 LOL - not that break in the conversation that makes you feel nervous! I'm talking about that feeling of "I-don't-know-how-to-do-this" followed closely by "what will everyone think?" Feeling awkward. We all experience it and most of us hate it. But as I've been pursuing my art and expanding my skills, I'm starting to notice benefits and trends associated with awkward.
So I've been learning about landscapes from a really talented artist recently. He's an incredibly laid back, "let's experiment with this" kind of person. And he's not afraid of making mistakes. Looking awkward. It's very inspirational! I started to enjoy painting landscapes, even though I'm continuing to paint roses, desert flowers and cactus skeletons (I can't wait to show you my newest which is nearly done). I've added a couple of dreams that were set in landscapes. (You'll see one next month when I announce that it's showing at the Herberger). Anyways . . . I got this great idea to paint my favorite Arizona landscapes - red rock country. Sedona. Monument Valley. The Grand Canyon. Breathtaking scenes. Pretty exciting, right? What a disaster! My colors were so off. Pink? Red? Orange? How on earth do I capture the incredible colors I'm seeing? Awkward. I felt totally awkward. I was ready to give up and not admit I had even tried because it was so awkward.
Then I remembered that awkward is necessary for learning a new skill. I'm not letting awkward stand in my way.
I decided to spend some time in Sedona. I used color chips to hold up against cliffs, hiked a trail to see colors up close and took lots of photos with my husband's help. I've been mixing paints and choosing palettes (totally awkward - just being real). And I've actually been discovering some cool things and coming up with some new ideas. It's back to being exciting. I hope this inspires you to take a chance and learn a new skill that you've always wanted to learn. It's going to be awkward at first. Maybe for a while! But there's something exciting about learning something new. It's challenging. Maybe someone will mention that it looks awkward. Who cares! You'll get better at it and that same person might ask you to show them how you did it. It happens! What's that famous saying - "seize the day?" Sounds awkward to me. Don't let that stop you!
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Take a good look - you won't ever be seeing this owl again! |
 | Introducing my latest Arizona Burrowing Owl painting, destined for a new piece of Desert Trash art. I wanted to give you a chance to see this one before I cover him up with trash. (LOL - only small bits of him will be visible in the final creation). So why did I paint his whole body only to cover it up? I had a very philosophical Dad (that I miss discussing the obscure and hidden things of life with). It's his influence that stirs up curiosity in me, and in my art. I love knowing the science behind living things. I enjoy exploring the structural aspect, on a scientific level. These are beautiful hidden things to me. So I'm giving a wholeness to this owl even though he's not meant to be seen. It's a lot like how we are. There's a lot to us that's not shown publicly, but is an important part of who we are. It's good to acknowledge, on a regular basis, the structure or core of what makes our life important and remember it for our own wholeness, even though it might not be readily seen by others. |
"New Leaf" - 30"x80" on Exhibit at FOUND:RE Hotel Phoenix - visit my Event page for more info to visit.
I love the color of green. Maybe it's grown on me the longer I've lived in the desert.
Not that the Sonoran Desert doesn't have green! Sometimes we get enough rain in the winter to green it up to surprise all the snow-birds (our affectionate name for winter visitors). Even then, the green desert competes with the vivid pops of desert blossoms, the bright blue sky and the sometimes purple, sometimes terra cotta colors of the mountains.
I'm celebrating green today because one of my favorite paintings, "New Leaf" is on display at FOUND:RE Hotel in downtown Phoenix. (You can see it on the First Friday Art Walks). It was so encouraging to hear the feedback from people at the Opening Reception - "it's stunning" "love the way you've enlarged a familiar thing so we can explore it" "the green seems to be dancing" "how did you get the leaves to be so translucent" . . . It did my little artist heart good and made me happy!
I'm celebrating green today because one of my favorite paintings, "New Leaf" is on display at FOUND:RE Hotel in downtown Phoenix. (You can see it on the First Friday Art Walks). It was so encouraging to hear the feedback from people at the Opening Reception - "it's stunning" "love the way you've enlarged a familiar thing so we can explore it" "the green seems to be dancing" "how did you get the leaves to be so translucent" . . . It did my little artist heart good and made me happy!
 That's me at Iverson Trail on Camano Island, WA | I just came home from a place that is almost completely green. I loved it. Yah - it was a bit boring after a while. Nonetheless I soaked up as much as I could. A week's worth at least. I was really grateful to be able to travel to the Northwest Coast, to Camano Island, for an art workshop with an artist friend of mine. It was a blast. It was green. |
Funny thing. At this uber green workshop, I was experimenting with a new color palette - mixing and exploring colors for the Red Rocks of Arizona. Most of you know that landscapes aren't my thing. Of course, I'll always love and paint roses. And the burrowing owls on desert trash are so much fun!
