FOCUS, ACTIVITY, ENERGY, MOMENTUM and RESULTS

I know. I know. You have so many different subjects that you would like to paint. That portrait of your nephew. Your Grandmother's cute little dog. Sunsets, horses, people playing in the park, your favorite model, birds or that fruit still-life. The list could go on and on.

Are you even painting at all? Or are you frozen and unable to paint because you cannot decide which of your favorite potential subjects interests you enough to spend hours of precious creative time painting it. Or are you bouncing around from painting to painting, subject to subject, not finishing anything.

It's time to focus. Focus creates energy. Energy creates momentum. It's time to identify your subject matter; the subject matter that you can focus all of your attention on and finally get painting. It's time to establish some boundaries and parameters and identify the subject you will focus on.

Creative energy can often be stimulated by limiting restrictions.

Imagine focusing all that energy that you spend trying to decide what to paint, on actually painting. Now that's exciting. And empowering. Remember that the activity of painting is at the heart of the whole concept of creating. And of being an artist. The activity (the act of painting) is where we want to be.

Activity creates energy. You must trust that the power of energy will produce momentum. And that momentum will produce results. And if it doesn't, no harm/no foul. You just move on to the next painting or even the next subject. At least you will have been painting and creating.

Ignite the spark by actively creating. Fan the flame by staying with it long enough to create something.

Create with artistic fire!

In my experience, it helps to choose a single subject and settle on one goal no matter what. Then stay with it long enough to really become involved with it. This is how a series is born. A series is several paintings (10, 12, 15) of the same theme or subject matter. I cannot help but find myself working on a series. After my first painting of any given subject matter or new concept, I always want to try another one, only this time I am going to try this, or do it that way, etc. It is exhilarating and empowering. Plus. you really get to know your subject matter the more you work with it.

Choose a subject matter, don't jump around from one project or subject to another, do not second-guess yourself and your choices, and do not engage in perfectionism. Narrow your focus, settle on one thing (imperfect though it may seem) and engage in the activity of creating.

Activity creates energy which builds momentum and leads to results.

Next time I will discuss some things you can do to help you narrow your focus and concentrate your energy on one subject matter.

Best,

David