There’s a fine line between remaining flexible along the path to your goal and being sidetracked due to a lack of focus.  I’m choosing to consider this effort as an exercise in flexibility as it contributes to my greater goal of continued growth as a painter. That’s a very general goal, so it’s hard to consider any painting activity as not contributing to it.  (I’m the queen of rationalization.)  The more specific and immediate goals are to create paintings for juried competitions, and also to continue with the abstract tree series in order to be ready for my solo show.

Deciding to paint Shannon was an easy distraction though – she’s beautiful, and I needed a gift for her loving walker/sitter (I call her Shannon’s nanny!).  She’s a minimalist, and lives an uncluttered life (aren’t you envious?!), so I could think of nothing better as a Christmas gift than a painting of a beloved pooch!

Let’s hope the next post provides progress towards one of my immediate goals, or I will have to admit to a slight problem with focus.  (Me?  Lose focus?  Never!  I’m absolutely certain there is an excellent reason for painting cartoon lambs and giraffes when the deadline for the juried competition I want to enter is tomorrow…)

Anyone have any suggestions for staying creatively on track?  I’d love to hear them!