Let’s dream together (plus, new art in the shop!)
“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced” – Vincent Van Gogh
This week’s painting, Let’s Dream Together, was a reminder that the creative process is not always easy, especially when art making is done on a schedule and can’t wait for inspiration to hit.
When the process gets tough, it’s much easier for doubt to creep in. I’ve been tempted many times lately to look at other artists and think they must never run out of ideas, or time, or energy. How do they do it? They must always easily create beautiful new work!
I SO wish this was true, but I know that it’s not (for me, or any other artist).
While I do love creating new art most of the time, there are times when working on a new painting can leave me feeling stuck for hours or even days over how to move forward.
As you’ll see in the different iterations of this week’s painting below, I tried a few different ideas. I switched back and forth between painting a landscape and an abstract, layering on the paint in different combinations.
I was so frustrated at this point that I wondered if I’d even have a finished painting to share this week. So I promised myself two things:
- That I would take a break
- That I would not give up
The break came first. This past weekend I hung out with my nephews and built a pillow fort, went to a housewarming party, watched some Parks and Recreation (our favorite TV show these days), and actually exercised for the first time in months.
When I returned to the painting on Sunday, I told myself the following:
This painting doesn’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to be perfect. All you have to do is show up and try again.
So I showed up and I tried again (while listening to a book on tape — my favorite way to paint). Here’s the final painting:
‘Let’s Dream Together’ is 16×20 and framed, making a sweet and dreamy addition to any child’s bedroom.
What I’m going to take with me after this week is that making art is just like anything else: there will always be good days and bad days, ease and struggle.
What matters most is not how we show up on our best days (when the art flows easily, when we’re well rested and happy), but how we show up on our worst days.
When frustration hits and your ego-voice tells you to cut your losses and run, step away and regroup. Dance, drink water, build pillow forts: whatever it is that helps you stay flexible and come back to your center.
Next, try again. What you create might be totally different than you expected (this is often the case for me), but I’ve found that some of my favorite art and ideas have come as the result of being completely stuck.
By all means paint (or write, garden, cook, knit — whatever you want to do). And if you get stuck, let’s dream together until we can move forward again.
With love,
Kevin
People have always said that sometimes you have to take a step backwards in order to move forward. When hitting a roadblock, I have practiced the concept of stopping the task, and then enjoying the surroundings, sitting or lying down, looking at clouds, talking to someone nearby, smelling, tasting something good, and then trying again.
This method has always worked for me, and I like that, in my mind, I never took that step backwards! :)
Elizabeth McDonnell
That’s a great attitude to have! :)