Letting go of expectations

Yesterday I spent some time drawing faces again. I drew three. The reason why I wanted to share them with you is because I learned something. I learned to let go of an "perfectionistic expectation" so that I could move forward without frustration. I am pretty sure I just made up that word perfectionistic but it sounded good to me! Anyways - here is the painting that I was looking at. A portrait of a young boy by Elizabeth Vigee LeBrun. There are many other names that she goes by on the net but I will share this one. Normally I don't like to share my art work if it doesn't turn out the way I wanted or if it doesn't look exactly like what I used as a reference. But in this case its exactly why I am sharing. My drawing did not turn out perfect. 

I tried to copy the boys face and this is what I ended up with. Looks nothing like him! Looks more like Ellen. But it doesn't even matter to me anymore. It doesn't matter because I "need" and "desire" to learn how to draw faces more than I need to be perfect right now. Normally I "need" to be perfect. The teachers will always tell you "Take it easy, this isn't your masterpiece . Yeah whatever I thought. It was always my masterpiece! But now I understand that saying. I get it now. Its not my masterpiece. I am working up to it. One day I will have a master piece that I will be known for! :) I am learning patients still after 38 years. :) I can do this. And I will.  Right after I drew that one - I drew this girl - to your right. I was so happy! I didn't have a recourse. I just drew her. But if you go back and look at the previous ones a couple of days before - it is a big difference. I actually sat there and became over whelmed with my joy. I have been trying off and on but never actually felt like I could do it because I held on to "being perfect". Now I feel a huge weight off my shoulders as my drawings get better and better! I think this girl kinda looks like the girl from the painting by Botticelli (One of my favorite old masters) The birth of Venus. Maybe as a little girl?? Or is it just me? It could just be me! (laughing) It happens often! 
Either way I had such a great time with these drawings that I went ahead and decided to try my hand at a Leonardo drawing. It did not turn out like his drawing but I wasn't really trying all that hard either way! So I don't mind it. I didn't like the drawing the way it came out so I decided to take out some pan pastels and see if I could make it worse. 

And honestly I don't think I made it worse at all. I think I enhanced it. Today I am going at it again. I am going to get it and then I am going to start a painting. After my painting I am going to compare it to the last portrait that I did and you are going to see it too! I am excited. Its so much fun letting go and just allowing myself to learn finally! 
We are doing an art challenge in The Troubled Artist called Pick Your Master. You can go in and pick from any art master that you can think of challenge yourself to draw their painting or drawing. It is pretty much of the face however. So...  Either way it could be fun! Never know till you try.

XOXOXOX - Frankie 


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Don't be scared to be yourself.

I was reading a little bit this morning and I wanted to share with you - Creativity....  "The true gold behind it is that it breaks down all walls & dissolves fear. " Francisco Garcia. 

©Frankie Stockman

Sometimes I think that people are stuck in the belief that "to be creative" means you have to be an artist. I don't think that is what being creative is. There is no specific group of people that carry that  label. If you don't feel like you can or want to craft, draw, sculpt, play the guitar or even sew clothes - there are many other ways you can bring out your creative side. For example:  I have a cousin who swears swears swears she doesn't have a creative bone in her body. One day I was at her house and she was getting ready for the day. She gets out of the shower - with her towel on her head to keep her wet hair out of her face - and starts putting down all these different brushes and colors of makeup. She looks at her face - then looks down at her makeup - thinks for a second - then begins.  You would think with that much makeup she would look like a clown. I just watched in amazement  as she put herself together. I really did feel like I was watching someone paint a picture. It was wonderful to watch! She does such a great job! But she doesn't think she is creative at all. She doesn't recognize her talents. She doesn't think she is worth much.  I read this list of what "creative people" are like - 

David’s List of Behaviors that Lead to Being More Creative

"I came up with a list of traits some time ago that seem to be common among the creative people I knew. Take a look at my list below. Highlight those that seem to apply to you, and consider those that do not. Note those that you might want to incorporate yourself. The list is in no particular order, so go and explore. Just reading them over may prove instructive, for these are the characteristics I feel that leads to being  more creative."

• Creative people love putting things together .

• Creative people are curious,

Creative people are different,

Creative people are playful and childlike.

• Creative people love to put things together--

• Creative people do not play by the rules.

• Creative people want to keep inventing,

• Creative people are adventurous.

• Creative people have trouble being accurate,

• Creative people are spontaneous.

• Creative people are funny,

• Creative people are independent. 

• Creative people are sensitive

• Creative people are enthusiastic,

• Creative people are bold,

• Creative people see things

• Creative people take action.

• Creative people push beyond,

• Creative people are constantly stretching,

• Creative people are driven;

• Creative people are not content with the obvious,

 • Creative people know when to let go

• Creative people are impatient.

• Creative people don't mind being lost. 

• Creativity requires faith,

• Creativity requires courage and willpower

• Creativity requires the ability to concentration,

• A word of warning. Creative People can be a Pain in the you know where . . .

• Creative people can be inconsiderate

• Creative people are unpredictable,

• Creative people are usually late

• Creative people are irrational,

• Creative people may appear irreverent,

• Creative people may appear absent minded

If you would like to read the entire article please go to: The Creative Personality

Now that you have read the list of what its like to be a creative person - why would you want to ignore that in yourself.  I read all the time that we should keep the arts programs in the schools because we need to teach our children to appreciate art. That is not why we need to keep it in school. We need to keep it in school so that the children learn at a young age that they can appreciate themselves. There are so many ways to be creative. Writing (blogging) organizing (events etc), taking pictures, decorating, cooking, teaching kids (takes a lot of creativity!)  Please - pick one! Or two. I have a few! And one thing you will never hear me say is "get your creative juices flowing" EW! GROSS! ;)  Just think about where your creative side is... and find yourself! :)  XOXO - Frankie  If you enjoyed reading this then please take a second to click the G+ button on the bottom! THANK YOU!  First Time Orders FREE SHIPPING WITH CODE - FIRSTREP at checkout! Frankie's Avon Page
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For the love of MEMES!

