Day 79, 100 Happy Days: A Job Well Done

Painty fingers. This after washing them once.

I had a very satisfying class tonight. Ten people, most of whom had never painted showed up to paint water lilies.

They were open to learning and exploring the paint - they had "beginner's minds", which is really a wonderful thing. 

A couple of women came in stressed out and left blissed out (that always makes me happy). Everyone really seem to enjoy themselves and liked their paintings.

But the best part was when someone said thank you for helping me see that I can paint. As odd as this may sound; I think that's one of the best compliments that I can get as a teacher. Because I teach much less than I guide. I do believe that we are all born artists, but that we forget. My job is to help people remember. So, when they do remember I have done a good job.

And that makes me happy. :)

Day 66, 100 Happy Days: Back to Business in Fresh New Studio

Me in front of one of my more recent paintings (still in progress).

Today was First Friday set-up day. Artists came and hung their work while I tore down my studio, and rearranged things. It was nice to get back to First Friday after a month long break. I've been doing First Fridays every month since June 2009, I believe. That is a lot of art openings!

Also, exciting to people hanging work in my freshly painted and slightly made-over studio.

It's looking great in there!

Day 43, 100 Happy Days: Kicking Booty and Taking Names

Yet to be titled new painting for a class.

Busy busy business!

New session of The Artist's Way starts on Sunday, and it's going to be a good sized class. I'm very happy about that! More people make for more discussions, shared experiences, and opportunities to learn and grow.

Also, I have two very big Painting Soiree classes (private parties) coming up in the next few weeks - it looks like there will be 20 people in both - oh and a potential third with 20 people.

I'm kicking booty and taking names!

Day 42, 100 Happy Days: Living Life Fully

"Elemental Bass" Oil on Canvas ©Tabetha Hastings

So... this is one of those days where I'm not exactly at liberty to say precisely what made me the most happy.  (In case you haven't noticed, I like to say a lot here without revealing too much).

I could write about some other things that made me happy today, but they're all things that make me happy so often that I'm sure you, dear reader, are tired of hearing about them (painting, Paint Club, etc).

Instead I'll just say that I feel like I am living my life fully, and that makes me so happy! Had you asked me at other times in my life if I were living my life fully, I might have said yes. But at this moment in my life, it feels really full - in a great way. And, of course, it can always get fuller. I don't believe there is a capacity limit to how full one's life can be lived. The only limits are time and energy.

ps - In looking for a picture for this blog post, I was reminded of another time in my life were I was living my life to the absolute max. I was just post-divorce and happier than I'd been in my life.
The painting pictured above was created during that time, and it screams wild, fun energy to me. And a live lived fully.

Day 37, 100 Happy Days: Dreaming Up New Classes and Other Studio Stuff

This is what we'll paint in the first oil Painting Soiree!

It was another great studio day, and today I got to paint with a good friend. Also, two people I didn't know - other artists - stopped by my studio and we had a nice discussion about art.

And someone else stopped by asking for a private lesson on the nuts and bolts of painting - she wants to know how she can assure that she is selling a quality painting to her customers - quality materials. This may just lead to another class. How exciting!

Today I tried my hand at a Robert Henri painting: The West Coast of Ireland. I saw it in a book recently and fell in love with it. The way the hills blend into the sky just makes me crazy. I had a good time experimenting with different brushstrokes to try to see how he captured that beautiful stormy sky.

And after today's adventure in painting, I've decided that I CAN do a Painting Soiree in oils after all! I've been thinking I couldn't do it without painting like Bob Ross, but I found a way. It just takes the right painting. I'm imagining that a lot of my current students who are curious about oils will sign up to check it out. How exciting to be able to introduce people to beauty and wonder that is oil painting!

Day 37 Bonuses: 
The weather (high of 58 degrees!), the incredible sunset (and that I live in a place where I can experience both those things), help from friends in the form of a much needed dry erase board, and an unexpected dinner and visit with a friend. 

Sunset from my studio window. I LOVE that if you look closely you can see one of my sunrise paintings reflected in the glass. (Right above the Grease Monkey sign.)

Day 34, 100 Happy Days: Back in the Studio!

New Painting Soiree painting!

Just when I was starting to have a really solid studio practice, the holidays came and along with them, multiple pet sitting jobs. Depending on the pet I'm sitting, I may or may not be able to break away for a bit to paint, but never for more than a few hours. To make matters worse, that terrible cold snap came, making it easier to stay put, snuggling up with a warm dog and a TV or fire.

So today, after a two-week absence, I ventured into my neglected studio for a lovely snowy day of painting. It was good to get back! And I came up with a new painting to teach.

Day 34 Bonus #1: A happy fortune... "Happiness will bring you luck" Yes, let's hope so!

