I was asked the question last night…….
I gotta ask im sorry but do you paint anything else besides flowers?”
My immediate response was…..
I have, I do, I try and always try to grow. Depends on my mood. But know what I love”
But I really had to think about that one……..yes, lots of flowers, bright colors, doodles. Sometimes in my own mind it is all the same. I have done houses, hearts, words, tons of flowers, and more. I come back to the flower…my “safe place”. They are how I feel at times, they reflect trying something new. I am ever evolving and learning. Sometimes I do feel stuck. I wish a landscape would fall out of my paint brush. I am ever learning from my fellow artists, collaborations and seeking to be a better artist.
I do a one hour LIVE show on the internet with no practice (Mixed Media Monday), limited video equipment and it is just raw me. Sometimes you see the kids come in for lunch money, coming in from sports, my teens home, the chaos. Most Monday’s minutes before the show I am scrambling to get dinner there, the trash out, etc …..it is LIFE (heck, sometimes I have left the camera on and you HEARD IT!). Life sometimes gets in the way of art. I try to reserve that 1-2 hours for my art. Now Mixed Media Monday for me is about the takeaway. Yes, maybe it was about doing another flower (because quite honestly those are doable in an hour) but it is about taking away something from each Monday. This Monday it was about painting the entire background black and seeing where it took us….
the week before it was about adding black hearts and blending colors for a fun background…
The week before it was about the doodle frame and some flower pods I have no idea if they even exist!
For me it is about encouraging you to face that canvas, mixed media paper, your art journal, etc. the same way I do every Monday……..without fear (even though every Monday I have that fear). Although I have that fear I have to suppress it, ignore it and tell it to go away. AND…getting you to use all those art supplies you buy and later tell me you don’t use…USE THEM!!! We cannot take them with us! Heck I have no room to take all mine! It is about keeping it real without edits and engaging with everyone! It is not about the flowers. Will I ever stretch myself and do they get old? Yes they do. I use my safe haven of a new canvas, my art journal to expand and ever-grow. The great thing about flowers is there are SOoooooooooooooo many varieties They express how I feel. I have even yet to tackle..
I have little to no time in my art journal but it reminds me to keep stretching and growing now matter what my subject is. Me, my art, and heck…us for that matter are not for everyone. It is the takeaway and what you can learn from that subject, technique and maybe the community you find in art.
I thank you for the question, for making me dig deeper and thank you for saying:
Your flowers are beautiful!!”
My art is my passion and my career. The balance of being teacher and student of it is something I love. I love that it is my job! (and it helps I just love flowers too!)
What really matters in life is not what we have, but how we use it; not what we buy, but what we build; not what we own, but what we share with the world; not our capability, but our character; not our success, but our true significance. Live a life that makes you proud – one that matters and makes a difference.
- Your positivity will inspire the world today – let it ring loudly and frequently.
- Your gratitude will give life its beauty today – express it.
- Your efforts will make life richer today – be generous.
- Your passion and love and curiosity will make a whole new set of experiences possible – open your heart and mind.
You are needed. You are significant. Whatever you do will matter immensely, going far beyond you and coming back in profound ways you can’t even imagine. So always go above and beyond, especially for those who need you the most.”
Your positivity in the face of a crazy existence and your bright, cheerful flowers are an inspiration to all of us!! Bonus: even when other things don’t, flowers ALWAYS sell!
SO TRUE!!!!!!!!! Thanks Laura ♥ Flower power baby!
your flowers are beautiful!! They are your signature. I wouldn’t worry about changing anything. When it is the right time, other items will sneak into your paintings and it will be just right!
Thank Bev! More flowers and hearts to come LOL!
Well – there is a lot I would like to say about this but… since I am feeling a little on the defensive… I will get to the point. It is with all sincerity and even emotion that I say this to you Tracy Weinzapfel….
You and your flowers have brought great JOY into my life. I see sunshine, peace, happiness, freedom, light, love, and much more in your paintings. Your colors make me happy and your flowers, pods, doodles make me smile. Every time you do a new creation – I am blessed and that day is a brighter, happier day for me.
I don’t have to say this. I don’t know you, have never met you, have nothing to gain at all from even blogging here. EXCEPT that I loved the first painting I ever saw from you and since that day, I have never been disappointed in your artwork. OR… the person that I see. The person that shares with us thru pictures and in your videos is just REAL. You are a no pretense – take me or leave me – kind of gal. You just allow yourself to BE YOU. And I respect and admire and enjoy that about you.
So… my message here is… Tracy – KEEP BEING YOU. We need you just like you are – painting whatever your brush produces… and if that is flowers then that makes the majority of us VERY VERY happy. If it is something else – that’s another season, another time and when it comes – if it comes – we will embrace it. BUT for THIS SEASON – I can’t imagine my life without your INCREDIBLY BRIGHT, LUSCIOUS, CHEERFUL, and INTRIGUINGLY FABULOUS flowers. I NEED THEM. j.
