Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Fighting Artist's Block!













All creative people in all creative pursuits run out of steam. The flow of ideas may dry up at any time... or lose their creative appeal. It is indeed an especially frustrating occurrence... and especially for those who are prodigious in their production of work, or who are passionately driven by their need to create. This experience visits us all over and over during our careers.


I have offered some strategies that help me deal with... and even break the deadlock... when my mind... heart and hands seem to be "out of sync." - Changing mediums... working with unusual methods or materials... visiting exhibitions... painting outdoors... thinking "outside of the box" by creating unusual challenges for yourself.


This week, I have been working intently on a larger canvas (24x30 inches)... at a subject that has created within me much self-doubt and discouragement. The main part of the painting involves drawing a foreshortened version of a Lunenburg fishing dory on a tilted plane. One cannot fudge the lines of such a beautifully crafted boat... especially when it will dominate the foreground area of the picture. I spent almost two days working and reworking the form of the dory and found myself rapidly losing interest... in the whole concept.


After supper two evenings ago, I created a challenge to distract myself from the block caused by the drawing hangup. I headed outdoors at 6:00 pm with three burnt sienna acrylic toned panels under my arm... determined to make a painting on each within the three hour window before nightfall.


I hoped to accomplish this task... and at the same time try to avoid acerbating the drawing block, by painting the whole painting in terms of abstracted blocks of colour at the onset... and adding only a small amount of detail at the end of each painting. I allowed myself a window of one hour to set up and complete each.


In my first set up... I added another challenge. Years ago, one of my important mentors, Poul Thrane queried my need to drive around for hours at times, in search of the "perfect" subject before setting down to work. He remarked, "Bruce, you will be a true artist when you are able to select and paint a subject of choice... and upon completing that... turn the easel a full 180 degrees and complete a second good picture directly behind you." It was time to put myself to his test!


The first two paintings, shown top to bottom... are the result of that challenge. Poul was right! A true artist... one who learns to "see" and recognize the strong elements in whatever they are looking at... can make exciting pictures... anywhere about them. I feel that these two small sketches do satisfy his challenge requirements. I enjoyed making both paintings... and found myself excited by both the process and the result. I completed all three paintings within 40-45 minutes... well before the light disappeared.


This process required that I think intuitively... making quick decisions regarding colour and careful placement of brushstrokes. The process was akin to putting together a jigsaw puzzle. The structure and content of the painting emerged without the aid of linear drawing in the initial stages. Those small needs were added easily at the end.


Today was spent in the studio... back to my dory "daze"... and surprisingly... that problem evaporated and the painting is past the lay in stage - ready for "rockin' n rollin' tomorrow! I think that Poul's challenged broke the ice for me and restored my confidence substantially. Can't wait to get at it! The paint will be set up enough for me to make the final decision as to what colour the dory will be. In my original sketch... it was red. In most cases in the Lunenburg tradition... past and present... the dory is a soft, off-coloured orange. I'll decide tomorrow.



But that's a story... for another day and post! Stay tuned!...




Good Painting to All!!!


















14 comments:

  1. Loved hearing how you got past the dory daze, Bruce. And you've created three lovely pieces too. I love each of them! All so beautiful and I love seeing the building of clouds by the third piece!

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  2. I agree with Autumn Leaves, getting past the dory daze, great tip. These three painting are packed with emotion, they're great. Looking forward to the finished Lunenburg piece.
    Happy Painting to You.

    Joan

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  3. Thanks Sherry!... Life is never "smooth sailing" and "fair skies"... for any of us in our daily existence... or our artistic adventures.

    With these daily blessings come "storms"... and "doldrums." See what I'm getting at?

    Shuffle the deck... and deal your Self a new hand. Often it provides new ideas... or perhaps just enough of a breath of fresh air... or get your wind back in your sails! HAHA!!!

    Fari sailin'! Good Painting! happy Summer!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  4. Hi there Joan! Thanks for stopping by and for your usual encouraging words!