I just wanted to share some of the cute memes I have collected.. 

I hope at least one of them made you smile!

XOXOXO

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Learning how to draw a face!

I was thinking this week about how I want to be able to draw just anyone at any time. I can't sit down and draw a face off the top of my head nor by looking at them. I have to get out the T-square and make the graphs etc. I know there is nothing wrong with all that but I want to better my skills. SO - this weekend I was working on that. I still am but this is what I have without the graphs - The first photo is the first face I drew. Second photo .. the little one in the middle is the second face I drew. Then the third was the guy with the mustache (my favorite because he is funny) and then fourth is the one next to the first girl I drew (hope thats not confusing) And last but not least is the third photo. My son drew the very last one. He is 7. He did a very nice job I think. He just followed along with me as I drew..  I also tried to come up with a little formula for drawing lips. It may not work for everyone - but I think its a very nice little start...    

So this is my little chart that I made for myself and then after words I dressed them up a little as I felt I needed. And I do believe it works out! I like the way they come out. :)

I need to do more! I want to keep drawing them until I am happy with what I have! XOXO I will share more as I draw more! 

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Complimentary Painting

Hi Everyone. I trust you had a nice weekend. I had a pretty nice weekend. I have been thinking about a lot of things. I think I want to write a children's book. I think about it all the time infact but never really know what I want to write about. Now I think I am ready. I just need to start putting it down on paper. Also I am not really good with illustrations. I want to do my own of course but not sure how or where to start. Maybe I should just write the book first then worry about the art work later? I think that is better... 
I turned in my project for the facebook art group that I belong to (The Troubled Artist) today. We did a complimentary color project. Mine was in the form of an oil painting. It was fun. We kept it simple. I can't wait to see all the other and their projects. :) 
Now I am going to finish my little baby hat and gloves that I am crocheting. My very good friend just had a new grand baby! 



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Magic of Rahat. Funniest Video I have seen in a while.

I love this video. I saw this this morning for the first time and I could not stop laughing. The second girl made me laugh so hard. That is most likely how I would have responded. "Oh my gosh.. I can't".. ahahah.. I laughed when she said that because I knew what she was going through... And the boy who does a triple take.. I love it.. :) 
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Art Challenge with The Troubled Artist

I don't know if you knew it or not but I have a group on facebook called "The Troubled Artist". I like to call my blog that too now if you have not noticed :) I also call my little paper that. Either way I have had the group for a couple of years. Facebook changed a lot of stuff on me and I lost all my members. I had over 300! Now I have 10? Either way I like the fresh start. Us members are going to start a little challenge this week. I have been thinking about it and I think we are going to paint one object and we have to use complimentary colors. For example - if you are going to paint or build something red then you have to use green for the shadows.. etc.. or just use green for the background or whatever it is you are making.  Whatever makes you happy! Does this sound like something you might be interested in working on with us? If it does then please come on over to Facebook and sign up for The Troubled Artist
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Why I keep a list of paintings I have seen.

I have this list on paper that I made the last time I went to the Philbrook Art Museum. The museum had a group of paintings from the "Speed Art Museum". Photo from the Tulsa World. (I went to see them 3 times). Oh it was so wonderful. However I am still very much in love with the British collection of Victorian Era paintings. Some of them made me cry! Anyways - I need to get to the point of this post. :) The reason I made this list last year was so that I could return to these paintings again and again. I can't do it in person but I can on the net! I want to return to them because my perspective on things are always changing. So I might have not liked some of the paintings that I saw then - but may very much love them now. I have learned that in time that I can never put a belief or a thought in stone because I always end up changing it in some way or another. Experience has a tendency to do that to a person! :) So I took out my list last night and I dedicated a board to this list! This way I can keep them all in a group and keep going back when I need to. If you are interested in following this board and my list please go to Paintings I have seen. I only have a couple so far but I will grow as I find them. Some are not easy to find. I may need help sometimes. :) That painting of the woman that you see in the photo - HUGE! I loved sticking my nose as close to it as possible to see where all the brush strokes were! :):):) XOXOXO Frankie
PS I have another board that is for UNFINISHED works of art.. They are not mine - but very important for those of us who are trying to teach ourselves or who just want to see what goes into painting. 

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Pinterest.. How do I love thee?

I was looking around the net lastnight. I am so addicted to pintrest!! I spent like two or three hours on it lastnight. I just "love" to look at things. :):) Anyways - here is my account if you want to see what I like to pin - Frankie's Pinterest  Fair warning though... When I pin.. I PIN! haha.. ;) Anyways... I found this really cute little app for my blog today. You can put together puzzles. I am addicted to it because they have a timer! UGG. Why. I just wanted to put them together for fun then I saw that timer and now - I am in a race to be above average! When does it end? I am going to post the puzzle game to the side of the blog so that you can play too. So how is everyone? My babes are still on vacation. We are building a doll house with the girls. Its really cute. They are loving it. I am hoping it will keep them out of mine! :) I wanted to check in and tell you all hi and hope you are doing well. HAPPY NEW YEAR three days later. :) Its still pretty new so I think I am safe. :)  First Time Orders FREE SHIPPING WITH CODE - FIRSTREP at checkout! Frankie's Avon Page
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