My Creative Block

And more island paintings!

This past week a random person suggested I paint something else, that my ocean island scenes are getting repetitive.

Being the people pleaser I am, I sat with the comment for a day.

Then I came to my creative senses and I blocked the person. I paint where I live, and I love what I paint.

Central Oregon Coast

What is interesting is not that someone had an opinion…we live in a world where uninformed people are very open with providing unsolicited opinions…but it is rather how I allowed one person that I had never interacted with before to create a brain swirl of insecurity.

I also recognize that I had a dramatic defensive thought that, just to stick it to the commenter, I should now ONLY paint island scenes. I will become the foremost watercolor island painter in the country.

[Quick editor’s note. If you are interested in seeing more of the world’s foremost watercolor island paintings check out my website at www.klrockwell.com].

My brain left me with two options, the first was to quit painting and the second was to go even deeper on only one subject. Unfortunately painting isn’t optional. I don’t paint because I “want” to, I paint because I “have” to. I’m a tortured soul.

I was unnecessarily spinning.

So I took a break and went flower shopping at my favorite nursery (Blake’s Coastal Nursery in Gleneden).

The garden shop is a twenty minute drive up scenic Highway 101. The views are dramatic, steep angular cliffs dropping into a moody Pacific. And so many birds. On our short drive we saw bald eagles, golden eagles, gulls, egrets, cormorants and swallows. 😊

I forgot about stewing or being indignant. My brain starts responding to the coast by naming colors…the water is a beautiful Pthalo Turquoise, the trees are very Sap Green and the sky is Ultramarine Blue.

We passed by Fogarty Creek and a familiar rock outcropping and something occurred to me. Just because I see it every day doesn’t mean it should stop being special.

I’m back home and ready to repot my deck with happy colorful flowers.

People will be people. And every one of us is so different. I’m not here to find a million people exactly like me, but rather surround myself with people who have similar overarching values. People who are kind, funny, intelligent (doesn’t necessarily translate to educated), and creative. I like people who are opinionated but not judgmental. Supportive without condescension. And (probably the most important) like cats. 🤭