Mockingbird Has Entered the Chat

A few weeks ago, I was feeling like I was spinning my wheels. I was spinning and spinning and I was not getting anywhere. My days were spent pouring through the pages of art books, scrolling through google images for hours and doing a lot of what I would consider, “nothing”. I felt bad. Every day that passed, I felt like I was getting deeper and deeper into a creative depression I was not sure if I would make it out of.

After a few days, I finally reached out to my mentor and I told her what I was feeling. I showed her some of my work and she replied, “Frustration precedes discovery.” That phrase helped me step outside of myself for a moment and refocus my energy. I was searching for something so hard, I did not realize that I was actually learning things. The feelings of despair had taken over the positive feelings I should have had about search and discovery. At least, that is how I feel now.

Of course, it is easy to feel positive about a situation like this after things have passed. I’ll be honest- it freaking sucked while I was going through this.

“Mockingbird” Original painting. Please click here to purchase.

I have stories to tell. I have emotions. Energy.. and I feel that my creative process has been a little bit suppressed in the last year or so. I was looking for a way to incorporate some of my very early style of art journaling and mark making back into my process. I wanted to loosen up and be more carefree with my process while still creating pieces that I felt were technically advanced.

Close-up details of my abstract painting, “Mockingbird”. 20x20”

In the detail images above, you can see the visual layering and gradual color shifts in each layer of paint. The challenge to me throughout this process is to include all of those complexities without covering up the process underneath..if that makes sense. A painting like this is more of a complicated art journal page to me, and that is the vision I am trying to incorporate into my finished work. It is not easy to unify color junctions and keep them from looking flat and forced. I am trying to make the painting look like it has been assembled over a long period of time…years even. I like the painting to appear aged and worn, always.

“Mockingbird” original art by Julie Prichard.

I love how this painting turned out and since the struggle through “Mockingbird”, I have completed some more new abstract paintings and the process is getting easier. I feel pretty good now, but I understand how the struggle feels. I think it is important to understand that this part of the process is natural, and it happens..and the quicker you can recognize what is happening, the quicker you can pull yourself out of it. I know it is not easy.

Since 2009, I have been teaching online painting workshops with personalized feedback. I encourage all of my students to either post in our private facebook group or email me when they are stuck with their paintings. I’ve always been a proponent of personalized coaching through the abstract process because I think it is most valuable for all artists to be able to express their OWN individual voice. There is little value in trying to learn a new process without the support of an experienced artist. My students understand that they can obtain my help or feedback if they are copying the class lesson OR if they are taking the class content in a completely different direction….or both! To see my list of available workshops which include this personalized service, please click here. I’d love to be able to paint with you. - Julie Prichard