Practice makes progress faster

The more I do the faster I get at them.  Of course I still make them look great, but I just have been able to paint them faster.  Here are a couple more completed:

Near the End

As the end of the semester approaches, I realize I have not written in this as much as I should.  I continue to work on the paintings, but there is not always anything new to be reported.  I completed two more squares and will post those soon.

As I continue to work it gets a little easier to paint and less stressful.  I usually put in a movie and relax while I am painting and it is a nice way to relax.  I have 6 completed and I am going to try and complete at least two more this week.  I will need lots of breaks from working on papers and end of the semester things.

Progress

I have 4 completed!  Hopefully I can at least get 4 more done before the end of the semester!
I am beginning to be less worried about them and just doing the best I can.  I think its making the painting a little less stressful and a little more relaxing and fun!

Working on Paintings

I have been working on the paintings for the past few weeks and it has been taking longer to finish one than I thought.  I know they don't have to be perfect, but yet I seem to be pushing myself to make them look as close to the original as possible.  It is somewhat stressful even though it is art.  I realized that I enjoy art that I can create myself rather than copying something exactly.  I wonder if the kids that had to do these squares worried about their square being perfect or if it was actually a therapeutic experience for them.  Maybe if it did come out how they liked them it would have built confidence for them that they had accomplished something and it will be a part of the hospital.  I suppose I am learning what kind of ways art is therapeutic for me and ways that it tends to be more stressful.  

Maybe I will post a few pictures next blog... when I have a few more completed!

First Day

Today I met with Grace Serra.  She gave me a tour of the Children's Hospital.  It was cool to see all the artwork throughout the hospital as well as how kid friendly the hospital is.

For my service learning she is having me work on some paintings that kids had started for a mural they are putting up.  A few squares were never made and she needs help getting them done.

Although this is not exactly what I had expected to be doing for my service learning, I am excited to do it none the less.  I look forward to being able to contribute to this mural as well as contributing to the Children's hospital.

My only concern is that I will not have any interaction with any of the children at the hospital.  I feel like it would be important for the service learning project to work with the people, but I understand that she is busy this semester and it is not going to work out.  I am thinking in order to fulfill this I might just try and visit art & soul or mariners inn.

Even though I am not working with anyone, I feel that this could be a therapeutic for me to work on these paintings.  This will also be something that will help me de-stress from all my studying and paper writing :).
Maybe I can even think about what those kids were thinking while they were painting their squares for the mural.  I believe Grace mentioned they were kids with HIV.

Looking forward to getting started!