I talk a lot in my workshops about the benefits of painting every day. There are so many: you become less emotionally involved with each painting; you are less fearful; you feel more free to experiment; you grow quickly; etc. But what I am now realizing is that you need down time too. Just like your body HAS TO sleep, your brain/creative side NEEDS time to process - to learn - to rest. I hit a wall with my painting last week, and I think it was because I was using every spare second to paint/work. I was pushing myself so hard to produce produce produce that I became a machine, and not a creative machine. So going forward, I may produce a little less, but hopefully what I do paint will be better - more inspired - and I will enjoy the process more. Here's to happy painting, and some down time too.
6 comments:
Amen to that. I find that if I don't watch it I can become kinda obsessional where all I'd think/do is paint. Fortunately, work and family duties pull me out, but I still have to make a conscious effort to just "let it go". Yes here's to happy painting and the important other things in life too.
I totally 100% agree with you. Painting, drawing, "arting" all the time non-stop doesn't leave you time to be inspired by the world around you. I think this beautiful painting you just did, shows how a little down time can help produce beautiful results.
I really appreciate you blog because you not only display you wonderful paintings, but you voice the kind of concerns and thoughts many artists seem to have. So, yay you!
Must be something in the air - I just had this conversation with my art group last night. I think your realization has already had an impact - this cantalope painting is one of your loveliest in awhile. My husband always says that identifying a problem is 90% of fixing it.
Enjoy your upcoming workshop and take some days off! (And Hi to Lorrie, Mary and the others who are lucky enough to be your students again)
Good for you! But I doubt you'll slow down much, you love to paint too much :)
Thanks for that.
I've felt almost like a slacker, not getting a painting a day, but I can't force it.
I AM constantly thinking about it and
looking at EVERYTHING as a Painting (occupational hazard ;D)
but I'm reading a book or planting something in the garden or sitting on the beach.
Still, I always feel like I should be painting.
Bless you for saying this. Musicians often say that the space between the notes is just as important as the notes themselves.
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