Next wip - and thoughts on art-free periods and development
Added 2016-08-19 11:16:24 +0000 UTCA few months ago, I resolved to colour more softly. Don't load on such concentrated pigment on my paintings in the first brush stroke, but build up more gradually and more carefully, leave some areas fuzzier.
I couldn't. I just kept on loading. The Heron Lady worked fairly well, but I felt it wasn't exactly the route I was going for.
Then came a three-month period without much painting at all, and much as those suck*, I suddenly was able to apply new approaches and principles to my work.
It's something most artists experience - periods without art. Some of mine have been out of frustration (the so-called art slumps), mainly during my younger years; in recent years, I've had slumps coincide with periods of time when I couldn't draw for other reasons (health, stress, school). The funny thing is that after those art-free periods, be they slumps or otherwise, things suddenly work all on their own. Nearly every piece I did after an art-free few months in my life was a real highlight, and in some ways a development. This one's going to be another highlight, I can tell!
*And talking of art-free periods, I'm incredibly grateful that all of you have hung on with me during that time. I feel bad for having promised so much art over the summer and haven't been able to deliver, but I'm so glad to see you're still sticking with me. As soon as this one is done, I'll upload new freebies as well - finally!
Comments
I found this post and the comments on it interesting to read. I've had the same experience as everyone else here with my music studies (I play several recorders, tin whistle, gitaar and have recently started with ukelele). If I'm for whatever reason not practicing for several days (sometimes a day is even enough) some parts of music I've had trouble with before will suddenly go right (10 to 1 another part I had no problems with before will go wrong after that of course). It's like I need to break the pattern of doing things wrong and start out fresh again. Even on a larger scale, I restarted with my music studies after many, many years, and the progress I made in the timespan of a year to one and a half year is more than I ever made before. My mind still knew exactly how to do it, even after all that time! (our mind is a most interesting thing, no doubt about that). I also find doing one thing will help you with improving another thing in the same fashion. Playing guitar has greatly improved my feeling for rhythm and beat, I can use that one the other instruments again. Pushing things is definilty not the way to go, I find when I'm pushing things, they'll go into the downward spiral of going wrong. Hence how I found out the taking breaks and try it again method the ard way ;)
Corine Hefting
2016-08-19 18:42:51 +0000 UTCWell, you're not a machine. Your brain needs time to figure things out. Creative people need time-outs every now and then, even if they're sometimes forced. Usually they offer opportunities to get better and set a clearer focus. :)
Ninchen
2016-08-19 18:24:21 +0000 UTCThat is such a good way to de-clutter and focus--I certainly need to put away the smartphone more often.
Alexandra Rena
2016-08-19 16:12:46 +0000 UTCIt's one of the reasons why I still don't own a smartphone. Whenever I'm sitting around waiting for a train or bus or the kids' swimming lessons to end, I'm painting in my head! And that really, really helps.
Jenny Dolfen
2016-08-19 15:54:04 +0000 UTCCertainly if I take breaks on a project, I can use that time to reflect on how to achieve certain results, and the painting comes out better than I first imagined. I think breaks are important--rushed work can look good as well, but we have a lot of growth in that down time.
Alexandra Rena
2016-08-19 15:39:48 +0000 UTCYep, it's amazing how that works!
Jenny Dolfen
2016-08-19 14:27:07 +0000 UTCI think that's the case - as Elena said, the brain continues working even if the rest of you doesn't. It's a concept that several artists have described.
Jenny Dolfen
2016-08-19 14:25:36 +0000 UTCI think what you describe is natural and the constant push/improve isn't beneficial unless you have pauses. I'm really glad that your art is back on track and your happy with how things are working now. *hugs*
Isabella C
2016-08-19 12:39:32 +0000 UTCI'm glad to hear that your art has "leveled up". It's nice to know that you got something out of being forced to take a break. You describe an interesting concept; I wonder if something similar was at play for me when I couldn't attend armored combat fight practice for three months due to work, and now suddenly I'm back and a lot better than I was (though in my case, I was still fighting on many weekends).
Gwendolyn
2016-08-19 12:08:20 +0000 UTCI found a similar effect when I used to do theatre. Progress in developing the piece when I worked on it every single day was in very small increments. After a break there would be a real leap. But only if previously I actually worked on it. It must be that the brain still continues working on things under the wire, so breaks are necessary.
Elena Davison
2016-08-19 11:55:20 +0000 UTC
