David Limrite-Artist, Coach, Mentor, Teacher

“A charcoal drawing on a wall can be a greater work of art than the most perfectly executed painting.”

~Edvard Munch

Have you noticed how impatient we have all become? We want it bigger, better, cheaper, and faster. And we want it NOW!

Well, as far as creativity goes, faster is not always better.

The joy in creating is in the doing. The time spent. The process. Not necessarily the finished product.

When you finish a painting, then what? You sell it, hang it on a wall, put it in storage, etc. What next? You start another one.

Artist Jim Dine says that when he finishes a painting or drawing, “the party is over.”

In my experience, the clearer the objective, the idea, or the goal , the better I create. Also, the more excited I am about my idea, technique, or subject matter, the more “into” the process I am.

It’s all about the process. Slow down. Enjoy it. Watch what happens as you create. Work for awhile and then let the painting sit. Look at it. Absorb it. Formalize your game plan for the next round of creating.

You make better decisions when you slow down.

I don’t necessarily mean that you actually have to paint slowly. I am a fast painter. I work in short, intense, 1/2 hour bursts. Then I stop, put down the brush, and I look. And I look some more. I really try to see what just happened. What changed? How did what I just added to the surface affect the whole painting? What do I like? What do I dislike? I evaluate. What is working? What is not working? What next? I contemplate my next move. I weigh my options. And then I dive back in for another 1/2 hour intense working session.

But this is me. This is my working method. It may not appeal to you. It is different for every artist. You must find your own way of working.

For me, savoring the process is a much better, more peaceful, and more enjoyable way to create. And it allows me to CREATE BETTER.

Best,

David