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Thursday, January 03, 2013

Memories of Kindergarten From the Messy Studio


 It's always hard to get out to the studio when the whole family is on vacation--somehow it just feels wrong to leave the house and walk down the hill when everyone is here. However--this vacation I've been trying to run out and paint for a half an hour or so, a couple of times a day. I've even been out in the studio at night, which I love, but rarely do.

I'm working on about ten paintings on watercolor paper, which I tape down to pieces of cardboard. I can stand them up to dry and work on them simultaneously, which is great with these intuitive paintings--a layer can dry on canvas A while I work on canvas B and C and D and so on...

I cannot emphasize how much fun I'm having! It occurred to me last night that this is how I felt when I painted in Mrs. Coquillard's kindergarten class back in  nineteen-mumble-mumble. 

My kindergarten was a half-day kindergarten, but we still had naptime, which I hated. I was not a 'lie down and rest' kind of kid, but I was a 'do what the teacher says' kind of kid, so I laid on my little multicolored rug when I was supposed to, like a good girl. BUT--and this is the good part--we took turns, and during naptime every day, two lucky kids got to put on the big painting shirts and paint at the easel while everyone else rested. I adored painting at the easel. The tempera paint had a wonderful smell (that to this day makes me feel like 'no nap today!') and a thick consistency that really covered the paper. Mrs. Coquillard let us paint whatever and however we wanted to, which I loved--I loved everything about painting, even then...

And that kind of painting--that being in the zone, just mindlessly painting and moving the paint around and not worrying about what the end product is--I love that. I plug my iphone into my little speakers and play my studio playlist and dance and sing and paint. 

Life does not get any better than this. Seriously.

27 comments:

Marji said...

Yes, the smell of tempera paints brings back fond memories! It is fun to park all thoughts outside of the studio door door and just create. Lovely! Happy PPF

Debbie said...

I wish my elementary teachers would have let us do that. Lucky you! I love how you've rediscovered a childlike joy in your painting through this process. That's how I feel most of the time now, and I love it!

peggy gatto said...

Awesome color!!!!!

A'n'G Johnson said...

the colors are beautiful and your inner child sounds so pleased with the process!

Helen Campbell said...

Oh wonderful! I love the bright colors and the joy it radiates. You are sharing your happiness through your painting. Well done!

Giggles said...

Love the results of your playtime. It's wonderful to be able to enjoy those good old memories.

Hugs Giggles

Lynn Cohen said...

I love going back to kindergarten with you! What a wonderful memory, what a wonderful teacher. You were resting in the zone of painting!
I love what you are doing Karen ... So happy you make studio time happen! HPPF!

Tracey FK said...

I was back there with you in nineteen mumble mumble... great year!!! and to this day I love tempera paints... nice that it translates and replicates experiences all the way to Australia!!!

Anne Manda said...

Sounds like you are having a great time, that's awesome! I suppose that is the right way to paint! :) Beautiful painting, love the red! HPPF!

Netty said...

oooh your playtime sounds wonderful it so makes me wish I had a studio space.......aaaah maybe one day.... Loving the fab results with all its vibrant and happy colours. Happy PPF, Annette x

Ivy said...

Beautiful colors! Happy PPF!

HeARTworks said...

You are so blessed to have found your joy!!! Happy new year! Patsy from
HeARTworks

K J D said...

What gorgeous colours!

It is difficult to make time for yourself when everyone is home - I'm glad you managed!

Loved your kindergarten story :)

Karen x

JKW said...

OMGosh you sure brought back kindergarten memories for me. I hated nap time because we had to put up cots (wood based) and it was so hard for me to do because I was so tiny (a life saving operation fixed that situation but at the time it was horridly difficult for me to manage). It was jr. high when I finally had an art teacher that was magnificent. Good for you, happy happy happy 2013 doing what you love. Blessings, Janet PPF

carol l mckenna said...

Wonderful painting and so glad you have 'a room of one's own' and take the time to paint ~ Great post ^_^

(A Creative Harbor aka ArtMuseDog ^_^)

'thanks for coming by.'

Unknown said...

So glad you got to paint a bit and looking forward to seeing the evolution. Thanks for reviving those memories of playing at the easel with those pots of primary colors. Good times! Happy New Year and PPF!

Ginny said...

I love your kindergarten memories. I too have wonderful memories of creating back them. I hope that some of my kindergarten students will also have those memories.

I love the vibrant colors you are using. They are so rich and happy just like your memories.

Alexandra MacVean said...

Love all your super wonderful happy colors! And your creative space totally rocks! I envy you. hee :)

wednesday said...

I agree, life doesn't get any better. Your joy really shows in this painting.

GlorV1 said...

Great colors and results. It's nice to know you are really enjoying yourself while you work. Happy New Year!

Linda Kunsman said...

what a vibrant and fantastic painting Karen!! What a lovely kindergarten memory too-that was one good teacher :)Happy PPF!

Leah said...

Such fluidity and joy in this painting. I loved reading about your childhood memory, early positive experiences with creating can have such a lasting and magical hold. Happy PPF!

Faye said...

Karen, this is beautiful! Thanks for the reminder of those days of kindergarten naps. I'm glad you got to paint instead of sleep. I doubt if I could have napped either. We didn't have kindergarten and I started to 1st grade at age 5. I remember huge rolls of paper that we could roll off and cut with rounded scissors. I'm sure we used tempera except I didn't know that name till I took high school art where we used tempera. What is tempera, anyway? Is it still around?

sharon said...

Beautiful colours, I remember the nap time, but were all had to lie there quiet as mice. Lucky you to have such an enlightened teacher.

soulbrush said...

I was a nursery teacher before I retired last year and we always had art projects and easels with paint set up every day for the kids. Happy PPF from across the pond.

Mary C. Nasser said...

The fun you have in the process is evident in this wonderful painting!
Just love how that light blue pops against the background!
♥♥♥
Happy PPF!!
Mary
Mixed-Media Map Art

Cris, Oregon Artist said...

Sounds and looks like you are having fun. Good to find a compromise for painting around family. Altho sometimes minutes can turn into an hour or so when in the zone. :)