If you follow my little life in square photos via Instagram, you’ve probably caught wind that I have been painting up a storm lately. (If you don’t follow me, you should: jennakutcher.) When I went through my rebranding this past season, I was so inspired by watercolors, the look, the feel, the design of it all. I knew I wanted a few off season projects away from my camera, so I decided that I would try my hand at painting again. I inherited a ton of amazing paint supplies from my awesome mother in law, a former art teacher! She has a knack for hanging onto treasures and so when I told her I wanted to get into painting, she kindly gave me every last thing I would need to get a start. What started out as a trial and error project has turned into a daily routine, you guys, I am obsessed. Watercolor has been something that has captivated me for awhile, it reminds me a lot of my photography: light, airy, whimsical, and romantic. It isn’t always perfect, but it is always beautiful and unique. I’ve been learning a lot about myself on this quest to become a painter…
One of the things I struggle with in life, work, relationships is the ideal of perfection. I have always been a perfectionist, always. I hate failing and I love doing things I am good at. Becoming a painter has been a journey to start accepting the mistakes, to allow them to help tell the story and to makes something beautiful, even out of an error. It has forced me to slow down, to shut the computer and see things in a new way: from color to light, script to drawing, consistency to timing. These past few weeks I have been intentionally shutting my computer and picking up a paintbrush. I’ve been perusing the craft store after workouts and studying paintings done by inspiring artists. I’ve been sitting at the kitchen table while Drew works and painting my little heart out, staying up late and writing in bed, and practicing hand drawn scipt on paper (half of them ending up in the garbage and half ending up in the pile of things I should probably hang or something.)
A lot of you have been asking for some custom paintings, part of me loves the fact that I can create something for each of you but the other part is terrified that you would be disappointed in the imperfections that transpire when I paint. I am not an artist, I was never taught how to do this, I am not perfect. The funny thing? When I look at the work of those that I admire, I feel like they can do no wrong – that their mistakes were intentional and what adds character to their piece, so learning to feel the same about my own work has been a journey. Taking a step back and seeing each painting as a work of art in it’s whole has been an eye opener for someone who usually tosses out anything short of perfection. Learning to let go of the need to be perfect has been a great reminder for life outside of my kitchen table.
My journey has been a fun one, I seriously could paint all day. In fact, my idea of the perfect day is one spent with a bottle of wine and a paintbrush and endless pieces of paper to fill with script, flowers, and color. This off season has been one where I have pushed myself to actually slow down, where I have finally accepted that I deserve this slow down and that I must take advantage of it before wedding season kickstarts again! Painting has become my therapy, my time to create, and actively be in the moment. I am on fire for this new hobby and am working on a few fun projects that I will fill you all in on soon… but for now, these are my confessions as an amateur artist. TGIF, loves!
Stick around awhile… it’s Friday, thank goodness:
so inspiring to see a new budding art for you to take on Jenna! I want to commission something as soon as you are taking them 😉 Also, you should do some prints of the “i love you forever” print — my Ryan’s mom sang that to him as a babe (and now to our littles too) so precious!
So happy that you have found something you are so passionate about! I want to get back into painting again, but I’m holding out until we have more room. I dream about spending days behind an easel with oil paints in hand…that was my favorite in high school. I’ve definitely dealt with my own share of perfectionism & always being on the go, but letting art into your life forces you to let it take its own course.