Friday, March 13, 2015

Arguments with my Inner Voice

Does your intuition or inner muse talk to you? I recently discovered that mine does. In form of thoughts that won't let me go. It's a very persistent inner voice. And sometimes downright annoying....
Gentle Eyes
acrylics on 11 x 14 inch canvas
Available here.
Here's what happened with this painting.
I had it to this point and decided it was finished. I even put it on Facebook and listed it in my shop.

Inner Voice: "It's not finished."
Me: "Yes, it is!"
Inner Voice: "It needs more. Here, I'll send a picture to your mind."
Me: "No, I decided it's finished."
Inner Voice: "It's not finished yet."
Me: "I can't hear you!!!"

Later that day, Daniel got home. I showed the cow to him. His response? "Is it finished? It doesn't look quite finished to me." Me: "Ok, I give up. It's not finished."

So, I painted the decorative items around the cow that I had seen in my mind the day before. 
I looked at it and thought, well, that's nice. I wonder if that's it.

Inner Voice: "Yellow"
Me: "No, not yellow."
Inner Voice: "Yellow."
Me: "No, I like it white."
Inner Voice: "I'm telling you, yellow. Listen to me."
Me (almost sulking): "Ok, let's try yellow."
Me: "Wow, that's yellow! Are you sure about that?"
Inner Voice: "Sandpaper."
Me: "What?! Sandpaper? Are you kidding me?!" 
Inner Voice: "Sandpaper. Go get some." 
Me: "Really? Sandpaper?" 
Inner Voice: "Sandpaper. NOW."
So, I went to the garage to rummage around and find some sandpaper.
And I sanded my cow.
And you know what? My inner voice was right. The cow hadn't been finished before. Yellow was a good choice for warmth and the sandpaper was an excellent idea to make it all look a little textured and less intense.
The moral of the story? I don't take direction well..... (Never have and probably never will.)

Linking this to a fabulous creative blog hop over at the talented Veronica Roth's blog.
And to the always fun Paint Party Friday.
And, because cows and inner voices are "strong" (this week's theme) to Illustration Friday.

❧ Silke
Posted by Silke Powers at 9:30 AM
Labels: , , , , , , ,

25 comments:

  1. ~JarieLyn~March 13, 2015 at 10:09 AM

    Amazing! so glad you listened to your inner voice.

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  2. Valerie-JaelMarch 13, 2015 at 10:10 AM

    Fantastic work again, happy PPF, Valerie

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  3. Veronica RothMarch 13, 2015 at 10:32 AM

    Oh so very well done! I love it Silke. SO true about the inner voice. That's one reason I love flip a painting upside down and walk away from it for several hours. Walking back to it and seeing it upside down somehow reduces the complex painting, where I'm contemplating colours and subject and form and composition all at once, into a basic form shape and I can more easily see what's needed. :D Hope your weekend is terrific and happy painting to you.

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  4. GlorV1March 13, 2015 at 10:47 AM

    Love the gentle eyes. Happy PPF!

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  5. Valerie-JaelMarch 13, 2015 at 11:02 AM

    Back again - I really had to laugh over what you wrote in the comment on my blog, so thanks for the Friday giggle! Hugs, Valerie

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  6. Linda KunsmanMarch 13, 2015 at 1:10 PM

    what a great story-and lesson- to listen more to that inner voice:) Your end result is gorgeous!! Happy PPF!

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  7. Paper rainbowMarch 13, 2015 at 6:26 PM

    Your inner voice is always one to be listened to. A painting never stops talking to you till it is done. Then it speaks to others. I love the way it has turned out! It definitely talks to me!

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  8. beata żurawskaMarch 13, 2015 at 7:43 PM

    amazing! and so optimistic! I'm glad that - thanks Illustration Friday - I've found your blog.

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  9. GigglesMarch 13, 2015 at 9:28 PM

    This is like the most amazing tutorial...How many of us have that same voice happening!! Amazing cow by the way and your intuition is always right!! Love it!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  10. Clare LloydMarch 14, 2015 at 2:54 AM

    Fab colours in your art work

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  11. Gillena CoxMarch 14, 2015 at 7:54 AM

    you and your muse did a fine job ; really nice piece

    much love...

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  12. Kay G.March 14, 2015 at 10:01 AM

    "And I sanded my cow".
    You HAVE to love a post that has a sentence like that!
    Always listen to your inner voice, Silke, you can't go wrong.
    I love this piece. There is such a wise look that cows give you, I don't know how to explain it, you have captured it.

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  13. dentheMarch 14, 2015 at 2:27 PM

    I love how you let your inner voice lead you through the process. I have all kinds of thoughts running around in my head when I paint but I never thought about it being my inner voice talking to me. So much fun to see where it went, and your inner voice was certainly right: the painting looks great!

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  14. Tammie LeeMarch 14, 2015 at 3:42 PM

    That was fun to be privy to your inner voice and you. It really turned out wonderful.
    It was fun to hear that you have the same sharpener.

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  15. renildeMarch 14, 2015 at 9:59 PM

    lovely eyes,wonderful colors, you can trust that inner voice of you for sure,

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  16. nadine paduartMarch 15, 2015 at 2:15 AM

    those inner dialogues ... such fun for us to witness, and very recognizable indeed. here's to cow accomplished. n♥
    lovely to meet you.

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  17. Renee DowlingMarch 15, 2015 at 3:12 AM

    The colours are stunning! I am so glad you listened to your intuition. I often can't tell when I am done either. My family says, "Yes", but often I say,"I don't know!"

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  18. Patrice A.March 15, 2015 at 4:54 AM

    you inner voice was right
    it turned out much richer than before
    good you listened
    and
    nice to meet you!

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  19. Cindy D.March 15, 2015 at 10:17 AM

    Hooray for listening to your inner voice! Beautiful, sweet cow!

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  20. UnknownMarch 15, 2015 at 4:12 PM

    Your inner voice was right and always will be right and really is your BEST friend. Patient, non-judgemental of your ego trying to steer the ship, ever clever, ingenious, insightful and knowing. If you learn to listen to, encourage, enjoy, love your inner voice you will be amazed at what you will discover. And you will grow as an artist. Your work is fluid. Lovely. *smiles* Norma

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  21. Carole ReidMarch 15, 2015 at 5:41 PM

    Do you know the old show "Father Knows Best"? Well here is an example of your inner voice knowing best. Good for you to stop and listen and follow through. That can be tough sometimes and hard on the ego. Well done!

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  22. paulineMarch 15, 2015 at 6:37 PM

    This cracked me up. Especially the *I don't take direction well* moral of the story. ;) Love it. Yup. I get that voice all the time & like you, i often doubt it. Your cow looks great. You made the right choice. :)

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  23. UltreyaMarch 16, 2015 at 8:52 AM

    Wonderful! We should all listen more that inner voice of ours! Its normally much much clever than us! :-)

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  24. Sharmon DavidsonMarch 17, 2015 at 12:15 PM

    Wonderful spring image! I loved reading the argument between you and your muse - I do this sometimes, too!

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  25. UnknownMarch 20, 2015 at 5:17 AM

    The moral of the story - always listen your inner voice! The painting is fabolous!


    Carpet cleaning Chelsea

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