Yup, I am a Messy Painter

 
Yup, I’m a messy painter. I admit it, don’t like it, but there you have it.  I didn’t really think about it much, it just was.  It's not unusual to have my son arrive home from school and state, “Oh, by the way, you have paint on your face”.  It was a common occurrence, I didn’t really mind the fact. But, then I started to notice folks around me paint ...an exhibition here, a workshop there,  I even watched a video that would show them painting live.  It got me wondering, where were their aprons? Or what possessed them to wear white, of all things, while they painted? Compared to these calm, contained, creative souls, I’m a "crazy girl" when it comes to paint! I have a closet full of “painting clothes” that continues to grow, mainly items that I wore just “touching up” a piece. Inevitably, I get paint on the sleeve or splattered down the front that didn’t catch my notice until it was far too late. It’s a frustrating part of being me.
To make matter worse, I have a friend who paints in white; she never gets paint on herself. Clearly never her elbow, much less her clothes...on her nose. Never! Her paints stay organized and her brushes in line. Speaking of her brushes, they don’t look 10 years old after a month of use.  I dislike her...ok, not true, I envy her.  I admire her ability to stay so clean and tidy and still urn out great art! Sigh.

I tried. Really I did. I just can’t do it.  I regularly clean my studio, organize paints, mediums, sponges and brushes, I sort tools so everything is handy and efficient.  I have great intentions, but then....I begin to paint.  I mix and pour, and brush and I smudge and wipe and grab and throw and splash and yes...make a huge mess!  It’s wonderful!!  It’s a full body experience, fast and furious, with large brush strong strokes. Sometimes I switch hands, sometimes two arms work at once, mingling and melting colours.  It’s a glorious blur until I take a moment, a step back, a breath,... I pause and look down.  Oh crap, I’ve got paint on my shoes….Oh, man, is that purple splatter on my side, how did paint get there? Rats, it’s hard already.  
Yup, I am a messy painter.  I love colour and I guess colour loves me too, because it just seems to find the weirdest places to stick and dry. 
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Oh, by the way, I just bought a new shirt….wish it well!