But a new desire is bubbling up in my soul since we drove through Monument Valley in April. I've just gotta explore it!
Here are a couple of the exercises I played with in the workshop. I'm excited about exploring these amazing places though painting.
Let me know in the comments if you've been to any of the Red Rock places in Arizona - I'd love to hear about your experience!
But a new desire is bubbling up in my soul since we drove through Monument Valley in April. I've just gotta explore it!
Here are a couple of the exercises I played with in the workshop. I'm excited about exploring these amazing places though painting.
Let me know in the comments if you've been to any of the Red Rock places in Arizona - I'd love to hear about your experience!
 Monument Valley, AZ |  Sedona, AZ |
I've been pretty isolated this past year because of health issues. With lots of rest, there has also been much introspection with the slowing down, as well healing and renewed strength.
Now that my world is opening up again - artist receptions, live meetings, dinners out, friends over, swim parties, real coffee chats - I've been totally gobsmacked!*
Being a working artist requires a ton of solitude!
Did you all know that? So how did I make it this far being so uninformed. I guess that's why, when my life was so busy, my average time to complete a painting was measured in years. Now I'm applying to galleries that want to see 100s of my paintings. That requires a whole lot of time. Yah - I haven't had any mysterious creatures in the middle of the night paint for me!
I've had to embrace a new lifestyle of solitude. I'm thankful to be living my dream. Even if it involves a lot of being alone with my imagination. Putting in the hours in my studio. Causing me to miss out on the activities I used to be so busy with and the people who have been such a blessing in my life. It's been quite the awakening. But I'm willing to make the changes as I become aware of them.
I've heard it said, "Growing things change." I like that perspective. It's not that we intend to make life more complicated. It's just that sometimes we need to consider the changes we need to make to get where we want to go. Change is healthy and, though it's not always easy, it's a sign of life.
I'd love to hear about some of the change you're embracing in your life. You can click on the comments below.
*gobsmacked - utterly astonished; astounded (British). Ok. So I love Downton Abbey.
Now that my world is opening up again - artist receptions, live meetings, dinners out, friends over, swim parties, real coffee chats - I've been totally gobsmacked!*
Being a working artist requires a ton of solitude!
Did you all know that? So how did I make it this far being so uninformed. I guess that's why, when my life was so busy, my average time to complete a painting was measured in years. Now I'm applying to galleries that want to see 100s of my paintings. That requires a whole lot of time. Yah - I haven't had any mysterious creatures in the middle of the night paint for me!
I've had to embrace a new lifestyle of solitude. I'm thankful to be living my dream. Even if it involves a lot of being alone with my imagination. Putting in the hours in my studio. Causing me to miss out on the activities I used to be so busy with and the people who have been such a blessing in my life. It's been quite the awakening. But I'm willing to make the changes as I become aware of them.
I've heard it said, "Growing things change." I like that perspective. It's not that we intend to make life more complicated. It's just that sometimes we need to consider the changes we need to make to get where we want to go. Change is healthy and, though it's not always easy, it's a sign of life.
I'd love to hear about some of the change you're embracing in your life. You can click on the comments below.
*gobsmacked - utterly astonished; astounded (British). Ok. So I love Downton Abbey.
 | Running a small business this past year was completely new territory for me. And I know I'm not the only one! Whew - so glad it's almost over! Having “live” interaction taken away, my primary focus pivoted to nurturing and expanding my creativity. I was fortunate to be able to spend a lot of time painting - doing the thing I love to do. Creativity is so important to all of us, no matter how we apply it to our lives. My desire is that my art inspires you to be creative with what you love to do. Staying in touch with friends and family remotely was okay at first. Now I just want to be present with them. As I found out by spending so much time with my husband, relationships are so precious. I don't ever want to take mine for granted! Because of the unfamiliar challenges, I also found it was the perfect time for reflection and gratitude for all that I’ve been blessed with! So that's my story of surviving 2020. I hope that this coming year will be a wonderful one for you, as we all carefully emerge back into society; seeing what continues with only a bump in the road and what will be forever changed. |
COVID - In The Beginning We all want to avoid as many difficulties as we possibly can! As the world has seen this past month – there are hard things that just can’t be avoided.
When I began my journey of being “sheltered in,” I wasn’t in much of a mood to be painting. Uncertainty and fear had gone viral (yikes – bad pun???) I had just returned from an out of state trip that was fabulous but I had jet lag and was grumpy. Then the reality and seriousness started settling in and I knew I had a decision to make.
