Change Your Angle
''. . . the same subject seen from a different angle gives a subject for study of the highest interest and so varied that I think I could be occupied for months without changing my place, simply bending a little more to the right or left.'' -Paul Cezanne
If art has taught me anything, it is definitely that sometimes I need to look at something from a slightly different angle. Whether it's a subject, a situation, or something else, flexibility is an essential characteristic in life.
So when a painting isn't going how you planned, what do you think? You just aren't talented enough to accomplish it? What lie are you letting consume you?
There are many reasons why something might not be going your way.
- Knowledge gap: Sometimes you just need to learn a new technique to accomplish what you've set out to do. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, has been there at some point. You are not alone.
- Mood: If your emotions at the time do not match that which you're trying to imbue, set the tone. Play music, drink some tea, go to a different room, have a conversation. There are many ways to change your mood and set the tone for your day in the studio. You just have to make the conscious decision to do them.
- Overthinking: We can get so enthralled with a project that we obsess over it, closing our minds. Take a step back and breathe. Being consumed by a project will not make it better. It will only bring you more frustration than it's worth.
- Attitude: Going into a project already feeling defeated is not how to succeed, but I see artists do it time and time again. It's time for an attitude adjustment. Stop the negative thoughts at their source and give yourself the chance to prove them wrong. You are more capable than you believe.
- Perfection: On the flip side, if you are so confident that you believe you can create perfect artwork, STOP. Either you are setting an unachievable standard that will frustrate you and cause burnout or you are relying fully on your brain and hands with no spirit in the work. A pretty picture is only that...pretty. A soulful picture does not have to be perfect. Viewers connect with the imperfections and see some of themselves in the work, creating a more "perfect" work than the pretty picture could ever hope to achieve.
So, is it time for you to bend and to change your angle?
Hand-painted in Adobe Photoshop CC using the Wacom Intuos Pro and the Wacom Art Pen.
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