Painting again

efontanez wrote

on 22 May 2010 6:02 AM

What is a painter to do when all she thinks about is painting and creating and yet nothing inspires her enough to begin painting again?

Antoinette7 wrote

on 23 May 2010 2:14 AM

I felt the same way. I would think about painting everyday and for the past 6 months thinking about painting was as far as I got. My husband was deployed for the past 6 months and so I used that as an excuse amoung others not paint but should have been my time to paint.On wednesdays I'll meet with 3 other artists providing I'm not working that day and would talk to them or just be around them as they would paint and it has slowly increased my need to paint again. Anyway, the other night I picked up my paintbrush for the first time in a long time and I painted a small section of a painting that I had started months ago and tonight I'll paint a little more. Find other artists that you can spend time with and see it that will inspire you again. Tell yourself to paint a little bit everyday until you get into that habit of painting like you use too.

One simply little brush stroke at a time is all it may take.

Hope this helps!

valeriemalley wrote

on 23 May 2010 12:51 PM

It looks like you paint fairly large works, and I can image you would want to have some mental/emotional feeling for starting a large work.  Had you thought of preparing a small canvas and just painting something/anything just for the exercise of getting your paint brush going again?  Perhaps a self portrait of yourself looking at a blank canvas ;)     You may find too, that hanging around AA will get the inspiration flowing for you.  Try imagining watching exercise videos for a few months and seeing how toned you would be at the end of that time.  I think it is just a matter of starting something that will get you going again.  ;)  

Barbara A. Lewis wrote

on 25 May 2010 8:29 AM

I have worked full time in the graphics industry for the past thirty years and while sitting at my computer all day I would think about art and painting, but by the time I found enough time to devote to a canvas, I literally drew a blank (no pun intended). It wasn’t until a year ago that I joined a local art society that I got the inspiration to begin painting and showing my work.

We have a dedicated group of artists that meet every Saturday morning for fellowship, critques and working on current projects, and while I could work in my home studio, I find that the creative energy at the art group is the spark that I needed. Just being with fellow artists and talking about art and techniques was enough for me. And with monthly shows at our galleries, it is further incentive to produce work. Some of our shows are themed, some open, etc. Not to mention the wonderful friendships that have developed. We keep each other encouraged!

And I do not always paint or work on project there on Saturdays. I found a singing partner in one of my fellow artists and sometimes we just sit and sing while I play acoustic guitar, and as membership chair, I give tours of the gallery rooms to visitors and handle new applicants. So, it is a very warm, inviting atmosphere there. If you do not have a local group, start one. Before I found our local art society, I had toyed with the idea of getting a plein air group started so that I would have someone to paint with.

And taking a break sometimes is good too - just don’t take a 25 year break like I did - sometimes just trying out a new media is enough to get your creative juices flowing again! Best wishes!

efontanez wrote

on 26 May 2010 6:08 AM

Thank you so much for your advice. My life is offering me the best opportunity to paint and yet I keep telling myself I will start "tomorrow".  Too many tomorrows have past by.