An Apple A Day
Practicing layering watercolor in my daily journal.
Don’t Overthink diets and art-making
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Remember that saying? I’ve been talking about “letting go” in Autumn in order to embrace new growth. But what’s up about “embracing”? Well, it’s time to look at my weight gain that has steadily risen since menopause. So exercise and healthy eating is on the list. Lower that sugar and carbs, like so many! I’ve been noticing that simplifying things with my diet as well as my art-making is not easy, but it’s, well, simple. Less food in the mouth, more movement of the body. Less distractions, more painting. Sometimes we overthink and underdo.. thus I look to the simple apple.
It’s never too late to let go of distractions
and embrace simple changes.
Tomotoes painted in gouache on paper. A salad a day...
What I find is… to change my actions and habits I have to also let go of negative thinking and reframe my thoughts. So the process of change is simple but not necessarily easy. Just like painting!
Here’s some recent simple examples of change from my life.
1. I started a drawing course that began with drawing jars and pens and quickly quit. Went home and painted flowers and apples. Joined a fun watercolor class in the botanical garden. It’s important to begin new things but when you’re older in life you may not want to spend all your time drawing jars and pens it makes sense to quit and move on to what you love. Draw what moves you-apples, flowers, landscapes, animals, portraits…
2. I was asked to dog sit right after I just announced I’m suspending pet sitting to spend more time on art, art business, and socializing. I started texting yes (thinking I should do it) and then deleted it, saying I’m all booked for the year. Then I rummaged through my closet choosing favorite watercolors to take to a local printer so I can have them available for local sales. Time is what we have. It is limited. How we choose to use it, is the thing. Being busy is not the same as have a full life.
3. I’ve let go (bit by bit) lowering or eliminating types of foods: red meats, greasy foods, deserts and embraced daily proportions of salad, nuts, protein, and fruit. I don’t eat an apple a day. But it’s definitely a salad a day.
And like my simplifying food, if I go back to basics with painting I grow.
… mixing colors, looking for shapes, seeing shadow & light, playing with lines…the simple parts to pay attention… then I let go of all the distractions of sales, performance, perfection, expectations and
the resulting simplicity helps growth.
