Friday, June 26, 2009

Painting, Health and Five Birthday Cakes



Things are really picking up around here lately, workwise and otherwise too!

Work: I have 6 new paintings for the show in August, plus a few I can pull from my inventory. I have 12 small painting (that are relatively affordable, I hope) in progress:
I hope to pretty much finish them over the weekend, or by early next week at least. I may do another 6, but will decide about that next week too. The 4'x4' painting is still sitting on the easel for 2 reasons. One is I am undecided about what to do with it. I made some adjustments to the pink swath across the field (thanks Lou!) and while it looks better, I am still not sure it has the ooomph that I want it to have. The other reason, um the main reason actually, is because I have been too lazy to drag the panel downstairs to sand it down. Anyway, I will resolve the issue this week too I think. Busy week for decisions coming up, eh???

Other: I officially got fed up with myself last February and started to see a hypnotherapist to help me with my food and health issues. I went to her thinking I was a crazy out of control sugar addict, but she seemed to think not, that my issues had more to do with self worth. So she treated me accordingly and voila! I started eating less like a crazy person and more like the health conscious person that I am actually am deep down inside. Heh. So far I have lost about 30lbs and because I am still a self conscious girl person I will refrain from posting photos OR from mentioning how much more I would like to lose. However, I will say I have more to go.

And along with all that of course, is exercise. I have always been reasonably fit underneath the extra weight until the last few years (I blame my computer heh) and so I am working on getting that back on track too. I started out by doing my 3 mile walk around the block each day, then alternated that with a 3 mile walk up a pretty steep hill every other day. And then when I reached a weight loss plateau a few weeks ago, I began to add a second workout several days a week. I still usually do the walk every day, and I vary the other workouts. I've been doing swimming, spinning, elliptical machines (I hate treadmills), weight training and a few core strengthening classes here and there. Some time in the next month or so I will probably get the nerve to do the other fitness classes at the gym and I may even try Zumba at some point. It looks fun, but I suspect I will look totally ridiculous doing it and so I definitely need some time to gather myself up to do that one!!

So between painting, all this damn exercise (which is making me feel really good, btw) and kids at home all day now, things are busy. I am making an monumental effort to not bail on the exercise though, like I usually do when I am busy preparing for a show.

PS. I forgot to mention that we are in the middle of birthday season-three of the kid's birthdays, one each week for three consecutive weeks. And because the tween girls MUST have a party we are talking five cakes in three weeks. So far it's two down, two coming up tomorrow and one more next weekend. Blech! And it is SO awesome I can now say that about cake!!! Double blech!!

12 comments:

susan hong-sammons said...

I think I read just about everything on your blog which I must say really touched me. I particularly loved the bits about Sophies birth and seeing her photo. We're blessed women to be moms and artists are we not

Sydney Harper said...

I've been trying to exercise more lately too. I slacked off for a while. I think I'm going to have to try Zumba sometime.

meno said...

That picture you have posted looks different than some of your others, or maybe it's a combination of the two things you often paint, trees and barns.

I like it a lot.

Sizun said...

Congrats on all you're achieving at the same time.
I do agree with Meno on this image looking different. In my opinion, it might be the colors you used, more true to life and realistic than usual...

Joan Breckwoldt said...

Dang, THIRTY POUNDS!!! You go girl!
Thank you for being so honest about your eating habits/issues. Best of luck to you with your upcoming show, I really like this new landscape, it seems a little more "complex" than some of your others and I like how you've handled the extra info in the painting and still kept the painting peaceful and cohesive.
Joan

Tracy Helgeson said...

Hi Susan, thanks for your kind comments. And yes, I never would have believed it but being a mom has really changed how and what I see. Lucky me....

Sydney, pretty easy to slack off on exercise, I should know!! Let me know if you like Zumba, it looks fun but I am hesitant to look like such an idiot in public! I have no rhythm whatsoever ;)

Thanks Meno, I have been using some darker colors and am also trying to soften the imagery a little, with varying degrees of success ;) This one works, i think...

And yes, Ghislaine, I think some of the images I have been doing have been somewhat more realistic, Not sure why but it's a nice change of pace.

Thanks Joan, don't love talking about it! But it's been a big part of my day lately so I figured what the heck :) It also relates to sitting on my butt mostly while I paint!

carrie jacobson said...

Lovely postings, births of children and art and goals and ideas. Inspiring!

I've had/have the weight issues myself - they so often come down to self-worth... and habit. My whole family just loves to eat, and eat BIG. Congratulations on losing the weight and doing the exercise. I'm in the same mode, and success is hard-won and richly savored.

What do you use for your underpaintings? Orange oxide? They're fascinating. I love seeing them all laid out like that, side by each. I don't think that way, painting, but would like to develop the ability.

Thank you so much for your blog. I really look forward to your postings.

Angela Wales Rockett said...

Congrats on losing 30 pounds! Wow!

I had a similar experience the other day. I'd had a crap day emotionally and really wanted to treat myself to something sweet. But I didn't want cake or cookies - I wanted berries! So I went and got some and they were so satisfying. Washington strawberries are sooooo yummy.

Really like the painting too. I can feel a lot of energy in it.

Charlotte said...

I think as women we all have body issues..even if it's just in our head.

I did a post http://www.demolay.com/2009/06/body-image-evolution.html about my own Body Image journey..exercise is a wonderful fix for body image issues!

I love seeing all your paintings in progress lined up like that!

Robin Pedrero said...

Lovely post. I work in bunches too!

Beannie Please said...

It amazes me that you still appear energetic and enthusiastic despite having such a full plate. By the way, I love the rustic yet somewhat dejected air you put into this painting, it lends a uniquely haunting effect.

Natalya Khorover Aikens said...

as usual you inspire me!!! thank you....