Are You Struggling With How To Figure Out What To Paint?

I feel there is an idea, an image, a scene, something I want to paint. But I can’t seem to figure it out… I make sketches…but they don’t quite get it.
When the time comes to put paint on the canvas, I get confused. I feel that I am not able to do what I really want to do. And then I get blocked and frustrated….and quit. Tv storyboard artists effort is really extra ordinary in order for them to produce the best results.

I have this feeling that there is something in my brain that must come out on my canvas…but how do I discover what it is?

This is a frustrating situation for me as well as for my students and workshop attendees. It is difficult for them and their teachers when the painting process becomes a struggle with knowing how to start a painting.

What if I told you that there was a way you could bypass all the trouble of figuring out what you wanted to paint? What if you could bypass all those sketches, those paintings that do not express what you really want to say? That would give you more time to paint and less frustration trying to figure out “what” to paint!

I believe you can learn how to see your way into a painting right from the start so that you have more time for the fun part – actually painting!

If you were to ask a professional artist what the most important thing is in painting, they would probably tell you that it was practice. All other factors, such as talent and skill, are secondary. They might say this because they believe it, but also because it’s true.

So how much practice should you do? The answer to this question depends on your goals. If your goal is to become a professional artist, then a lot of practice would be a good idea, if you can manage it. But if your goal is simply to paint for fun, then less practice might be better.

Are you struggling with how to figure out what to paint? Or, are you thinking that it would be easier if you could know ahead of time what the resulting painting will look like? The following is for you.

There are no special tricks or things to do to guarantee your painting will turn out as you want; the only way it will turn out right is to make it right. This can be frustrating if you are not sure what is “right.” It can seem that there are so many decisions to be made that it would be easier if you could just know ahead of time what the painting will look like. That way, you could just go down a list of instructions.

The answer is that the paintings do have an appearance in mind before I start them. They have a specific kind of look or feel or mood or story or whatever, and I need to achieve that look, feel, etc. but it isn’t something I can specify ahead of time. I have to figure it out as I go along because this is one of the ways paintings are unique each time they are made.

Fasting Your Way To Gut Health

This article addresses something that’s crucial to good health but many people still seem to be unaware of. That is daily fasting. Fasting is simply going without food for a period time. Have a probiotic everyday that is how to improve gut health.

It’s not a complex thing, but if you want to look into it seriously (and by that I mean fasting over an extended period of time), you’re diabetic, pregnant or have autoimmune issues it’s a good idea to get advice and understand how to do it safely.

We actually fast every day without realizing it, because we fast during the night whilst we’re sleeping.

Fasting is said to help boost your immune system, lower blood sugar and control weight among others. You’re actually being kind to your gut when you fast because you’re allowing the waste that’s currently in your system to work its way out before you then start eating again.

Essentially you’re giving your whole digestive system a rest, so that the body can go back to what it does naturally, which is to heal and repair.

What we often do, however, is to graze. So we may have a hearty breakfast first thing in the morning when we wake up because it’s what we think we should do. We may have a snack at around 11.00. We’ll then have lunch probably around 12.00-1.00pm. We may have a snack around 4pm, then we have dinner probably around 6.00-7.00pm. We may even have a little snack before we go to bed.

What that means is that we’re constantly eating, which means our digestive system rarely rests. The consequence of this is that our body is constantly using energy to digest our food rather than burning fat which is what it is designed to do when we don’t eat.

In addition, when we’re snacking we don’t always know whether we really are hungry, and over time eating between meals just becomes a habit. Sometimes we eat when we’re not even hungry, we’re actually dehydrated and thirsty.

If we adopt the following seven simple strategies essentially we’ll be not only giving our body the chance to rest the digestive tract, we’ll also be boosting our immune system:

1. Have a later rather than an earlier breakfast

2. If you must eat an early breakfast make it fruit based where possible, as your body is still in cleanse mode first thing in the morning

3. Eat when you’re hungry

4. Drink water between meals rather than snacking

5. Don’t eat after 8pm

6. Eat your last meal no more than 4 hours before bed

7. Fast intermittently each day for 12-16 hours between your last meal and your breakfast

Thinking about how you eat, what you eat and when you eat is the beginning of taking control over your own gut health. Be mindful of what you eat first thing in the morning when our body is still cleansing – in the same way you wouldn’t feed a new-born baby solids, your stomach first thing in the morning needs to be nurtured a little.

Finally you can train your body to fast intermittently each day over a period of time until your body gets accustomed to it. Start with going without food overnight for 12 hours and gradually extend it. Intermittent fasting is not only great for your gut, it’s one of the easiest and most effective ways to help your body to begin functioning optimally and to boost your overall health.

