A BRIEF CHAT ABOUT PAINTING

Years ago I posted this message to myself on my studio wall “BE BOLD … be willing to fail.”

   We need to take risks in order to grow. Yet the fear of doing a bad painting prevents many artists from taking those risks. I see it all the time in workshops I teach. Especially with new artists.

   So I encourage them to lower their expectations. And that helps free them up to take chances. Because we can make great breakthroughs by trying new things with no fear of failure.

   I’ve been painting and drawing all my life. And I still continue to take risks. Exploring or inventing new techniques. Looking at subject matter in fresh ways. Whatever.

   And I mess up sometimes. But as a result I continue to grow as an artist. It keeps things fresh. It keeps the fun and excitement alive.

   If you feel like you’ve stagnated, you might want to try shaking things up a bit. Test new techniques. Paint outside if you’ve never done it before. Work on a vastly different scale for a while. Try painting on different surfaces; the rose on my studio sign is on a scrap of cardboard.

   Above all, “BE BOLD … be willing to fail.”

   HAPPY PAINTING!
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