After spending two full days in a sort of dream-like state, the time came for me to paint. Yesterday, I got out my easel, mixed my paints, put in my headphones, and started a small 8"x10" landscape. All went well for about 75% of the painting and then I ruined the entire painting with too much 'noodling'- just adding details, taking away details, getting nit-picky, etc. I ruined it or, as Sally said "you over-cooked it".
I usually have the sense to stop myself from getting too obsessive with my paintings- I usually reach a point where I put down my paintbrushes and say "I am happy with this one!" and walk away satisfied with the finished product. Yesterday, however, I just couldn't stop. There was so much to see, so much to put into the painting, so many details I wanted to include- so I crowded my painting and ended up with a muddy, confusing, quite hideous picture.
I usually have the sense to stop myself from getting too obsessive with my paintings- I usually reach a point where I put down my paintbrushes and say "I am happy with this one!" and walk away satisfied with the finished product. Yesterday, however, I just couldn't stop. There was so much to see, so much to put into the painting, so many details I wanted to include- so I crowded my painting and ended up with a muddy, confusing, quite hideous picture.
All artists struggle with knowing when to stop. Painters fight the temptation to add just one more flower, or one more leaf, or one more tile on the rooftop. Writers have to walk away from their stories and stop adding adjectives and juicy adverbs. Sculptors resist putting another finger print impression or dimple in their projects, and interior decorators have to stop scooting furturniture around. But WHEN to stop is the question.
Leonardo Da Vinci said "Art is never finished, only abandoned." My students back home have heard me preach this over and over again- and yet I still have trouble 'abandoning' at the right time. People often look at me funny when I say 'abandoned' like my paintings are somehow orphaned or uncared for. But the truth is, I think 'abandoned' means leaving a work of art to stand on its own strength- that a painting reaches a point where it can effectively represent what the artist is trying to communicate and adding unnecessary extras is like over-watering a plant: you think you're doing it a favor but your actions end up slowly killing it instead
Leonardo Da Vinci said "Art is never finished, only abandoned." My students back home have heard me preach this over and over again- and yet I still have trouble 'abandoning' at the right time. People often look at me funny when I say 'abandoned' like my paintings are somehow orphaned or uncared for. But the truth is, I think 'abandoned' means leaving a work of art to stand on its own strength- that a painting reaches a point where it can effectively represent what the artist is trying to communicate and adding unnecessary extras is like over-watering a plant: you think you're doing it a favor but your actions end up slowly killing it instead
I 'overwatered' my painting yesterday by adding details that didn't belong. Doing so, however, reminded me to practice a little artistic self-control. Today, my goal is to work until I can step back from my painting and say "it's ready to stand on its own". Then, I will put my brushes down, take my apron off, and go eat a croissant.
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