Finding Yourself In The Paint

Have you ever struggled to find yourself? Like to feel confident in your decisions about life? Not that you aren't happy, but just feeling a little awkward teenager-ish??

I was just walking through that stage. I was feelin real awkward, like one day I was a prep, the next day I was country, next day I was goth. Ya know one of those girls that tries out a million different styles because she can't quite figure out where she fits in. Except I wasn't doing it with clothes. I was struggling to find how to express myself through art.

As I have said here MANY many times, I am extremely blessed to have a creative family, my grandmother paints, my aunt is an artist, my mom and other aunt can make junk from the side of the road look like a million bucks. Basically, I was born to be creative. So I tried out a lot. I tried painting furniture, making furniture, water color, acrylic, oil and on and on. I liked them all. I just didn't feel like I was expressing "ME".

Art is a form of expression. Just like some people express themselves through music, writing or speaking. Creating is a gift from God that allows you to express yourself and your story in a unique way, and I don't want to waist that! I want to find how to express myself and my God story through creating. Gah it was such a struggle. Was I doing certain things because I saw other artists be successful with them, or was I doing that because that truly felt natural to me? Did I feel like it was MY story or was I just trying to tell a story someone was interested in...

STRUGGLE BUS!

After talking to an artist I have learned to really love and admired, she told me to put challenges in place. Put restrictions on my paintings. It could be certain sizes, or colors, but these restrictions would allow me to see similarities that are unique to me that I may have missed in the chaos of creating. And ya know, what I did.

I found that I love vibrant colors, buttery strokes, and southern subject matter. When I stepped back and saw how all of these things ran through each piece I created I realized I truly did find myself in the paint!

(find these paintings and more on my website www.gracelangdonart.com)

A Home Tour

WARNING! THIS IS WAY WAY WAY OUT DATED. OOPS :) 

So I don't have many official tours yet so here are a few pictures and links to hold you over until I get the official posts up :)

When you walk in this is the first thing you will see in our home :) The mantel is a little different now and I'm sure it will continuously change but for now this will have to suffice! You can see a very early tour of the room HERE. 

Here is my favorite part of the living room. Funky fresh!! You can check out the tutorial for the Gas Can Lamp, Suitcase Table, and Painted Chair by clicking on the links!

I haven't even gotten around to finish our room yet. I've got a LOT to do but for now I will show you this quick picture of our bed and beside tables. You can see the tutorial on those tables HERE.

Hopefully I will get more done real soon :)

Our single bathroom is a bit strange. Long and narrow! But it does have lots of shelving which is pretty rad :) Right now the bathroom is getting another make over. I decided to give it a quick paint job and do some other cosmetic things so be on the look out for the new reveal :) But for now you can check out the earlier post HERE! 

You can also check out my post on this SCRUB sign HERE!

Here is a room that is "finished" for now :) It's a bit busy because it is used as a guest room but also a craft room. You can see the  Official Tour or click on over to the Murphy Bed Tutorial!

Finally is the kitchen. And I don't really have any pictures I like other than these from this Christmas tour. BUT the good news is that the kitchen is almost TOTALLY done so I will be adding that tour ASAP!

And thats our house!!
Like I said at the beginning the house is constantly changing so hopefully I will be able to keep up here for you :)