All I can say JOI IS THANK YOU! Your words keep me keeping on! On this end you sometimes never know how you reach a person and your comment is validation for the next flower, the next heart, the next thing that comes out of my paint brush! ♥
I think we gravitate towards what we are comfortable with. As you say, this show happens in real life – interruptions, computer issues, etc. I would expect you to paint what you enjoy and can do with those constraints. I lvoe the black background and bright flowers!
Thanks Jean! It means most to me that so many happened upon me or me them (like you) and are part of the journey! ♥
What a heartfelt post today is. I find my safe place is flowers or things with wings (angels, butterflies and fairies). I find myself going back to them time and time again. I say if it feels right, DO IT! Love seeing your beautiful flowers!
Agree Barb and THANK YOU!
What a raw and honest answer. Thank you for being so transparent. I love the flowers and hearts etc because they are not scary for someone like me jump in there and try. If it were something only experienced artist would understand how to do or achieve a professional look then I would not be tuning in or following along.
Funn how every time I doubt a post or sharing part of myself it ends up meaning the most to me. I love when I am provoked to think and write about it. ♥
Flowers are like songs. There are endless possibilities. Love your thoughts on painting flowers and your humor about painting landscapes. That’s about how I wish I could paint dogs. Thanks for sharing.
I love that thought Kimberly!
Love your art and your Mondays. I learn and grow. I am inspired!
Thanks so much Denise! What matters is the art-filled community we have!
Thanks for painting lots of flowers! I love flowers too and hope you keep on painting them forever! Your art is loved by everyone….it gives us hope that we can do what we love to do and not concern ourselves with what others think about it!!! I have painted other things but my little flower paintings are what most everyone wants. It’s hard to paint a landscape and have everyone say it’s nice but they don’t want it enough to say so.
Thanks Barb! love that in some way my little flowers make a difference 🙂
I adore your flowers Tracy–never change that! Add, grow, evolve, but always have flowers too! I absolutely love every one of them. As a nearly 64 year old, I’ve just discovered art in the last few years and of all the folks I’ve encountered, YOU, Tracy, Y O U, have inspired me more than anyone! I so look forward to Mondays at 8:00pm now–I love your art and am honored to be a small part of the audience learning from you!! Flowers (and you) rock!!!
THANKS Kathy! What a boost to my journey! ♥
I don’t think it’s about the flowers. Some people only do landscapes or portraits. Same thing. I think most of us watch, not because we want to see flowers. but that we want to spend that hour with you being creative and doing what you love. It gives us the inspiration to create our own, whether we paints flowers or ducks, it doesn’t matter! Just keep doing what you’re doing because that is what has got you here in the first place! We love you and your flowers lol
How cool is that!!! I love to hear that. Love to hear what people like and not like too
Your flowers are YOU! And I love them. They bring a bunch of cheerfulness into my life on many a dreary day. I love your color choices and your styles of flowers. It makes me happy to see your art! And I really appreciate the quote you have at the end of this post! You should post that as a picture so I could share it with my family and friends!
I try to post things that mean a lot to me. ❤️❤️
Your post today really touched me… I have learned so much from you whether you are painting flowers, hearts, your backgrounds… I am thankful for anything you are gracious enough to share with us.. Please keep them coming……. 🙂
Thank you Cathy!
Every flower is unique just like every person, we all know that! Love the flowers, love the gift of teaching that you share because it helps all of us grow! Thank you!!
Thank you Cris!
I Love flowers!! I started doodling flowers in high school but never thought of them as art. Thank you for giving me the confidence to start trying to do my own thing instead of always following a pattern! I’ve only been following you for a few short weeks but I’ve already learned a lot. I’m inspired and excited! Keep doing what you love! Thanks again!!
I doodled on EVERYTHING! now it is paying off lol
There is so much inside each one of us that we are unaware of…and a moment of introspection and conscious thought about what we do and why we do brings forth such a surge of realization and understanding of oneself….you have just skimmed the surface yet as am sure another post is just simmering inside you Tracy !! love your spirit and honesty which amply reflects in your work !!
Thanks so much! So many more things to come!
That is what counts the most Tracy…. what you love doing… painting flowers in so many different ways, structures, colors, mixed media and various other methods is your trademark! Own it. No one can take that from you…. we can copy at best… but it is still your original we are copying to our best of our talents. You have been such an inspiration with your organization and time management… I don’t know how you do it all ….. most successful women sometimes have (not all) and certainly not one as independent as you…. but do have a wonderful supportive family hanging out with you… Someday I hope to meet you in person … Love all your videos!
Happy Easter! xx
THANK YOU! I hope to meet you too. Hope your Easter was lovely!