Painting, Hopping, Pinning and Answering...

I'm hopping on over to Create With Joy to participate in Friendship Friday Blog Hop. The idea here is that Joy posts a question the week before and we, the hoppers who are participating that week answer in our Friday post. This week the question is:

What Inspired Your Blog Name?

When I first decided to blog about my new adventure in watercolors I found it a little daunting, to say the least. I tend to obsess over things when I get scared about doing it. So, there I was, mentally obsessing about both my first blog post and whether I'd even be good at watercolor painting. Now, I know this may sound self congratulatory but I tend to pick up a new craft/art medium easily. For instance, I taught myself how to make sugar paste flowers. To the right is the first Stargazer lily I did. Over the years, I'd gotten used to just being to pick up any craft without much effort. Then I tried watercolors. This was HARD. As I played with my new watercolors, (and even took a lesson or two from a famous artist in Victoria) I found myself feeling really panicky. "What if I wasn't good enough?" The dream I'd had since I was a little girl would die! I wouldn't be a professional artist. What would I do then? (Because all I REALLY wanted to do was paint, it was my heart's desire and had been for 35 years.)

So, when Shirley Schmidt (the artist who gave me the few lessons I clearly needed) came over and I lamented that I was wracked with worry, she said something I've committed to heart and used every time I feel even a little daunted by a new painting.

Paint Jenn, just PAINT!

When I went to paint the next day I felt those awful fears again. I felt overwhelmed with doubt with myself and my ability to learn how to do this. Then I thought, "Damn, it's just water, Jen. Just add water, silly!"... and my blog title was born. I knew that's what I had to remember, to paint without fear, just paint and add water, silly.

That's me and my blog title. I am totally happy with it, it's me. I did my Etsy site in the same name and also my Twitter feed is similar (Just Add Water, Silly is too many letters, so I use AddWaterSilly, you can follow me by clicking the link in my sidebar.)

I figured it was fun, a little irreverent and memorable, much like me. I have a saying about myself which goes: "I'm not mysterious, just complicated." Yup, that's me. :o)

I've done a little pinning with Pinterest lately. This has inspired me to do a piece about iris's. I just love the thin flutteryness of the petals. I can't show you the piece, as it's a surprise gift for a birthday girl. Suffice it to say I'm working diligently and I can show it in the next few weeks. You'll just have to wait.

Source: google.com via Tracy on Pinterest

Much love and hazelnut coffee to you all. (Oh, and chocolate cupcakes... there's one with my name on it in the freezer!)
Best,

I'm reading: Painting, Hopping, Pinning and Answering...Tweet this Post