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

Welcome to my "Grow Your Blog" Party

Welcome to my blog and my friend Vicki's wonderful annual "Grow Your Blog" party! My name is Silke. I live in beautiful (but at the moment unusually cold) Savannah, Georgia with my goofy husband Daniel. Ok, we are both goofy in the photo below - you can see that our dog Winslow looks quite embarrassed... We came to Savannah because Daniel started teaching illustration (there's a link to his blog and website on my right sidebar if you are interested) at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Our cat Ramses will be 17 this year and he basically runs the household. He and Winslow are are good buddies. Ramses adopted us in New Mexico and moved here to the deep South with us eight years ago. He loves it here - especially in the summer. It seems that it can't be too hot or humid for him...

During the last two years a couple of feral cats have adopted us and now live with us full-time. They remain outdoor cats but are definitely part of our little family never straying far from our yard. Meet happy and affectionate (ok, sometimes the claws come out, which Daniel doesn't mind, but I am not so fond of) Tucker...

and little Louie. Louie is afraid of most people who visit us, but he is super affectionate with Daniel and me. However, his favorite "person" is our dog Winslow. When Louie gets anxious, all Winslow has to do is walk over to him and lick his little head and Louie calms right down and snuggles in. It's so sweet!

Let's see. What else can I tell you about myself?

I grew up in Germany, but have lived in the US since the mid 80s, which is also when I met my husband Daniel. In fact, I met him on my very first day in the US. Must have been fate... :)

I love to do anything creative, which wasn't always the case and is a fairly new phenomenon in my life. Five years ago I suddenly started painting and started this blog at the same time. My blog banner was my very first painting. You can see all of my creative endeavors and their progression if you peruse my blog.

I also love to knit and crochet, to sew, to cook and to bake, to read and to travel, to take photos of everything and anything, all of which you can find on my blog. I post a hodgepodge of stuff that is interesting to me and hopefully to you. And I always include lots of photos.

Ok. Now, what would a blog party be without a giveaway?! Something would be missing, right?

I couldn't exactly decide what to give away, so it'll be a surprise. It'll be something handmade by me - maybe a little painting or a hand knit scarf or something I've sewn. Whatever it'll be I'm sure you'll love it!!

Just leave a comment on my this post (anyone and everyone can enter!) and I'll include you in the drawing on February 15!!

But for now grab a cup of coffee, linger a little while and continue to enjoy the blog party.

I hope that you will come back to visit. I'll make it a point to visit your blogs as well...

Wishing you a fantastic day!

❧ Silke