Looking Back

on the easel

photo © Nicki Ault, 2014

I am feeling reflective. As I mentioned before, I have had this blog for five years and as I type this my hit counter has flipped over to 100,000. Now, I realize that this number is peanuts to many-a-blogger out there, but for me I never would have imagined five years ago that someday that many people would find their way here.

When I started this blog I rarely had an opportunity to paint; I was very busy with a preschooler and a little guy in Grade One. I was dreaming of a situation where I would have time to paint. It seemed so far off, if at all possible. In those days just making it to the end of the day was an accomplishment. I was riding on very little sleep since my preschooler was up several times a night- in fact, he didn't start sleeping through the night until he was in Kindergarten. I believe I was living on the edge of sanity and thankfully somehow I discovered a world on the internet that I didn't know existed- art blogs. Finding these artists kept me grounded and connected to something I loved, art, so when I had a quiet moment in the day or evening I could travel around from link to link and revel in what others were doing. I think I first came across Abbey Ryan, then Duane Keiser, Edward B. Gordon, Karen Jurick and Carol Marine- all "Daily Painters". I had never heard of that before. Imagine how impossible that seemed to sleep deprived, exhausted, all-consumed-by-children me. What was this concept? Painting a finished (small) painting every single day??? No way! People had time for this? My mind was blown. I couldn't even find the energy to take an art class once a week never mind paint every single day.

I began my blog with the hopes of connecting to the art world I found online. Unbeknownst to me at the time, it ultimately gave me something more- it gave me something that was mine and about me. This is not an easy concept for most mothers as we tend to take care of everyone else first and then see what we have left for ourselves. More often than not there seems to be nothing left over. But committing to this blog gave me permission to commit to myself and over time the cumulative effect of that is quite surprising. 

In the last five years since I began this blog (which is close to seven hundred posts), I got my own studio space, set up an online gallery for my small paintings with Daily Paintworks, connected with and met some wonderful bloggers. As well I have: taken painting holidays, had my work in art auctions, participated in a show celebrating the centenary of International Women's Day, found representation for my 8x8" paintings in a beautiful art, craft and design boutique, had several solo shows of my art in various locations and been part of several group shows. On top of that I have begun taking classes with Atelier 2302- which came along exactly when I was ready for it. Sleep deprived me from five years ago can't believe it. And it makes me wonder what the next five years may bring.

And I wish I knew because right now I don't really know where to go from here.