way out of my comfort zone

Behold! The FINAL painting of the semester. What a relief to put the final brush strokes on the surface. Relief and a feeling of incredulity.

If I had to apply a theme to the last few months, it has definitely been one of change and pushing boundaries, both in art and in other aspects of my life.

I'm primarily a painter of figurative work. In fact, I signed up for this class with the ambition of using it to spur my motivation to finish up a couple of portraits that have been languishing on my easel for a while. But in the last ten weeks, I've done nothing but abstractions. It's a complete change of pace for me, and very liberating.

In my running life, the early part of 2012 has brought me ups and downs. In January I started a rigorous program of strength training with my sister Teresa. Yes, I was in tears more than once in the gym, as she can attest, because I felt somewhat inadequate and afraid that I would be unable to keep up. But I fought through it and saw two new running PRs by pretty good margins. A new 5K PR in February and a new 8K PR in March. PRs-- beating times I had set years ag0. I shake my head in wonderment and attribute it 100% to the drive that Teresa and the new workout regime has given me.

Bask in your glory too long and it will often come to a screeching halt. I started noticing problems with my knee and had to taper back on the relentless weight work and pushing my limits of speed. It made me more than a bit sad and somewhat self-pitying. Likewise, a few weeks ago at school I had a critique that was-- let's just say-- not too positive. It caused me to seriously question the direction my art has been taking.

It's turmoil that defines us... not comfort. I'm working hard every day to get my knee stonger so that I can race well at Soldier Field in May. The physical therapy is painful. The race I did this weekend was disappointing, time-wise. But I know that, this, too will pass.

And as I finished my painting tonight, I did so with a sense of satisfaction and renewed confidence. I tried something unfamiliar. Something I've never done before. Whether it's the best work I've ever done is irrelevant. Any forward momentum moves us... well... forward.