December 15, 2025 Issue 2
It’s Just Shapes: A Diary of Painting
E. Kindig Art Quarterly Newsletter
Remember to dance with your painting…
It is just over a year now that I have been painting full time, and I am settling into my painting life. Over the course of these past few months, I’ve been very attuned to the highs and lows of the painting process. For me, the start of a new piece is my favorite–I can approach the canvas with no expectations. It’s all possibility and discovery. But then, of course, this must shift to the middle and end phases of the painting. And the end is so hard because now I’ve got something to lose. I get tight and restricted, timid and afraid. I’m hunched over, laboring over each mark.
Now I have to remember to dance. Put up a dash of yellow–just exhale and do it. Put it anywhere. Step back, take it in, then step forward and do it again. Another dash of yellow, maybe some red. Step back, then forward, then back, then forward. It’s a dance! Feel the magic start to return as you let the painting lead and tell you when to spin or turn. Thank you to Carol who has helped me learn, remember, and practice this!
Read on to find out what I’ve been up to these past three months.
September
In September, I tried out my first art market. I enjoyed getting to see all my work hung together, much of it plein air paintings from the summer. Alas, it was not a great sales day. However, at my husband’s recommendation, I painted live while the market was ongoing and SOLD the piece right there on the spot! That was a nice little rush, I have to say. To top it off, some of my camp friends from VCAC came to see my booth and support!
October
Since helping with harvest last year, I’m starting to understand how farming gets into your bones—why Grampi had to sit in the truck on the roadside and watch even after he wasn’t physically able to help anymore.
In October, I started work on a series of farm inspired paintings, drawing on memories from childhood, reference photos, and my brother’s fascinating drone images, like the one above. Pieces I’ve completed in this series are in my Gallery.
Sketching out ideas and plans, surrounded by inspiration from Wayne Thiebaud and Charles Sheeler.
November
I have been learning how to work with soft pastels, with the intention of being able to use them for plein air work. Unlike paint, they do not require any liquids, and there are no brushes to clean, which makes them a great medium with which to paint outside.
With the warm days continuing into November, I took the opportunity to take my pastels on a trip to the farm to make some paintings onsite. The tractors pictured are one of the pieces I made on that trip (original and prints available!).
I also continue to work in oil pastel. I helped to hang a show for the Yellow House Artists where I have 4 works on display through the holiday season at the Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles. “Daisies” (pictured) is one of the pieces in the show.
Winter Plans…
I am of the pretty unpopular opinion that January is awesome. After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I find myself looking forward to the quiet, reflective time that January offers. I will have work on display and for sale at Limestone Coffee & Tea in Batavia during the month of January. In February, I will have work on display and for sale at David’s Delicatessen in New Buffalo, MI. To be fair, I’m not sure how quiet January OR February is going to be.
Wishing you a joyful holiday and new year! Time to start another trip around the sun!
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