This year I made it a goal to paint at least 3 times a week. I would like to paint everyday but decided to work up to that goal.
So painting 3-5 times a week means that I should have some finished work to post. I do have work, only it is not finished. Most of the work I am currently doing either ends up in the garbage or stays unfinished. I always seem to get to a point about halfway through the paintings where I get so frustrated with what I am doing that I don't know where to go with it; or I have had so much fun painting that I have painted it to death.
I know that I need to concentrate more on the planning stages so that the composition and direction of the painting are completely in focus before ever picking up the paint brush. Still knowing you need to do something and the ability to do it can be two completely different things.
I have been reading about the learning process especially related to art. It is interesting and I will post more on it next week. Through this study I can see that I am at a transition point in my art. I want something better than what I have been doing but getting there is frustrating.
Working through frustration can be discouraging. The key is in the word "working". It may take a while and a few garbage cans but this should be a temporary (although probably reoccurring) situation. All artists go through times like this. What things have you done to help through the frustrating times? I would appreciate your ideas.
I've tried many things to get out of the slump, which hits you no matter what level you are at, but I've come to a conclusion that the only way to get out is just keep painting. Sometimes, studying really hard what went wrong in my failures and painting the same subject again suprises me because I'm more relaxed and know all the pitfalls beforehand.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. It helps to know that others have also shared these frustrations...and really helpful to learn how they worked through it.
ReplyDeleteEverything I see here, looks beautiful, even in their unfinished state! sometimes walking away from something and coming back later gives a compete new perspective and what we saw us frustration, then becomes actually quite satisfying! good luck!
ReplyDeleteRonell
You are right sometimes a fresh perspective makes all the difference. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMaybe some of your unfinished paintings would be good classroom demonstrations. Get a new slant from students.
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