I knew I had to make a choice because COVID-19 isn’t the first crisis in my life. In fact, there’ve been many difficulties in my life, perhaps the biggest was being born with a brain tumor. As difficult as that tumor has made my life, I have benefited from it probably more than any other one thing I can think of.
I wouldn’t have the same compassion, inner strength, grit and enthusiasm for life if I hadn’t faced my own mortality and physical challenges at such a young age. I learned that I didn’t have a whole lot of control over life but I could decide to focus on things that are beautiful, grow in grace and faith, and recognize how important the people I love are to me.
The pandemic is nearly over. But I choose the good I can take away from this experience: like more faith, hope, love, appreciation for what I have and maybe an extra pack of TP in the closet.
So that’s the short story version of my “COVID Shelter In” painting. It started out to be another beautiful flower I love painting. It turned into an emotional project for me to process my fears and grumpiness.
Then I remembered how beautiful the other side of a difficulty can become.
When I began my journey of being “sheltered in,” I wasn’t in much of a mood to be painting. Uncertainty and fear had gone viral (yikes – bad pun???) I had just returned from an out of state trip that was fabulous but I had jet lag and was grumpy. Then the reality and seriousness started settling in and I knew I had a decision to make.
I knew I had to make a choice because COVID-19 isn’t the first crisis in my life. In fact, there’ve been many difficulties in my life, perhaps the biggest was being born with a brain tumor. As difficult as that tumor has made my life, I have benefited from it probably more than any other one thing I can think of.
I wouldn’t have the same compassion, inner strength, grit and enthusiasm for life if I hadn’t faced my own mortality and physical challenges at such a young age. I learned that I didn’t have a whole lot of control over life but I could decide to focus on things that are beautiful, grow in grace and faith, and recognize how important the people I love are to me.
The pandemic is nearly over. But I choose the good I can take away from this experience: like more faith, hope, love, appreciation for what I have and maybe an extra pack of TP in the closet.
So that’s the short story version of my “COVID Shelter In” painting. It started out to be another beautiful flower I love painting. It turned into an emotional project for me to process my fears and grumpiness.
Then I remembered how beautiful the other side of a difficulty can become.
 "Rushing Waters" by Becca Farmer | What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows. No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass. No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night. No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance. No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began. A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. |
"Blue Heron" by Becca Farmer
Isn't it true that some of the best things in life are all around us and we see them so much that we end up taking them for granted. Especially when we're pressed for time or our thoughts are consumed with worry or stress.
It's so important to have times that you intentionally slow down and notice the good things that surround you. You'll live more inspired and your life will be richer if you do!
It's so important to have times that you intentionally slow down and notice the good things that surround you. You'll live more inspired and your life will be richer if you do!
"If you aren't seeing anything inspiring, you're walking too fast." - Aeron Brown
I've people ask me if I could teach them how to paint.
My first response was to search for materials on things I learned in art classes. But isn't that kind of stuff readily available online?
Then I realized that its the basic study of drawing that guides my work. It’s not that I draw perfectly but instead that drawing has helped me to see the world differently. Any venture into painting is all about seeing.
Seeing as an artist is about becoming aware of what you actually see with your eyes rather than what you expect something to look like.
From a scientific point of view, our eyes use a multitude of tricks and gimmicks in order to produce a vision that our brain can understand. The role of an artist is to deconstruct what we see in order to get to the mechanics and details of how we see something, then transfer that to whatever medium or style we like. Since we are all individuals, the product of our seeing will be as diverse as the number of artists in the world. Which means a whole lot!
That reminds me of a wise saying: "Don't try to be someone else – they're already taken."
My first response was to search for materials on things I learned in art classes. But isn't that kind of stuff readily available online?
Then I realized that its the basic study of drawing that guides my work. It’s not that I draw perfectly but instead that drawing has helped me to see the world differently. Any venture into painting is all about seeing.
Seeing as an artist is about becoming aware of what you actually see with your eyes rather than what you expect something to look like.
From a scientific point of view, our eyes use a multitude of tricks and gimmicks in order to produce a vision that our brain can understand. The role of an artist is to deconstruct what we see in order to get to the mechanics and details of how we see something, then transfer that to whatever medium or style we like. Since we are all individuals, the product of our seeing will be as diverse as the number of artists in the world. Which means a whole lot!
That reminds me of a wise saying: "Don't try to be someone else – they're already taken."
