Introducing the Summer Vibes Project
Spring is really showing her face here in Colorado. The hills are greener, the water in the creek is rising as the snow melts in the mountains, the leaves are popping on the trees, and flowers are blooming. But I know that summer is right around the corner. Summer is my busiest time of year in work and in life. At work, summer camp will be in full swing, I'll be training for my cycling events, my parents will be in town, and I always want to spend as many hours outside as possible.
Along with the excitement comes the anxiety. I have been on such a roll for the first quarter plus of the year, but now is the real test. Will I be able to maintain my focus on consistency, my word for 2023, or is my art going to take a back seat as I enjoy all that summer has to offer?
In an attempt to be proactive and assuage my anxiety, I have designed a project for myself that I want you to be a part of. I would like to ask you for some help encouraging my motivation to paint over the summer. What I'm looking for is reference photos. Photos from traveling, staycations spent in the garden, solo walks in the park, sitting on the beach, or quiet moments when you marveled at a view or details like a flower. These kinds of photos always give me summer vibes even after summer has ended. If you scroll through your phone, are there any photos that resonate with this idea?
I’m serious, pause for a moment and look through the photos on your phone.
What are your favorite photos?
Why are they your favorite?
Do they make you happy, peaceful, nostalgic, restless?
Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska, 2018
These are the kinds of photos that I go to for inspiration. When the cooler temperatures return, photos from the summer often keep me motivated through the long winter.
This is part one of my project: capturing those special moments.
Part two is the harder part. Maybe this applies to you too. Raise your hand 🙋 if any of these resonate:
You enjoy going on vacation or traveling.
You enjoy taking pictures on your phone or with a camera.
Your photos languish on your camera, phone, or computer, but maybe you put them on social media.
You tell yourself that you'll put together a photo album or get some pictures printed and framed for your home, but it never seems to happen.
I certainly can relate. I finally put together my wedding photo album last Christmas... eight years after getting married. Better late than never, am I right? While I may not be the best at putting together photo albums or framing photographs, I do love to paint from reference photos.
Here is where we combine part one and part two into something magical.
Here is how The Summer Vibes Project is going to work:
You send me a photograph or two that you love. Even better, tell me where the photo is from and why you love it.
I choose my favorites to paint during my busy summer season. Sorry, I won't pick them all. For sizes I am thinking 5x7 and smaller; maybe 8x10 if the photo needs the space.
I will share and document the process along the way.
I will have a collection of artwork available for purchase at the end of the summer for those who liked the paintings. I'm still thinking through how that part would work, not going to lie, but pricing would be under $100.
I will also create paintings from my own “summer vibes” photos that will be available for purchase.
What do you think?
If you want to be a part of The Summer Vibes Project. Here is what you do:
Sign up for my newsletter list. This way you know when paintings are available for purchase, even if you do not send me something to paint.
Follow my Instagram page so you can see all the progress and process photos from this project.
If you want to send me photos, send me an email with the subject line Summer Vibes 2023 here. Photos must be yours. Please only high res images, otherwise I probably will not pick your photos.
I am beyond excited to get started on this project and I hope you will consider participating and join me along the way. Here are some paintings that I would put into the category of summer vibes.
