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| "Pi", 8" x 10", Acrylic & gesso, chalk & pencil on primed mat board; © 2015 Prints available--message me for details. |
“Artist’s
Block” is rooted in fear. Fear of
mistakes. Fear of messing up. Fear of failure. All of these will impede beginning. Beginning is the end of Artist’s Block.
Indecision
is the result of this fear. Making “The Decision”
is the key. The idea is to
create something to respond to. The
Decision is probably going to be wrong anyway but it will prompt a reaction.
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| "Hyperbolic Paraboloid Sketch", 8" x 10", Gesso, chalk & pencil on primed mat board; © 2015 Prints Available--Message me for details. Collection Steve Nyland |
Responding is the key to unlocking creativity. It doesn't even matter if the idea and execution are awful. But get the ball rolling and believe that you have what it takes to figure it out. It’s easier to work with something than to work with nothing.
It’s like
editing. You can’t edit what isn’t
there. Your artwork is in motion as long
as you can determine a problem and consider a solution. Problem solving is creative. Trust your instincts. Don’t quit until it works.
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| "Tree of Life, 6 Points", 8" x 10", Acrylic & Gesso, chalk & pencil on primed mat board; © 2015 Backed, shrink wrapped and shipped anywhere in the lower 48 for $65. |
I run into this hesitation in my studio these days with each new piece. When I was in the midst of a focus project I knew what the next step was at the end of the day and what to do when I got back into the studio.
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| "Black Transformation Hexagon", 72" x 72", Gesso white wash on roofing felt; © 2015 Unframed, rolled and shipped anywhere in the lower 48 for $400 |
Free range artwork is a whole different process in the wake of the focus project. Each piece requires fresh inspiration, new insight and solutions. OUCH!
I am currently reworking last year’s abstract drawings with mathematics.
Each piece relates to different equations, parabolas or geometry--eventually.
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| "Sweetgrass Drawing", Gesso & chalk on primed mat board; © 2014 Prints available--message me for details. |
I continually say, “Make a decision. It doesn’t matter if it works right now. It will work.” Each painting has required response after response to those initial decisions. Each painting resolves itself into a fine and unusual artwork—WINNING!
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| "Parabola Oops", Acrylic & gesso, chalk & pencil on primed mat board; © 2015 Backed, shrink wrapped and shipped anywhere in the lower 48 for $65. |
If you are avoiding your studio I want to encourage you. Make a decision on that painting that has you stuck. If it’s the empty canvas (or page) that has you stuck then just slam it. Make something to paint out and see what that looks like. Then paint it out again. And then paint that out. What colors have evolved? What textures?
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| "Sweetgrass Parabola", 8" x 10", Acrylic & gesso, chalk & pencil on primed mat board; © 2015 Backed, shrink wrapped and shipped anywhere in the lower 48 for $65. |
Work with what emerges. Let it tell you what’s happening, what it is and where it’s going. All you need to do is push it and follow it. Do it. Make it. It’s only art, right?
Have faith--it’s
more fun than fear. You will not fail if you do not quit. Let me know how it
works out for you.
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| "Hypar Quad w/Circles", 8" x 10", Acrylic & gesso, chalk & pencil on primed mat board; © 2015 Backed, shrink wrapped and shipped anywhere in the lower 48 for $65. |
Wonderful work. Burning brain.
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