NaMoPaiMo day eight

It feels like everyone is painting an Appaloosa this year.

photo and model by Stephanie Blaylock

And so far...

photo and model by Heather Burchfield

I like all of them...

photo and model by Kerri Gehrmann Johnson

yes, Kristen, even your "ugly stage" Jolie....

photo and model by Kristen Cermele

better than mine.

photo and model by Lynn Weber

Sigh.

It's not just me. This happens every year during NaMoPaiMo. With so many people sharing photos of their truly outstanding work, it's hard not to be discouraged. Because of this, I was really happy when Jenn Constantine shared a long story post to the NaMoPaiMo Facebook page early today. 

She writes: Okay, story time... hopefully one that some will find encouraging.

As artists, it's so easy for us to look over at someone else's "easel" and ask ourselves "... why am I bothering?"

Bother. Bother the entire world with your try, because you are you, and you are not someone else.

A couple years ago, I didn't consider myself to have any talent painting. I had an itch to work on a Sarah Mink unicorn medallion and thought, "Hey, bones could be cool." I prepped it, did some light pencil work. I got the background down, then started pulling together my skeleton references... and totally lost my nerve. That voice had spoken up... "why are YOU even here? There are other artists that could do this so much better. You know NOTHING about horse bones, let alone painting them!"

Spook almost didn't happen. But I replied to myself that I would definitely know nothing if I didn't try. If worse came to worse, I could strip it and no one would know. He became my token piece, a major step in my learning, and the never-sell that made me realize I should be taking my artistic endeavors more seriously.

So even if your NaMo model doesn't end up being 'your Spook', it's a critical step regardless on a path none of us can predict. Please take it, we are with you!

Jenn has one of the most cheerful, encouraging and helpful mentors on the NaMoPaiMo page this year, and the entire staff agrees that she is today's NaMoPaiMo Champion of the Day.

photo and models by Jenn Constantine

Congratulations, Jenn and good job to everyone who worked on their models today. I can't wait to see what we all do tomorrow!