Painting

Did you know I like to paint? I think I talk about food and cooking enough for it to be pretty obvious that I love to cook. I’ve mentioned numerous times that I love to read and often times lose sleep because I stay up reading. Running has been a frequent topic lately as well, but besides my painting project with Maddy, I’m not sure I’ve ever really talked about painting here.

I am not a great painter by all means, actually I’m not really even a good painter but I enjoy it and that is the important part. It’s okay with me if the only room my paintings are ever hung in are bathrooms, as has been the case for a handful of my paintings. Actually the only decoration in one of my bathrooms is 2 of my paintings.

I spent the better part of last Saturday working on a painting that I have been working on for quite a while and while I am happy with the finished product I’m not sure Luke and I will ever get around to hanging it anywhere.

It’s fine with me that my paintings end up stacked in closets and hanging in bathrooms because for me painting is more about the actual time spent brushing color onto canvas, thinking about colors,and spending time focused on something while not really focusing on anything.

Painting is like taking time away from everything all while still being right in the middle of my house. Right smack dab in the middle of everything.

When I paint I like to completely take over my dining table. The whole thing ends up covered in papers, paints, brushes, canvases and more. I need the conditions just right to get me in the right zone. After much trial and error I have figured out there are three important things that affect my painting mood.

I need a hot cup of tea within reach. Generally decaf and spiced. Spiced because spiced tea just seems to fit my painting moods and decaf because I like to paint at night.

I prefer to paint at night with the only light on in the whole house being the one hanging over the dinning table. Using only one light, adjusted to the right brightness level, makes the room feel so cozy and helps make it feel like I’m all alone in my very own space.

Lastly and most importantly, I must have mellow music that is creative and emotional enough to help foster my painting mood. Good examples of such music would be Andrew Bird Noble Beast, Imogean Heap Ellipse, Damien Rice O, or any Death Cab For Cutie album.

The right music can do so much to help me stay focused and in the mood, not just for painting but for reading, running, cooking or just hanging out. Actually if I could have music playing all the time I think I would. Music seems to amplify my moods and help me feel really present in those feelings and the moment. Even if that moment is doing laundry or walking out to check the mail.

Is there anything that you just have to have music on for? Or is there a certain artist/band or song that you can always rely on to get you in the mood for something? Or, even better, what is your favorite mellow music.

By the way I’ve just reviewed a new album at Evolving Mommy Reviews that might fit into your idea of good mellow music and you can even download a single from the album on Twitter to see if you like it.