How do you cope with a bad painting day?

Tom Edgerton · 12-01-2005, 10:13 AM

99% of the time, if I am self-destructing at the easel, it's because I'm tired. So I do business maintenance, straighten up the studio, and go away. Flailing at the canvas when you're exhausted never amounts to anything but a waste of time.

Trust that what you've invested and learned in getting to your current level of proficiency won't go away because of one bad session.

Best--TE

Joan Breckwoldt · 12-01-2005, 10:22 AM

Hi Kimber,

I think you must have more confidence than you think because I didn't see any indication that you're thinking of giving up painting! It looks like from your post there is no question of you stopping painting. And, that's what I have done in the past, I've gotten so frustrated when I couldn't solve a problem (when I was trying glazing mostly) that I just stopped painting for months!

So, you're doing the right thing, you're keeping at it. That's all we can do. And try to remember that every painting and all the time spent in front of the easel is learning. I'm better about remembering that now, and even when a painting doesn't turn out, I try to remind myself that I'm learning all the time.

And chocolate does help! So does a day or two off.

Joan

Lacey Lewis · 12-01-2005, 10:40 AM

Months without painting!?!

I think I am going to faint...

Joan Breckwoldt · 12-01-2005, 11:15 AM

Yes, months! My kids were younger, I took a night class (still life) one summer a few years ago, then I got interested in glazing portraits. I tried it at home but just couldn't get it. I got a lot of help from the forum but didn't have an instructor or anybody to help me out, or encourage me. Then the kids started school, things got busy, holidays came, we moved, a few more months went by. I was diong a lot of volunteering at my kids' school, had an antique shop for 6 months, I was certainly keeping busy, but not with painting.

I eventually signed up for a portrait class here in Houston, it wasn't very good at all, not much help from the teacher, lost steam and went on to something else. Then a year ago I found a great still life teacher and that got me painting every week! And through him I found a wonderful portrait instructor!!! I've been painting on and off like this for years, until now. Now I'm serious about it!

This brings to mind something I read on the forum years ago. Somebody asked how does one find the time to paint every day? The answers were basically "I don't do anything else". I thought that sounded crazy, but now that I've committed to learning how to paint, I've found I've done the same thing. I only volunteer at my kids' school minimally. I don't do a lot with friends because that takes away from painting. I don't even like going to the grocery store because that takes time away from painting, though it has to be done. I can't remember the last time I was in any kind of department store. The only store ever go to is the ART store for things I need that day, the rest is ordered online. I do belong to a prayer group but that's only an hour each week. So, now I understand what people were talking about those years ago because I have the same attitude.

Sorry, got off track there.

Joan

Michele Rushworth · 12-01-2005, 02:18 PM

Tom wrote:

Quote:

99% of the time, if I am self-destructing at the easel, it's because I'm tired. So I do business maintenance, straighten up the studio, and go away. Flailing at the canvas when you're exhausted never amounts to anything but a waste of time.

I find the same thing. If I paint when I'm tired there's a triple danger: I don't accomplish anything worthwhile, I have to repaint that section the next day anyway since it wasn't any good, and I get frustrated.

So, while I want to paint pretty much all the time, I know I can't physically or mentally do that. I need to go take care of other things or rest up for the next day so I that do have a good painting session. (I guess I know I'm addicted to painting when I start wishing there was some magic drink I could take that would give me all the energy I need and never have to stop, rest or sleep. And no, Starbucks hasn't yet invented the perfect concoction that quite does the trick!)

Kimberly Dow · 12-01-2005, 04:04 PM

If I skipped painting when I was tired - I'd never paint at all.

Some of my best work is done when my eyes are bloodshot, my hands shaking and the house falling down around me.

Ok. I admit, I shouldnt be giving advice and this way isnt for everyone. Maybe not anyone.

Kimber Scott · 12-01-2005, 06:43 PM

Tom, you're right. I shouldn't paint when I'm tired. I KNOW that. I was just going to fix the line of the eye, you know? That was it, but something happened. I was possessed, I guess, and all hell broke loose! I will remember this, believe me.

Joan, I started painting when I was a kid. I got married at 16 and didn't paint another picture for 24 years! I've been painting steadily for the last five years and I'm not giving it up again. I'm having a very hard time in that I'm in a university art program and I was hoping they were going to teach me how to paint. Well, they don't do that. So, I'm struggling with every stroke. I graduate next spring, (if I weren't so close to the finish line, I'd quit), then I hope to have time to take some real painting classes. I've come to realize nobody is going to hand me anything, but it does seem it would be a little less torturous, if I had a little guidance. Thank God for this site. Anyway, I don't suspect I'll give up anytime soon. If it were easy, I'd have given it up a long time ago.

Michele, there are things to keep you awake, but I doubt they're legal, or that what you painted while under such influences would be much different than Mr. Freud's "Queen Elizabeth!"

Kim - there's something wrong with you, but it works, so keep on keeping on!

Terri Ficenec · 12-02-2005, 01:55 AM

Kimber, I was on vacation when you started this thread, but I hope you were able to pull things back together in time for your class?

Some of my best and worst painting has been done in the middle of the night -- Can't trust my judgement after 2am... but sometimes things will click then. . . (I've been having to do a lot less re-work without so many all night painting jags!

) Having a good painting day or not, for me, seems to have a lot to do with mood and focus. Some days are 'on' and things just happen right. . . On those days I try to get as much painting in as possible on the more important areas of the painting. On days when things are just not clicking -- because of distractions or for whatever reason-- it might not be such a 'good' painting day... but working on less taxing areas (like background areas away from the focal point) or just walking away and taking care of laundry or non-painting errands, like ordering supplies, can help to keep it from becoming a bad painting day.

Alexandra Tyng · 12-05-2005, 11:11 AM

Yes, I also tend to be compulsive about painting, to the detriment of housework, grocery shopping, and being on time for other things.

About the self portrait--recently I've been painting several small ones just to paint from life, but then I attempted a larger one to enter in the PSA competition. I noticed that the pressure of the deadline tempted me to rush decisions. One day I narrowly avoided going too far with the light value. I had to make myself slow down and consider every stroke, every color, every move I made. I find when I give myself time to stare at the painting I'm working on and think carefully about where I want to go with certain things, or how the value relationships are working, or whether I really need to wipe out an area that I've been fussing with and start fresh, then I do a lot better.

There's something about painting yourself that can be nervewracking if you know other people are going to see it. If it's just for yourself, it's so much easier to not fuss over it.