Not getting anywhere with your painting? Try this.

I wanted to talk about transitions—where one thing ends and something else begins, like where the ocean meets the beach. There’s energy in transitions because that’s where the contrast is. It’s exciting to see a smooth field of red budding up with a plane of white. Transitions also relate to arrivals and departures. I use this idea when I’m tinkering with a painting but I’m not getting anywhere, and I’m ready to leave the studio.

Here’s what I do.

Forcing myself to make a bold, overstated move before leaving the studio sets up my transition back into the work. It doesn’t even matter if it might be a mistake. It makes it easy and faster to enter into the process because there’s something bold to respond to. More often than not, it ends up being something I keep!

What do you do to move your work along? Let me know in the comments.

This Wednesday on our next episode of the Art2Life Podcast, I’ll be talking about objectivity. We tend to get so close to our work that we don’t see it anymore and lose track. Gaining objectivity is key. I’ll share my ideas on how to do it. Join me! Click here to find the Art2Life Podcast.

Have a great Sunday!

Nicholas

PS: Have you joined our Art2Life Artists Facebook Group yet? It’s an amazing community of artists from all over the world! I pop in and share what I’m working on from time-to-time, and I’d love to see what you are creating too! If you’re on Facebook, click here to join the group.