ART BATTLE 2

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

                      Well hell yeah, I know it's been a couple of months but don't say I never do what I threaten to do.

                I took part in Art Battle Halifax.
               
               With the exception of one brave man I was  the oldest there which is what I expected.  Cool young dudes  smeared with paint  creating cool  canvases, and girls barely primed with the first layer of life squeezing out globs of alizaren the color of their cheeks.  One girl painted her lips with it and started off by kissing her canvas.

               Hard to compete against that.

               But art has no age limit right?  So there we were.. twelve of us would be placed in front of blank canvases tonight and given 20 minutes to paint something.  WITHOUT REFERENCE MATERIAL.

               I have to paint what I know.  Something from the farm??...  Something I see every day?..  there in my mind... its form and color easy to slap down in 20 min.  The overhead lights are bright.   Adrenalin  pumping along with the music that rattles the floor.  The bar is open. A lovely couple I meet buy me a drink.  And another.  Around 100 guests and spectators circled around the artists waiting for the countdown.  These guests would be the judges casting their ballots for their favorite painting.  Would an artist faint?.  Cut off their ear?  Throw up there hands and just head for the bar? 
                
               " Aren't you nervous? " challenged one trembling creator.

               " I'm old enough" I said, "there's nothing much left to be afraid of. "

              10... 9... 8... 7... 6 ...5..  We grab our brushes and we're off.

              You can see my masterpiece in the photo.  A quick version of one of the peacocks that roam our country property.  I was  happy with it except time ran out before I could paint a nostril on him.  At the end of the evening our paintings would be auctioned off in a silent auction. 

                  Would anyone notice?

             Did I win Art Battle?  Noooo.... but this is the most fun I've ever had with my clothes on.  If time could fly like that when you're at the dentist... or doing your taxes.

            If you would like to see the winner and a few pics of this little fiasco check the article  here.

            I don't get out much and when I do I like to do something that stays in my memory bank.  This was one of those things.  I can't explain why an introvert closet artist who ponders for hours over little paintings would want to do such a reckless thing.  But I do know I would like to do it again.  Perhaps I will do better sober.

            And my peacock?  He did find a home.  I hope he hasn't suffocated.