Last week I tried something new. I’m open to new things, have always been a risk-taker, but as a good risk-taker, I know I have to be prepared for an outcome I didn’t intend.

The “something new” turned out to be one of those outcomes.

Here’s the story. I have done most of the pieces for my Celestial Bodies series in 12 x 15- inch format, and I like how they’ve turned out. But I read an article (be careful what you read) about upping your art game and being fearless and, and, and.  Then I saw some larger pieces that caught me and made me think – silly fledgling – that the way to up my own game was to Go Bigger.

So I did.

I had a large canvas I’d bought for a different possibility and decided to give it a go with a new piece for Celestial Bodies. Well, the whole thing turned into an exercise in frustration mostly because you can’t just scale up (at least I could not) a concept that’s working well at a different size.

I should have realized this because years ago my former husband, an artist and architect, designed beautiful art nouveau wedding rings for us. Mine was perfect, but when the goldsmith scaled his up to fit my husband’s larger finger, the beauty of the design suffered. (This is not why he’s my former husband, however. Different story.)

Last night I started a new 12 x 15-inch piece and this morning worked on it adding a lot of color and trying some new ideas. So far, so good. Color is my animal and I’m having a great time with this one. I know it will work.

There’s more than one way to skin a cat (horrible thought) and there’s more than one way to up your art game.  Being fearless with our art can take many forms and lessons are everywhere.

The fledgling is learning.