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Do you have fond memories of a favorite food that has followed you into adulthood?

I've Always Had a Thing for Chocolate. Do you remember when chocolate bunnies were solid, not hollow? As a child I would be delighted to find a pound of pure bliss in my Easter basket each year!

As a teenager, I could always find where my mom had hidden the chocolate chips or M&Ms and would often sneak a handful to savor, one tiny piece at a time.

As an adult, I have occasionally received a box of assorted fine chocolates as a gift. I treat those little indulgences as precious: I do not share (unless it is coconut-filled), and I savor one chocolate per day. Just one.

There is something about extending one's enjoyment by relishing each morsel, keeping the pretty box in view, remembering the giver, and relishing the thought of another small melt-in-your-mouth luxury the next day.

Back to Art.

I think that making art can be just like enjoying a box of chocolates.

Relishing Each Morsel.

I work on several watercolors at one time, and the reason may simply be the enjoyment of the process. I'm usually not in a hurry to finish any one piece; I'm not pressed with any deadlines. I enjoy spending time on up to three or four paintings each day, and then I set them aside.

Keeping the Paintings in View.

I like to leave my unfinished paintings where I can see them, so I can plan my next steps.

Sometimes I like what I see, so I might delay painting on it (the heron has been untouched for some time now - I suppose it's more likely that I'm afraid of ruining it). Sometimes I'm not so happy with my progress (like the baby on the beach - I'm not sure my color choices are going to work, so I'm taking my time with it).

Remembering the "Giver".

Another reason I might postpone completion of a painting is to savor the moment the photo was taken and reflect on the subject.

The Summer Tanager (red bird) was preening outside our B&B earlier this summer. I stood outside on the deck watching him for almost an hour one evening as the sun went down. I can still feel the warmth of the breeze and hear the birdsong around me.

Relishing the Thought.

The first layer of any watercolor is my favorite part of the painting process! I'm always planning ahead to the next creation, and at any given time I may have one or two subjects prepared and ready to begin.

However, I don't allow myself to start a new watercolor when I have too many unfinished pieces in the studio. Relishing the thought of beginning the next painting is my motivation for completing an existing piece or two!

"My mom always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

~Forrest Gump

And so it is with art. Enjoy the process!

Paint. Love. Repeat.