Friday, July 9, 2010

Paint a Backdrop- Check!


Pocket Lake
We got home from the lake yesterday and I was amazed at how immediately it felt so good just to be home. I was also amazed at how quickly the "to-do" list grew from the moment I went through the door. As I walked through the house putting things away, I mentally took note of all there was to do. Vacuum, dust, laundry, grocery shop, sort, pile, and toss. Crazy. It made me long to go back to the lake. But instead I soldiered up and ordered a pizza for my boys and started to clean up a bit. :)

Getting started...
This morning I got right to work on a backdrop for my church's VBS program. It's been on my "to- do" list for more than a month but I put it off because I didn't know how to do it. "Just paint a sheet" were the instructions I'd been given but in my mind I was wondering the where, how, with what, and when questions. Do I use acrylics or do I try to do spray paint? Would I aphyxiate myself if I spray painted it all? Of course, I'd do it on the lawn, but how do I get the sheet to stay still? Maybe I should use acrylics, but then I'd have to buy acrylics. Maybe I should buy a stiffer fabric....

Add a few details and FINISHED!
So many questions! In the end, I pulled out my pints of leftover latex and spread out my big ol' drop cloth on the lawn and just painted the sheet. It really didn't take long, it's drying in the sun right now.

For weeks I worried about this and it was done in a little more than an hour. It's just crazy how I can build things up in my mind and make them much more difficult than they really need to be. Do you do that? Do the little things overwhelm you so that you feel you don't know where to begin? The art fair I signed up for is next Saturday. I have a whole slew of "to-do's" for that as well. I'm hoping, as happened with this backdrop, that the execution will be a lot simpler than I've anticipated. I have a display unit I picked up at a garage sale to remodel, the canvas backdrops to stitch, and an old bookshelf to rehab as a little check out counter. I'll keep you posted. :)

3 comments:

Cristi Baxter Clothier said...

Welcome Back! The backdrop looks great and I can't wait to see what your making for your art show booth.

carol gourley said...

Oh Jen,
I know exactly where you are coming from. Looking at the big picture never works for me.
A while back I was doing some reading and I came across something that has been so helpful for me in these situations. Two little words that have such a big impact......."JUST START". When ever I get overwhelmed with a project, remembering those words always works.
Your backdrop is awesome.
On the other stuff, just start.
xox carol

Shelby and Bev said...

oh jen, i am laughing at your remark "will i asphyxiate myself..."...oh, how our minds wander...the backdrop looks great..but i do the same thing..build things up in my mind till i go have to scream at mysel(silently of course)to stop!!! LOL!
xo