Here’s what you can do. Stop thinking and start doing. O.k. let me rephrase that, don’t stop thinking altogether. Just stop thinking about the problems you have to overcome and stop thinking about perfection. Focus on the journey of getting it right, then move forward.

Begin by painting anything like writer’s writing drafts or thoughts meandering. The important thing is to just get started. Paint what’s in front of you. That’s always best. Keep it simple, pencil on art pad, ink on envelope. Don’t worry about getting it right, just get getting to it.

Prowess will come but enjoy the process for now. Slow down. Examine every detail. Translate, interpret and explore with your eyes. You will enjoy it and miraculously begin to improve every day. But once you start don’t ever stop it. Keep going and going and going and dedicate yourself to it. Even if you are unable to do it temporarily, then continue to do it in your mind. Explore the details, see the possibilities, seek others answers and keep seeking your own. You will own this. This will be your gift to yourself. Your accomplishment. You can’t drop it, lose it or misplace it.

So start with the chair, table, window, train, tree, whatever’s in front of you right now and get going. Scribble away and think of it as merely that. Don’t worry about the big picture just yet. It will come to you when you least expect. For now, work away on getting the details right. Really look at what’s in front of you. Forget what you once thought was true. See what is real. Show your vision.

You will be impressing yourself and others with your newfound skills before very long. Keep the pen to the paper, the brush to the canvas and your eye on the subject, you will be able to capture what you want in no time. Love to see the results of your work you send in. It is an inspiration to progress!

But first and always foremost, you must never lose sight that you enjoy what you are doing. The prowess will come and one day never leave you, as long as you deliver a constant, unending love in return. There will be harsh times ahead. Of that, you can be certain, but as long as you do what you love, you will be rewarded and lavishly. So get to it. Gesso that canvas. Prime the surface. Relish your colors and smother your palette. The bond will do you good.

Keep a list of what you want to do. This will help you keep it in mind. Try to write your new revised lists often and continuously. You will be surprised how your list actually keeps shrinking even as it grows in new and different directions. It will be a record of your accomplishments in the future.

Really enjoy when you accomplish something. Even when you’re too busy to take a moment aside, you’ll probably be able to squeeze one in where you will know that you DID it! That thing that had been eeking at the back of your mind is finally gone and behind you. Now you can get busy working on the next thing you want to do and chances are you are already on it. Because when it’s on your mind, mentally you are working on it. Mentally you will find a way to succeed. Even when you stop doing something and don’t actually accomplish it, you will have learned something valuable in the process. So progress has been made and you are in a different place.

When you get something accomplished, let me know. I’d love to hear about it. Maybe we can motivate each other and keep at it in this busy life. There are plenty of reasons to let goals slip by into the should-have lane. We can help keep it on track.

My goal for the day is get to work on time and I have a good feeling I will accomplish it. Artistically? My list is backed up. But putting new description tags on the art at Edison Place is one of them. Another is to work on Egyptian comedy. Keep me updated!

I try to be an honest artist, covering all the details in a person’s face, the subtleties of a shadow, the nuance in the eye but my mood changes and the subject changes. Art has the reality, the physical but you can never forget the subjective. An evil thought can create an evil picture. A happy outlook can create a joy. I focus on the beautiful because it pleases me…but beauty is subjective. A peace in the view helps but if you want to shock, don’t take my advice. If you want to flatter, an honest eye may need to be tempered with a joyous glance. Love the details in the subject as a mother would until you’ve memorized it but still crave more. Then you may find you’re halfway to where you want to be.

Will I see you there? I hope you find yourself in a pleasant spot of creativity. Now dreamland awaits where creativision is unleashed, uncontrolled and unknown. All resources to tap.

Honest art lingers on the corner where a connection is made.

Find yourself moved and then act on it.

Life only comes once in this form.

This is your chance.

Celebrate the life of your loved one with an artistic tribute piece. Sunnyside Studios gives you quality art for a great price. Act now and receive a 25% discount on your painting if you place your order before January 15, 2012.

Will you let the art you choose define you? Make smart art choices. Get art that will rejuvenate you, mesmerize your friends and liven up your walls. Don’t let your hidden self go unheard. Start attracting the art you love into your life starting now.

Fred Conger chose to hang a portrait of himself in his living room. He wasn’t shy about himself being on display. When people see his portrait they are drawn to him directly. A background of FDR’s rolling hills behind him and you easily envision his own posh country home. He is in a field of green. This keeps this Manhattan urbanite from going stir crazy in a sea of yellow cabs and traffic lights. One look at his painting and he feels the peace of the countryside and it is captured for always in his living room.

Why wait to get the art of your dreams on your walls? Don’t you have special moments you want to commemorate or signify? Make it happen today and get your own special custom art to keep forever in your home. You can instantly transport your mood into the mood of the art you choose.

Act now and receive a 25% discount on your painting if you place your order before January 15, 2012.

Here’s the link on the talenthouse website where I entered the competition: http://www.talenthouse.com/creativeinvites/preview/abec6f495c6b245c846d51f8599d0d8a/362

About my design and what inspired it
I focused on the soulful, powerful eyes of Brandi and drew them in Adobe Illustrator where I created the poster design. I included Fireworks because they are a celebratory way to begin the New Year. I focused on the magical feeling of the evening and had fun with the shadings of color in Brandi’s name and using the stars to float the colors around the poster design to keep the viewer’s eye moving. I thought white as a background for Brandi’s name would make it pop out and wanted to keep it nice, simple and have a clean design. I found the Neptune Theatre images and did a variation of their theater name with the Neptune symbol but used a font where each letter was highlighted in a ray or beam of light to show how they spotlight their shows. I had fun doing the project and enjoyed listening to Brandi’s soulful music while I did it. She definitely is an amazing young, talented woman and I see why she has the dedicated fanbase she has. I’m impressed with her and I wanted to do something to show how she’s impressed me.

Randy Spiesman from Weichert Realtors asked me to enter this contest. I was honored that he felt I could do it justice. He thought the end design was beautiful which was very flattering. It’s been a fun project to be involved with.

Thanks for your support.

Tags:
• brandi carlile poster
• Brandi Carlile poster contest
• my contest entry
• Deanna Yildiz
• Deanna Knauth
• Brandi Carlile
• Musical artist
• graphic artist
• Vote for my poster
• New Year’s eve
• The Neptune Theater
• Seattle, WA
• Vote for it