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What to Wear During Workouts

I have personally witnessed people wearing all types of things to workout in. But, what’s the right thing to workout in. Well, there are certainly some things you shouldn’t wear to workout in, such as high heels and blue jeans. I know, I know, it sounds like common sense, but like I said – I’ve witnessed people wearing all types of things. Pilates teacher training Sydney don’t care about your outfit as long as you are comfortable with it.

Please don’t wear heels, dress shoes, wedges, etc. These types of shoes pose a great risk to you and others around you. They don’t have the stability of a tennis shoe, nor do they have the traction that a tennis shoe does. Whether you’re using cardio machines, lifting weights, or running, these types of shoes could cause you to slip, misstep, twist / roll your ankle, or worse. This can cause you a great deal of pain, put you down for a while (meaning, no working out or involving yourself in other activities, etc.), and could possibly hurt others around you if you happen to fall on them or drop weights on their foot.

Second, please don’t wear blue jeans to workout in. Blue jeans are not designed to be workout clothes. They don’t stretch like workout clothes should, they can (and usually do) cause chaffing on the legs where your legs rub together (not comfortable at all!), and they just aren’t lightweight enough to get a good workout in. Not to mention how difficult it is to do sit-ups (or anything where you sit on a hard surface to workout) because of where the seams are in the rear of the jeans. It’s just plain uncomfortable and annoying.

So, what do you wear? Here’s a list of a few things you could / should wear to workout in. Please keep in mind that the type of workout you are doing should help determine what you should wear. For example, if you are doing kickboxing, karate, or some other form of active non-machine cardio you would probably be much more comfortable in loose fitting workout clothes. However, if you’re lifting weights or using cardio machines then you may be more comfortable in tighter-fitting workout clothes. But please, please, please for the sake of those working out around you, please wear something that covers you up and please, please, please wear deodorant!! There’s nothing worse than working out next to someone who just plain stinks!

  • T-Shirt
  • Tank Top
  • Sports Bra– regular bra’s just don’t give the proper support.
  • Lightweight Jackets / Hoodies / Windbreaker– if you’re working out where it’s cold, or if you just like to sweat more during your workout.
  • Spandex / Stretchy Pants, Shorts, or Crops– crops are usually for women, but I suppose men can wear them too. Men – please make sure your shorts aren’t too short (personal preference here). Mid to lower thigh is sufficient.
  • Sweatpants
  • Groove Pants – these are workout pants that are stretchy, but the bottom of the legs are wider than normal workout pants.
  • Special Workout Skirts– yes, they sell these; although, I don’t see them worn very often.
  • Socks and Underwear– yes, you should definitely wear these!!
  • Head and Neck Warmers / Gloves / Arm Warmers – these should only be worn if you’re working out in cold weather
  • GOOD Pair of Tennis Shoes– these shoes should have ample support for your arches, heals, and the balls of your feet. They should provide support and comfort. If needed, put a pair of insoles in the tennis shoes as well for additional comfort.

There are tons of items out there to purchase so make sure you know what type of workout you will be doing and what you feel comfortable wearing prior to purchasing a bunch of workout clothes. I have realized over time that there are certain things that I don’t like wearing to workout (i.e. sweatshirts / jackets, groove pants, sweatpants, and t-shirts), but these are personal preferences. Please keep in mind, too, that the more you workout the more workout clothes you’ll need. Workout clothes tend to wear out quicker than other clothes (if worn frequently) because of the sweating, the stretching of the material from the actual workout, and the frequent washing. However, if you are looking to really lose weight I wouldn’t recommend purchasing a ton of workout clothes to start because as you lose weight you’ll need to purchase smaller workout clothes (which is awesome!!). Learn more first the basic workout in order for your muscles to adapt for a sudden changes.

Your shoes are the #1 thing you should think about and maintain during your workouts! Remember to replace your tennis shoes when needed:

  • If you are a ‘lower-mileage’ person (workout / run 3 – 4 times a week), then replacing them a couple times a year should be fine.
  • If you are an ‘average-mileage’ person (workout / run more than 4 times a week), then you should probably replace them every 3 – 4 months.
  • However, if you workout / run a LOT (i.e. you’re training for a marathon), then you’ll probably need to replace your shoes every 2 – 3 months.
  • Be sure to check the tread on your shoes to determine if you need to replace them sooner or later than indicated above. Some people wear shoes out in one spot quicker than others depending on how they step. If you see significant wear in only one spot, then you should probably speak with your doctor because wear in only one area of the shoe (i.e. one side of the shoe or on the heal) can indicate a gait issue that could cause knee and hip issues.
  • If you have a pair of tennis shoes that have been sitting around for a long time (a year or more), get rid of them. Shoes wear down even when they aren’t being used.
  • It’s recommended to have a couple pairs of shoes to alternate. This allows one pair to completely air out and dry (yes, your feet sweat, too) between workouts.
  • Ensuring you have a good pair of tennis shoes for working out can reduce injuries, recovery time from workouts, and can help reduce long-term issues such as back, leg, and hip soreness.

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