Day 34 Bonus #2: Windshield wipers! Thanks to the joint effort of two friends (one who diagnosed the problem via Facebook, and one who fixed the problem in person), I now have two working windshield wipers. Which is handy in this weather...

Day 19, 100 Happy Days: Kids Painting Class

Today I taught a class full of kids.
My classes are usually for adults, although every once in awhile a kiddo or two will show up. But this? This was eighteen kiddos! A whole different ballgame. They were ages 8-13, and they were awesome!

Kids are really fun to teach. I love how free they are with the paint, and how willing they are to do their own thing. They look at the original painting, take my instruction, and then unabashedly put their own spin on it. Very cool.

They try new things, take risks, and aren't afraid to shake it up. We could all learn something from them.

Watching these kids go definitely made me happy today.

"All children are born artists, the problem is to remain an artist as we grow up.” – Pablo Picasso

Day 16, 100 Happy Days: Being Present Through Painting

"Sunrise at Libby's" (In progress)

One of the things that I love about painting is that it can bring me directly to the present moment. All attention is on the painting in front of me, and the rest of the world melts away. I find the rhythm of the music, and somehow it feels that it's synced up with the paintbrush.

I've found my groove.

However, I can't get to that place when I'm teaching a class, or when other people are around (with the exception of a very few people with whom I've been painting for years). If I'm not painting much, or during times of high stress, it can take me hours to find my groove. I'm happy to say that with my daily practice I'm finding that place nearly immediately.

Bliss.

And actually, I would say that painting is very similar to meditation. It's like an active meditation. If you're stressed or out of practice, it can take a while to quiet your mind. But with daily practice you can get there quickly.

Again, bliss.

Tonight's music was courtesy of Eric Dolphy and Herbie Hancock. Very nice indeed. Here's Herbie...

Day 10, 100 Happy Days: My Studio Practice

Yesterday I decided to recommit to my art. I have to do this from time to time, as the business of art, and teaching, and making a living get in the way of my real work: painting.

So, I've decided to strengthen my studio practice. (Alright, let's be real; I decided to have a studio practice.) Every day that I don't have to be at my studio to teach (or for some other reason), I'm going in to paint. This is day two. So far so good. Amazing, actually.

As if to confirm my decision, I just had a conversation with another artist whose boyfriend is a successful artist in NYC.
Making a living from your art is difficult enough, but to do it New York? Well, that's a dream. So, today's happy came from knowing that someone is doing it. And from feeling like I got a nod from the universe. I'm on the right track. Keep moving, keep painting.

Day 10 Bonus Happy: I found ten bucks in an old pair of jeans. Woo-hoo!!

Haiku Day 30: The Final Haiku

sayonara june

this is the final haiku

it was a good month

 

oil on canvas ©Tabetha Hastings

Haiku Day 31: Sleep Deprivation

perspective is skewed

 everything seems to be dire

without enough sleep

City Dwellers oil on canvas ©Tabetha Hastings

Haiku Day 30: Happy Day

smiling and sleepy

good evening behind me

movie dinner art

 

"Brother Ray 2" ©Tabetha Hastings

 

Haiku Day 29: Life is a Cha-Cha

one two cha cha cha

two steps forward one step back

still forward movement

"Stop Making Sense" oil on canvas ©Tabetha Hastings

Haiku Day 28: Renew

now a brand new day

awoke with fresh perspective

renewed commitment to art

"Bonsai" detail (in progress) oil on canvas ©Tabetha Hastings

Haiku Day 26: No Rain Tonight

botanic gardens

music under cloudy skies

glad there was no rain

"Geoscape" Oil on Canvas ©Tabetha Hastings

Haiku Day 25: A Very Long Cat Nap

a bit overwhelmed

laid down for a cat nap

two hours of sleep

Evening Sky ©Tabetha Hastings

Haiku Day 23: Satisfaction

Satisfied by art,

good food and good company.
Sleep easy tonight.

"The Leading Edge" ©Tabetha Hastings

Haiku Day 22: Sounds To Sleep By

outside a fountain

sounds like a bubbling brook

lulling me to sleep

"Aerial" Pencil on Paper Tabetha Hastings

Haiku Day 21: Painting Out-of-Doors

bright hues on canvas

sunshine browning my shoulders

blissful day of art

"Biosphere" oil on canvas ©Tabetha Hastings

Haiku Challenge

Haiku with me! I'm challenging myself to write a haiku (or two) each day for 32 days.
Please feel free to post a haiku below, or to my Facebook page.

Haiku Day 20: Beautiful Solitude

wild wind through tall trees

traffic from a distant road

solitude again

"Wash Away The Pain" acrylic on canvas 16"x20" ©Tabetha Hastings