    Glad to hear and see that the new 10x12 inch format is helping you out... and it is Joan... It is very evident in your last piece!

    When one paints intuitively... most often it is the raw emotion that is transcribed to the painting surface... and not extraneous details. I think that is so in these three sketches. And besides... I really enjoyed being... "out there."

    Good painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  5. Hello Bruce, I'm glad I visited your blog yesterday to read your comments on inspiration. Thanks for the tips. You know I visit your blog regularly and I'm always enchanted. Your three paintings are very nice. Still, the second one has an additionnel little sparkle for me! Very inviting. I could walk right through it for a picnic or go for a sunday drive and follow that lovely road up to God knows where. Have a splendid summer!

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  6. Hi there Helen!... So nice to meet "You"! Thanks for visiting and for leaving your very uplifting comments!

    When Paintings transport the souls of others to the same places we visit and paint... and encourage the same feelings of awe... pleasure and reverence... therein lies the pay off for an artist!!!

    Thank "You" for taking the time to share your thoughts and feelings! Please visit again!

    Good Painting and Happy Summer!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  7. As always, these are small jewels and so glad they broke you out of your "block". I find that looking through my collection of art books often helps to stimulate me back to the easel. Happy painting!

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  8. Hi there Karen!... You're oh so right about the art books... they too are my Friends... certain well-worn ones that never fail to lift my spirits and stimulate my artistic juices!

    The plein air forays really do inject enthusiasm... and always force "Me" paint in a far more painterly fashion than I do customarily in the studio!

    Good painting Karen! Thanks for the encouraging comments and visit!

    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  9. Hi Bruce,

    What an exciting way of beating 'Artists' Block' and what nice paintings resulted from it.

    Ironically, I think the second one is my favourite, even though I think that was the one that wasn't planned. I like the air of mystery of the road disappearing into the distance. It also seems to convey a feeling of the character of the landscape in your area.

    All the best,
    Keith

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  10. Hi Keith!... Thank "You" for your insightful thoughts and ideas!

    Strangely... the second wasn't my favourite when I laid them on the easel back in the studio. However... a couple of other visitors have shared your opinion about the "feel" of this piece and after looking at the three again... I would have to agree.

    You nailed the feature that caught my eye in the first place... the climbing road disappearing high up on the picture plane. Most of the line roads... all running north to south and can be seen to rise and fall for miles across the full breadth of the Oro-Medonte Hills.

    This land feature is a strikingly beautiful aspect of our unique landscape in our area... so this sketch does indeed accurately capture the true spirit of the land!Good points!

    Your observation was likely correct as well about it feeling "less planned." Being the second on the easel likely meant that I was "in the zone"... and was playing ... unaware of any need to follow "rules." That was the whole purpose for the exercise!

    The last one... I struggled... I admit that I was tired... and almost scrubbed it a few times. I likely resorted "to old tricks"... and "riggered" my way out of the frustration and fatigue! HAHA!!

    Thanks for your very astute observations Keith! Good food for thought! I'll chew on them for a while... and more fully digest them!

    Thanks for visiting!

    Good Painting to "You" my Friend!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  11. Wow! You got a lot done in only 45 minutes each! For painters block I think painting a favorite is a good idea.

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  12. Hi Pam!... Thanks for visiting and sharing your good idea! "Favourite" works for "Me" too... sort of like comfort food!HAHA!!!

    Anything that helps to get one back in the saddle...right?

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  13. All three are super, Bruce. (I like your beat the clock to beat the block technique!) I agree that the best way to overcome the block is to keep painting or, if you can, take a break and go out and just look at the world - you combined the two brilliantly.

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  14. Thanks Linny!... for the thoughtful comments!

    I especially like your phrase: "Beat the clock to beat the block". That really sums up the goal of the activity. Take the focus off the problem by working in a manner that discourages... no replaces the drawing aspect.

    Being "out there" as we both enjoy... is in its own right a strategy that infuses new vigour and excitement into our work!

    Thanks for dropping by Linny!

    Good painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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