GETTING IT RIGHT
Untitled Blue Dress Painting No 1, 16”x 12”, pencil, acrylic and collage on wood © 2020 David Limrite
“I start out with great enthusiasm, begin to do it, find that I don’t like it so much, get desperate, try to work very hard, work it out, and finally accept what I’ve done. It’s a process that’s been with me my whole life.”
Larry Rivers, Artist
Getting It Right
It seems obvious to say, but of course, whenever we start a new painting, we want to get it right.
Getting it right means something different to every artist, and it might mean something different for each painting we create.
In order to get it right, we have to first establish a goal (or goals) for our painting. Before we paint it. So that we know where we are heading with it, and more importantly, so that we know if and when we have gotten it right.
For me, when I set a goal for a painting, I then want to achieve that goal. I want to achieve what I am trying to achieve so much that I am encouraged to keep at it until I get there. Which is a good thing. I want to get it right in the worst way. (Or, the best way). But, more often than not, I don’t.
But I keep at it. After all, I want to get it right. Right?
I re-work it.
I paint out the areas that are not working and re-paint them.
I erase out parts of the drawing that are not there yet and re-draw them.
I correct and correct and correct.
This is all part of the process that I talk about so often. And, it is a good thing to happen to any painting and any artist.
It is not about achieving perfection.
It’s all about making something that pleases us.
Don’t get caught up in trying to achieve perfection.
Do the best you can today, and then, try to do better than that tomorrow.
Best,
David