This may sound silly to some who know me, but I regularly forget how to paint.
Silly, right?
But it’s true. And it has to do with confidence.
My confidence gets tested more often than I’d like to admit, but it does happen, especially when I run into a painting project that does not go well.
I’m working on that kind of project now, and every time I do another small study for the project to work out some of the problems in my palette, composition, or my strategy (i.e. what part of the painting gets painted first, second, etc.), I feel tremendously frustrated and lost.
I feel like I don’t know how to paint.
However, even if I feel that way, I have to paint to keep up with deadlines, and I have to paint to work myself out of my funk.
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So what’s the best way to keep painting when you feel lost?
No. 1
Go back to basics.
For me, that actually means pulling out some pencils or markers rather than some brushes.
When I’m stuck, I look to work out a solid value plan for a painting, and then, only once I have that, I’ll work on the painting with the value plan by my side. This extra prep keeps me on track and usually leads to a successful painting session. And having some success helps get me out of my head.
No. 2
Admit that you are in a funk.
Teaching regularly over the last several months has meant that I have even more deadlines to fulfill and project paintings to develop for my students. AND…. having meetings with my students allowed me to get some things off my chest.
Like admitting that I felt lost.
I told my students that for two reasons… first to get my angst out there and expedite the process of letting it go.
But also to let them know that painting can be frustrating at times, and that I feel those frustrations, just like they do.
It’s okay to feel that way.
The important thing to remember is how you respond to the challenge.
Do you quit? Do you say, “I don’t know how to paint!” and give up?
No… I want my students to paint their way out of their frustrations, and I want to paint my way out, too.
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So, when you feel those doubts, and fear that you aren’t an artist, be sure to trust the process.
Go back to basics, admit how you feel, and work your way out of the funk.
And remember that every time you do that, you become a better and more resilient painter and person.