" 

(sold)

"The Determined Mind" 22" by 30" mixed media on paper

"Violet Loves to Swim" 12" by 16" acrylic on paper

"Cracking the Surface" 22" by 30" mixed media on paper

WORKS IN REALISM

"Bourbon Without a Twist" 8" by 10" acrylic on canvas

"Bourbon With an Ice Ball"

(sold)

WORKS ON CANVAS

"To Be Seen As Beautiful" 24" by 24" acrylic on canvas

Between the Spaces of Time and Place

24" by 24" acrylic on canvas

The Birth of Creative Energy

24" by 24" acrylic on canvas

Into the Heavens

(sold)

As I head into July there are more big changes on the horizon! Art(ology) will be adding two incredible new members and I will move into a half member position to alleviate my full time work load.  I will continue working towards building this body of work along with my "The Journal Speaks" series and I shall begin prepping my curriculum for the upcoming year. Mixed in with all of that will be slinging paint with a magical little one, reconnecting with friends and family, and the continued work on our retirement home. Being a full time artist is deeply rewarding, but at the same time, a bucket load of hard work. I am deeply grateful these days to be well enough to accomplish what I have and am looking forward to more growth on the horizon.