How great is that quote?  The journey from difficulty and confusion to clarity and joy.  That’s the path we are all on with our Art.  We are all at different stages of that path – some at the beginning bogged down among the weeds, and others further along emerging into openness where the path widens and the walking is easier.   We can kind of see the way forward – a bit.

All along the path, there is learning.  I might not feel the sticks and branches pulling at me, or be faced with seemingly unsurmountable rocks to be climbed over, but the path is undulating.  Sometimes there are hills to climb and what the view will be at the top is not clear.  I’m on a bit of an uphill climb at the moment actually.

Having just finished delivering my Fix & Finish course – that’s where the quote came from, as I write this, I’m currently waiting for the gesso to dry on 6 new canvases. I have an exhibition in October and so I’m beginning some work for this show. I have a few ideas and have been exploring these on paper but how these ideas will convert and scale on the canvases only time will tell.

If you watched last week’s Vlog you’ll know that I’m exploring the contrast between delicate and rough; intentional and spontaneous; detailed and abstract.  I also want to explore painting within a limited value range – whether I’ll be able to do this or not, I don’t know.  In my latest series I discovered the strength that adding black can give to a painting, so how that fits in with the idea of closer values I’m not sure.  Perhaps we’re in for some very dark paintings!  I’m excited to find out.

In fact, as I write this and think about these new paintings, I can feel the excitement rising – I can’t wait to slather some paint randomly with total abandon.  It’s a fantastic feeling of freedom.  And one that you can only really feel as joyous when you know your process.  

You know when to abandonly slather and when to analyse and critique – the two are mutually exclusive.  You can’t slather with freedom when you’re judging the result.  Once the slathering has been done – you’re fully slathered-out, then you can look and decide what needs to happen next.  And knowing what to do next is where the joy ends for a lot of people.  

It’s a bit like swimming out in the ocean – just enjoying the cool water, the openness of the sea, the sun on your back (trying not to think of sharks), rolling with the movement of the waves.    Aware that you are totally free in a vast expanse of water – it’s a gorgeous feeling.  

And then you open your eyes, look around and take stock.  You see you’ve drifted a bit (nightmarish scenes of Baywatch flash before you).   You adjust and start swimming towards the shore (once again, trying not to think of sharks).  Now you’re not thinking of the sensations of freely swimming – now you have a direction and a purpose (and a rising sense of urgency - you recall JAWS and try and direct your mind to NEMO).

Ok, joking aside.  No more mention of fish.  

The two experiences are opposites.  One is free and sensory, the other is purposeful and determined by applying knowledge.  To create work that you love and is really exciting you have to have both experiences in your process.  The free and the purposeful.

In the studio, the knowledge we apply are principles of Design, Value, Colour and knowing which stage we are in the process of the painting.  When we ask questions relating to these concerns we get the knowledge which will determine our next action and how to move the painting forward.

When you have this knowledge and a process you can trust then you can allow yourself to be abandoned and free.  If you don’t have that process then being abandoned and free can feel scarey and too risky.  You have to feel confident that if you ruin a painting you can save it and make it better than before.

This is why Sara had felt that abandonment for the first time – because she now has knowledge and a process to figure out what to do next.  She can shut out the judgement and be totally free.  And NOW her work will get really exciting.  Go Sara!!

Are you a member of THE UPBEAT ARTISTS GROUP?  This is a fantastic group of artists all on the path to making Art they love.  Come and join us – I promise, there are NO SHARKS!!