Desire, tenacity, effort and discipline!

I'm really good at preaching to my workshop students about the ingredients needed to become a full-time self-supporting artist;  desire, tenacity, effort and discipline.  I've had to remember my own rules this past month.  After not painting since the end of November while making the move to New Zealand, I've spent a very frustrating month trying to become a productive artist again.  I've wiped off more paintings than I have kept.  Perhaps it is because the natural light is different, the artificial light is awful, my new painting chair isn't very comfortable.....I've got lots of excuses.  But I've persevered and finally have a little painting that I haven't wiped off.

Fox & Lupine (for lack of a better name)

8" x 10" on gessoed board

My temporary studio in my new house is the third bedroom, but in time, I'll be converting a separate garage into work space. I have bought a ceiling fluorescent light with a warm and cool bulb, but the electrician is taking weeks to add a longer cord and plug to it.  But even with good light, it is very easy to get distracted. I hear birds calling outside so I have to investigate and of course my three coveys of California quail need to be fed!  Yes folks - California quail here in New Zealand!  They were introduced as a game bird in the 1860's and have flourished...though they really do look out of place.  My back deck is about 30' off the ground.  The quail hang out under the deck so I toss wheat down to them.  Manna from heaven!

Juvenile California Valley Quail
(photo copyright - Adele Earnshaw 2013)