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Saturday, June 18, 2016

The First Thing to Do After a Painting Trip


'Summer in Iceland'         8x10        pastel        ©Karen Margulis
available $150

I have a routine now. When I return home from a painting trip there is a certain order in the way I do things to get myself back into my daily routine. The very first thing I do is empty my suitcase and throw in the laundry. Once that is done I take out my paintings. I spread them out on my studio table. Everything else can wait. Phone calls, bills, shopping, errands....all have to wait.

I look at the work I did on the trip. I take photos of each painting before I decide what to do with them. Some may be framed. Some will be filed away. Some will be left out to inspire studio paintings. It is important to do this while the memories and feelings from the trip are still fresh. Before reentering the busy rhythms of daily life it helps to savor the magic of the trip through the paintings.  This allows me time to slowly acclimate to my usual routine and take inventory of what I experienced and painted.

It is all too easy to get caught up in everyday life. Taking time to reflect is a gift I give myself.

Creating a collage of the paintings done on a trip is a fun way to review your whole body of work. I like to use the collage maker at www.Picmonkey.com  It is free and easy to use. Below are collages of the paintings I did while in Iceland. Many will be available for sale so let me know if you see one that interests you.



1 comment:

robertsloan2art said...

This one is even better than the trees, something about those lupines is tremendous! You bring so much color into a gray and stark place, every time I look at Iceland photos I feel the chill. When I look at your paintings it's as if you've captured its spirit. The wild clouds and harsh rocky cliffs come alive.