SPONTANEITY AND INTUITION
This is the painting in progress that I will draw two large rose drawings on each empty panel, on either side of the figure. The roses will be about 4 feet high, just to give you some scale. There will be an arc of rose petals over the figure. The title of this piece is “Nothing Lasts Forever, But We Always Try”. Lots of work still yet to do on the figure as well. © 2021 David Limrite
“How often haven’t I found that, wanting to use a blue, I didn’t have it. So I used a red instead of the blue.”
Picasso
Spontaneity and Intuition
The further along I get in the creation of a painting, the more challenging it becomes to keep my head in the game, and not start thinking about finishing before the painting is ready to be finished. If I begin thinking about finishing too soon, I start asking myself questions such as, “Is the painting good enough to even think about finishing it?” “Have I realized my vision that I originally had for this painting?” “Am I doing the best that I can, right now?” “Could I be doing better?”
As a result of this kind of thinking, I begin to second guess myself. I begin to get nervous and tighten up. I treat the painting as if it’s precious. I become timid and I allow fear to set in.
Feeling and thinking this way rarely, if ever, yields positive results.
So, what I try to do instead is to stay in a spontaneous and intuitive frame of mind the further into a painting I get. I try to get myself into an exploratory and experimental mode. I keep moving around the entire painting rather than focus on one area. If I focus too much on one area, I open the door for overworking. I start standing back from the work more often. I try and keep my brush off of the surface more than on.
I also try and focus on feeling and emotion, rather than just on technical skill. I try and make decisions based on how I feel or how I want to feel about the painting.
All of this helps me put my focus on process rather than on the end product. And it keeps the process more fun and interesting.
However, the further into a painting I get, the more vulnerability it requires on my part. Exploration requires risk taking. Spontaneity requires trust and belief in my current skills and talents. Intuition requires having the courage to make decisions.
Which is all much better than the alternatives: fear, timidity and preciousness.
Try being spontaneous, intuitive and more vulnerable the further along in a painting you get.
The results might pleasantly surprise you.
Best,
David
P.S. TWO THINGS:
1. The Summer Art Barn Workshops in Central California are coming.
Topics might be the Figure, Oil Paint Sticks or Personal Projects. Receive priority to enroll if you help is pick the dates and topics. Take the poll by the end of the day to receive priority.
2. Next Saturday, June 5th at 12 pm PDT: Online Reception for the artists of The Create Anyway Collective.
I can't wait to introduce you to the artists of The Create Anyway Collective and the work they've been creating over the past 3 months at our Online Reception next Saturday, June 5th at 12 pm PDT. Register for the reception or learn more.
