New work - "Coastal Strawberries"

Back in November I wrote about a technique that I was trying out for keeping me focused while painting.  It is called the "Pomodoro technique" and I read about it on Robert Genn's website.  The painting that I had first tried out with this technique has been complete for a little while now, but I have only just gotten around to taking a photo and getting it up here....

It's a small little painting (only 8" x 8"), I've titled it "Coastal Strawberries" and will be exhibiting it April 12th - 14th at the Burnaby Artists Guild Spring Show.  Hope to see some of you there.

Pomodoro

If you are on the mailing list for Robert Genn's Twice Weekly Letters you may have read the one for October 25th, "Pomodoro Technique".  I found the tips in this letter particularly useful and have begun to apply the technique as a means of keeping myself focused.  The Pomodoro Technique is explained a bit here:

"The Pomodoro Technique is a time-management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s.  The timer is set for 25 minutes and then you focus and go to work on your predetermined job.  At the end of the time period, the alarm goes off and you take a five minute break.  Then you start on your next Pomodoro.  If your Pomodora gets interrupted by a phone call or a request to go down and drain the lake, you'll have to stop and restart your Pomodoro later."  Robert Genn

A little kitchen timer is the type suggested, but I find the ticking too distracting, so I use the timer on my phone.

I picked out this photo, taken on a trip to Tofino, to use as inspiration on my first pomodoro painting

I haven't been very diligent in keeping track of how many pomodoros I'm doing, and my breaks are definitely longer than 5 minutes, but so far I think I am at about 7 sessions and have the following to show for it:

Here's hoping the next 7 pomodoros go as well.