This intentional way of seeing is something that can be learned. That's where drawing becomes such an important foundation for any artist. Challenging yourself to look deeply at a subject and attempt to reproduce it on to a 2-D surface, requires careful looking – without preconceptions or whether it makes sense to your brain or not. Well, maybe especially if it doesn't make sense to your brain! (Remember all those tricks and gimmicks!)
Can I suggest a great way to start drawing? Use your eyes to find shapes of color, shades of color, where light is touching and where shadows are falling. As you see these things, try your best to copy them. Not how you think it should look, but just what you see. One of the best tools to begin seeing this way is with a sketchbook that you use daily.
Drawing is always an important part of my painting process. Abstract artists usually have the ability to draw. Even a friend of mine that creates fine art sculptural baskets will draw sketches of his ideas. As you practice and practice this kind of focused observation and recording, you will begin to see like an artist. As awkward as it might seem at first, your brain will slowly start letting your eyes take over. With regular practice, you will begin to notice that you are seeing things differently. It's like discovering a whole new world!
I can't think of a better foundation and starting point for learning how to paint than drawing.
And the best news – you don't have to know how to draw a straight line! (Really? Where did that excuse come from anyways!?!?!)
If you have more thoughts on seeing like an artist, I would love to hear your comments below!
Can I suggest a great way to start drawing? Use your eyes to find shapes of color, shades of color, where light is touching and where shadows are falling. As you see these things, try your best to copy them. Not how you think it should look, but just what you see. One of the best tools to begin seeing this way is with a sketchbook that you use daily.
Drawing is always an important part of my painting process. Abstract artists usually have the ability to draw. Even a friend of mine that creates fine art sculptural baskets will draw sketches of his ideas. As you practice and practice this kind of focused observation and recording, you will begin to see like an artist. As awkward as it might seem at first, your brain will slowly start letting your eyes take over. With regular practice, you will begin to notice that you are seeing things differently. It's like discovering a whole new world!
I can't think of a better foundation and starting point for learning how to paint than drawing.
And the best news – you don't have to know how to draw a straight line! (Really? Where did that excuse come from anyways!?!?!)
If you have more thoughts on seeing like an artist, I would love to hear your comments below!
 | A recent health study out of Japan has coined the phrase "forest bathing" to describe how natural environments improve our health; by lowering stress, improving brain function and helping humans feel more alive. Yah – I knew that! I literally crave getting outdoors. My garden satisfies most days, puttering around and watching things grow. But there comes a time when wandering through a forest, dragging my feet through the sand at a beach, or stomping around in the desert becomes LIFE ESSENTIAL! |
We just came home from a trip like that. My husband and I found a “new-to-us” redwood old growth forest far off the beaten path – Montgomery Woods State Reserve in Northern California. I thought we would never get there on that zig-zagging barely paved road. But it was well worth the drive! Some of the tallest trees in the whole world are in this reserve.
Standing in a grove with these ancient giants was breathtaking and exhilarating. It was only about a 2 mile hike – just enough to immerse in the forest without taking all day.
I love the atmosphere of old growth forests and this place was thick with it. Sound is muffled by a rich carpet of ferns and sweet smelling mulch. Everywhere you look are fallen trees, branches and stumps that are quite literally using their misfortune and decay to breed a new tree, as only redwoods can do. I felt a strong sense of ancient majesty as I looked up into the canopy overhead, trying to glimpse the tops of some of the smaller trees.
Like a small rural community, every creature seems to know each other’s business and seems quite excited to be the first to announce our presence. I find that it’s the perfect balance between serenity and a thriving environment teaming with wildlife and lush foliage.
I love the atmosphere of old growth forests and this place was thick with it. Sound is muffled by a rich carpet of ferns and sweet smelling mulch. Everywhere you look are fallen trees, branches and stumps that are quite literally using their misfortune and decay to breed a new tree, as only redwoods can do. I felt a strong sense of ancient majesty as I looked up into the canopy overhead, trying to glimpse the tops of some of the smaller trees.
Like a small rural community, every creature seems to know each other’s business and seems quite excited to be the first to announce our presence. I find that it’s the perfect balance between serenity and a thriving environment teaming with wildlife and lush foliage.
| For me, these kinds of encounters with nature provide a sacred opportunity to reflect on the flow of life, my place in the world and the priorities I choose to pursue in order to live life to the fullest. Even remembering being there brings a big smile to my soul. Do you have a favorite place to go for "forest bathing"? I’d love to hear about it in the comment section below. |  |
Author
Hi! I'm Becca Farmer and I'm a fine art painter.
My passion is to create striking encounters of beauty that ignite wonder, and awaken imagination.
Welcome to my blog!
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