New Studio, New Inspiration, New Paintings

www.nicolund.com©

After a short hiatus, getting settled into the new house and trying to find my comfort level in my new studio...it's finally happening.

With summer comes my desire to be outside and not descend into the belly of my home to the basement where my home studio is located. So I had an epiphany...set up a temporary studio in the garden house/shed. It's really not been suitable for the damp winter/spring weather, but for summer it's ideal. But now that I'm in there I am determined to make it permanent...just need a certain husband who is handy with the power-tools!

In the Summer I really feel the need to be apart of the world and going into the basement just goes against my needs. So getting out into the yard is perfect. I moved two of my easels out there and my oil paints, brushes and a few other necessities and tried to clean out the cobwebs and spiders as best as I could. Mostly that means just ignoring that they are there and hope they are smart enough to not creepy crawl across a wet painting. ( if you find a couple of legs in one, I apologize in advance).

So begins a new chapter, a new series and some new intention. I am excited to be taking some old themes and new themes and smashing them together. I am still trying to get some more distance from my habitual narratives while at the same time respecting the power of some of those imageries. Instead of trying to deny them a voice, I am trying to seeing how far I can go to obscure them while still allowing them to arise.

It's tough letting go of habitual expression, but I am trying to motivate myself to grow as a painter. For this series I am trying to let the paint and texture be the overpowering guide and encourage the stories and narratives to stay subtle and subjective.

I am looking forward to this journey. I hope to have your shared presence and perspective along the way. My studio is open to you anytime!

Why is it so Hard to Put Time to the Things that Matter?

Studio at Fremont Space, Seattle Wa.

How is it that we put off the work we get the most enjoyment out of to do the busy work that we hate?

Since moving into my Fremont Studio, I have realized how much I procrastinate going there, but once I get there, I can't believe I don't go more? It's like writing a letter or exercising. The longer you put it off, the harder it is get back to.

It boils down to discipline. You either have it or you don't. You can be the most talented __fill in the blank__, but unless you actually get to it there will be nothing to show; like it never existed. But, boy will those clothes be folded and dishes washed!

As a writer thinks about story, I am often thinking about my paintings. What I want to add next to a composition, a series that would be cool to do, squeezing paint out of tubes. If only I could telepathically create visual experiences for people....wait, that might get creepy...never-mind.

So I packed my bags, grabbed the dog and got to the studio today. Maybe it was the quintessential Autumnal rain slipping from the Seattle sky or the dark morning before we fall back with daylight savings. Whatever it was, I woke up with the forceful need for reflection, and an angry itch to make something. "I Gotta get there. Gotta paint. Let's do this!"

When I got there, I reacquainted with the current large pieces I have going and dabbled on some smaller ones. All in all, we listened to a little old school circa 91 Mazzy Star, a little St. Vincent, we laughed, we sang, we painted. It was great! I can't believe I don't get there more often!