What shall I paint today?

Conversations, courses, coaching and choices: it's all about following your heart!

Sometimes, the work comes easily, whether that’s painting or writing this column. When you’re on a roll, the art flows; when you’ve got something to say, the words tumble across the screen.

And then there are days, weeks even, when the torrent of work dries up. Paint sits congealing in the palette, deleting whole paragraphs is the norm, sales are hard to come by. Spirits begin to flag.

It’s then, that I catch myself saying “I wish….this”, or “I wish…that”, and so on and so on…

I wish I could find my painting groove. I wish I could find the words. I wish the sales would skyrocket. I wish I was more successful. I wish I had a hit online course. I wish people were eager, waiting for my latest painting/work/post to drop.

I wish…you’re getting the picture, right?

A conversation over the weekend about planning next year’s holidays (yes, I know how lucky I am!), and having something to look forward to, gave me pause for thought.

I was starting to wish my time away.

“Stop waiting for Friday, for summer, for someone to fall in love with you, for life. Happiness is achieved when you stop waiting for it and make the most of the moment you’re in now.” Anon.

And with the sun on my face, a faint rainbow overhead, I took a sip of my morning coffee and exhaled deeply…

How lucky am I that I get to choose?

Okay, so some things are a given; tax returns. grocery shopping, laundry…BUT, I get to choose what I paint, what materials I use, how large or small I make it…

And if I feel like spending a morning painting fat poppy seed heads (or onions, I can’t quite decide?) alongside faded roses, then that’s what I’ll do…

(even if there are other things such as naming, pricing, cataloguing etc that need doing…)

Equally, if I want to play around with the Wallace Seymour Indigo drawing stone, creating….’something’, then I can do…

(I do ‘wish’ though, that the colour stayed as deep when dry, as it is when first applied… But, don’t you just love all the natural granulations the pigment creates!!)

What shall I paint today I wonder?

“The artist’s world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep.” Paul Strand

This year is becoming one of looking deep within - without wishing to sound too melodramatic. Courses, conversations and coaching have all led to a sustained period of reflection, and an acknowledgment that I’m in a time of transition.

“Times of transition are strenuous, but I love them. They are an opportunity to purge, rethink priorities, and be intentional about new habits. We can make our new normal any way we want.”

Kristin Armstrong

Part of that reflection has been reviewing past work, selecting those that really hold my attention, and asking why? What is it about them that pulls me to them?

I remember creating each and every one of these; I recall having a real sense of freedom, painting intuitively - not overthinking!! The limited palette in each one. The sense of space around the marks and washes. The fact they are ‘of the landscape’ but not literally.

That’s what I want. That’s what I want to develop. More of that!

And with that, comes the realisation that I will be in a period of experimentation, not necessarily producing ‘finished’ pieces. I have to be comfortable with that. To not get frustrated. To know that I’m moving forwards, and not stagnating (which I feel is the death knell for creativity!)

A materials order is on the horizon: lots of inks and paper!

Along with a commitment to enjoy the process. To not worry that I might lose some of my audience. I might gain new followers. I can’t decide other peoples’ likes and dislikes; I have to go with my heart.

And it’s telling me this is the way to go.

‘Cei Bach’ - SOLD

Until next time, happy painting!

P. S. Now you know I’m not one for fixating on the numbers, but this YouTube video of mine has had over 18k views!! Why not take a look; it might give you an idea of what to paint today!!