Comfort Zone.

I enjoy being comfortable.  As my husband could tell you, when I am even a little uncomfortable, I complain.  I'm a bit of a baby, you could say.  I like rocking in a rocking chair all morning long and drinking coffee.  I love to sit in our screened in porch and read a magazine for much longer than I should.  I like to crank the air conditioning way up so I can bundle up in my faux fur blanket every night and sleep long into the morning (much to my hubby's chagrin).

Comfort.  I dig it.

But this week.....I decided to do something....well, uncomfortable.  I took a challenge.  Strangely enough, I'm all about risk taking.  I love taking risks that involve me having control, though.  So really.....that's probably not very risky.  Hmmm.....

This week I sent out my first art submission to a magazine I love called 'Somerset Studio'.  It's produced by a company called Stampington that also produces my all time favorite magazine in the whole wide world, 'Where Women Create'.  I secretly dream of being invited to be a part of that mag someday.  It's a lofty, crazy dream.....but a dream of mine, none the less.

The challenge of the Somerset Studio 2013 Winter issue is 'A Celebration of Winter'.  And I thought and thought and thought.  What do I love about Winter?  Um......not much.   It's cold and gray and all the leaves fall from the trees to make the world look cold and bare.  I hate being cold.  I can't ride my bike or go for a run.  Maybe someone more dedicated to health would tolerate it but, me?  Nope.  I snuggle up in sweats and blankets in front of the fire with cup after cup of hot coffee.  I'm a bit of a wuss.

But, of course, we've already established that.

So, as I thought of my wussiness and all the things I hate about winter, I began to think about 'The Chronicles of Narnia' by C.S. Lewis, one of my all time fave authors.  And in the lovely movie, 'The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe', I remember thinking how beautiful Narnia was in its glorious coating of glistening snow......but how much the animals of Narnia hated the long, cold, dreadful winter brought on by the scourge of all of Narnia, itself.

The White Witch.

And, just like that.....I had my Winter subject.  

The White Witch, self-proclaimed Queen of Narnia.

Oh, she was fun to make.  The best part of everything was her funky dreadlocks pulled back into a thick ponytail and tied loosely together by another dread.  The Queen relies on no one and nothing but herself!

I had the best time picking out embellishments for her royal attire.  I took my time, didn't even look at price tags and shopped to my hearts content.

When it came time to sculpt her, I didn't plan a thing.  I just went for it.  Going on intuition, I guess.....Oh, I had the best time.  She flowed and flowed.  From beginning to end......forming her from stone clay, styrofoam, wood dowels, polymer, metal rods and all.....to her blood red lips and fur embellished dress......it was such a wonderful experience.  I think I smiled the entire time.

And, when it came time to send her off.......to soften the wickedness and 'witchiness' of her.....I painted the outgoing box with one of my soft angels.  Honestly....I did it to try to garner a little attention at the magazine.  Let's face it.....there'll be a million submissions.  Mine being chosen is slim to none.  But, my 'box angel' also stood in stark contrast to what was looming, preciously wrapped, inside the box.  Painting the box angel was almost as fun as creating the White Witch.

So.....outside of my comfort zone.  I don't submit to magazines.   Heck.....when I'm ringing up one of my pieces of art at my gallery, Sanctuary of Davidson, I have a hard time telling the buyer that I'm the artist!!  I just can't.  Why?  I don't know.  I just don't know.

But, I'll keep you informed about my progress.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!  And, really.....the joy, the progress, the victory has already been accomplished.  I'm outside of my comfort zone.

Way outside.