Sometimes we try too hard. Instead of enjoying what we are doing, we are constantly wondering what people will be thinking. We are trying to impress! Let me explain. Someone I know commissioned me to paint a portrait of his late brother. This gentleman expects perfection. So, in my attempt at perfection, I have been trying too hard to get the portrait to be 'perfect'. The harder I try, the worse the painting gets. So today I decided to try some of the loose painting style I used yesterday on my self portrait. I quickly primed a masonite board that I had, and without grids and precise pencil drawing I just went ahead and laid paint on the board. In less than an hour I had a better likeness on the board than I did on the canvas after days of painting. The painting is not complete, but since it was just an exercise I'm not too worried.
What now? Well if I can do it on board without much effort, then I better get back to the canvas and do what I now know I can do.
Awesome job, I know the feeling when I try to make my painting perfect it never works ...I learned to just go with what is created because my minds eye is looking for perfection but in others eyes it is already perfect!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, it is so great to know that other artists also face these hurdles.
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