EssexArt ABC, LLC

Posted on November 27, 2020 by essexart

It had been a while since I had taken my oil paints out to do some painting en plein air… or painting on-site… and for the life of me I don’t know why I waited so long.

Sure, we all get busy with the everyday, often mundane, aspects of our lives and that can keep us from taking time out for ourselves, but we should not neglect that which makes us happy. Painting en plein air, among other things, makes me happy. It’s an enjoyable experience. It’s some “me” time. For me, I have no doubt that painting en plein air releases endorphins… and that’s a good thing.

There’s a fairly new park near where I live so I decided to do my painting next to a creek there. I chose to work small, only 6″x 6″. I also chose to work later in the day which meant that my light was not going to be around for long. It wasn’t. Consequently, though so small, I had to set up on-site on two different days in order to finish my painting… which was not a bad thing.

If there is a message I’m wanting to share here, and there certainly is, seek what makes you happy. Indulge yourself in those endorphins. Of course, moderation in all things being a good rule, never neglect your responsibilities. Just consider your own well-being and happiness one of those responsibilities. In doing so, it’s highly likely you’ll find even your approach to those other responsibilities recharged in a way that increase your ability to handle them, and handle them well.

Hmmm… I got al that out of doing a small 6″x 6″ painting. It’s settled then. Next time I’m using a larger painting surface.

~ John Essex II is a retired art teacher, a two-time Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellow and an Arts Council of Indianapolis Creative Renewal Arts Fellow. He is also artist/owner of EssexArt ABC, LLC through which he keeps busy creating his own fine art, creates commissioned art, does caricaturing by commission and at special events, conducts private painting parties and is contacted regularly to play the bagpipes (yes… play the bagpipes). Essex also maintains two online print-on-demand stores where patrons can acquire gallery quality prints of his art as well as other products that feature his work.To view what Essex does, and/or to shop his online stores, go to: https://www.facebook.com/EssexArt,

https://society6.com/essexart,

http://bit.ly/TPublic_EssexArt

http://www.indyartsguide.org/artist/john-essex-ii/