For many years, I have championed the idea that practice makes better.  I recently saw something to add to that from James Clear, author of Atomic Habits.  “Two simple rules: 1.) You get better at what you practice.  2.) Everything is practice.” Sometimes, with my art, I wonder if I’ve improved and, if so, how much.  There are days when I feel like I’ve grown in leaps and bounds and other days when I’m pretty sure I’ve forgotten how to paint entirely.  But knowing that it’s all practice is such an encouragement,  Even the paintings that go directly to the trash are practice.  The sketches, studying, reading, and observing all add up.  My animal painting improves my still lifes.  My still-life painting improves my color mixing.  My color mixing improves my landscapes.  And everything I do from photography to writing to decorating to gardening is all a part of practice.

I haven’t been doing as much painting as I’d like this year.  How are we already deep into September and I have only had one or two original art sales this year?!  I don’t think there is a simple answer for that, but it’s been a lot of things.  I focused a lot of attention on gardening through the Spring and early summer.  I worked on some behind-the-scenes writing projects that took up a lot of my time.  And this fall has been a tricky season with our high school senior taking all college classes except two.  We’ve had to juggle rides from one school to another throughout the day until he gets his license (which will be happening soon!)  It’s really eaten into my day and I’m trying to fit a full-time job into part-time hours.  I actually said to Jeff the other day that I felt like I