Things Seldom Go As Planned

I shared a story recently on my instagram that seemed to resonate with a lot of readers. I make a load of mistakes while I am painting. I want to share with you why I think it is important to realize this.

I anticipate mistakes. Because I have been practicing so long, my favorite part of the game is to be able to correct mistakes. My favorite part is not the process of making a painting, it’s more so the problem solving that happens in these organic abstracts.

“Yes it is” is a 30x40 inch blue toned abstract paining that I recently finished. I work from home, so while these larger pieces are waiting to be sold, I hang them in the house here. “Yes it is” had been mocking me for a few weeks and I decided that I needed to make some changes. Here is where the painting was the first time I considered it finished:

The first version of my abstract painting, “Yes it is”. This painting was too patchy and I wanted to change it.

I can see in the first version of the painting that I was tight. My goal was to incorporate color into the artwork without blending it all together. I was striving for neighboring colors. The end result appeared to be way too “blocky”.

Fast forward a couple of weeks. After the painting had been bothering me for a while, I took it down and stripped the varnish off of it. I have mentioned before that I now keep a detailed record of all of the colors I mix and my process for each painting, and I am happy to report that this new process paid off! I flipped to the “Yes it is” section of my journal and was easily able to recreate the entire original palette. The “old Julie” would have been able to blend in new color onto this piece, but I would have had no way remembered for sure which blue I used! Having the record handy allowed me to process these changes very quickly. I was so happy to have those notes!

The new version of “Yes it is” pictured in my living room.

The changes and re-varnishing of the piece took about half a day. I am much happier with the new version of this painting. I am going to build a light walnut floating frame for it while it waits for it’s permanent home.

I know it is easy to cruise though instagram and social media and look at all the pretty pictures of what seems to be the glamorous life of artists. I fight. I fight with myself, I fight with my art, the paints, everything. I feel like if paintings were to come easy, they wouldn’t be worth it. Know what I mean? I appreciate the challenge. The challenge drives to to be better and to keep creating. It’s never boring, that’s for sure!

When you’re down or frustrated with your art, take a step back and know this: The struggle happens to everyone..all levels. It’s so easy to dwell on the comments (or lack there of) on social media, to dwell on a comment that someone makes about the art in person, or even from your family and friends! I think the sooner that you recognize that every time you solve a mistake or problem, you are gaining valuable experience! The problems will keep coming, but the time it takes you to solve them, the time you are frustrated, those periods will become easier.

“Yes it is”. 30x40” Original abstract painting; Available for sale here.

Does this resonate with you? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Keep in mind that I offer personalized feedback and coaching included with all of my online workshops! I invite students into my private teaching group on Facebook so that they can share their questions and receive feedback every day. If you are not using facebook, you can also send me your class work via email and we can correspond daily.