I wanted to share this little trick I use when I get stuck on a painting. It really helps me get past any road blocks.
What do you do when you feel stuck with your work?
52 Comments
Hi! I’m
Nicholas Wilton
the founder of Art2Life.
With over 20 years experience as a working artist and educator, I’ve developed a systematic approach that brings authenticity, spontaneity and joy back into the creative process.
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Great! I do this too and it’s nice to hear you put words to process! Thank you! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cb9a9fc7a54468549ae0b236f0f975b8a4a96cbc1a9a2b42119bd10c9b063d52.jpg
Thank you! funny I was there this am…stuck. I did the same thing adding in high contrast but walked away..now I will go back and soften! What a great idea….thanks again!
Thanks Nicholas! I get so much out of your sharing these words of wisdom.
Nick,
Even though immersed in your current workshop, I still love watching all your videos. This one was a winner. I just recently finished a piece that I felt was really working, but I knew about half way in that I was refining too soon. I had elements of it that I really liked, but was too “afraid” to change anything for fear of messing it up. The confidence to push work (messing up then fixing it) is one of the biggest challenges of the less seasoned artist. When I watched your bonus videos in your workshop, there were so many times I would have stopped and declared the piece “finished”. Hopefully in your workshop, we will begin to see when to “push” and when to “stop”. This will certainly improve our work.
Once again you hit the nail on the head….i’m at that exact phase….i can see all that i don’t like about the painting…too pointy, too contrasty….too much…..and i was feeling discouraged when i came back into the studio this morning….but there you were, offering your wonderful wisdom! off to see what the hell is can do to bring this one back to something less ‘noisy’….love that description! thanks again Nick!
Hi Nicholas is this oil or acrylic? Also-thanks for your videos! I am a fairly realist painter (or should I say semi-realist?) My idea is to push realism (landscape, people in action, still life) to a point where it has more abstraction–do you think your course would help? Thanks, Patricia
Nicholas’ course would help anyone. It is one of the best things I have ever done for myself and my work. Honestly, art school was never this jam packed with useful information and examples. I even considered taking the course a second time. Decided I would take one of his workshops instead since I was allowed to keep the contents of our finished course. I will refer to it often. He and his team are exceptional.
Thanks Tina that is good information.
tina-thank you for such kind words. WE have 5 people repeating this year! See each time you come back to the content you are different- farther along so you get different things out of it…
Hi Nicholas, would you ever consider holding one of your workshops in Australia by any chance.. in Victoria, specifically? (oh please)!!!
Absolutely…
Look forward to seeing the finished piece.
Thanks Nicholas, just what I needed. The piece I am working on was going along well until I put in this one element and then everything had the same value. I didn’t intend for it to, the colors being used seemed like they would work but they are too much like what I had already painted. I will try your suggestion, seems like a really good idea.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8307fea1c8d137535c7f289e570984508134fb5a6c6f1c8f322455fc0119b0a1.jpg What a happy coincidence. I just got stuck on my painting(the one above), because I liked it too much and just as you say, I had not pushed it far enough. Now I can get on with it.. thanks 🙂
I like the mystery quality in your work. Hope you always retain that.
Thank you for your comment. The mystery part tend to always emerge 🙂
Thank you for sharing, I agree with your method and can relate to the running analogy. Since fixing a push like that is not yet in my knowledge toolkit I look forward to the upcoming instructions of how to dial it back to a pice you end up loving from this bold push.
You know more than you think you know Heather, just keep painting and experimenting. Always ask “What if I did this?”…. I love the old saying “feel the fear but do it anyway”… After all you can always just paint the whole thing over and start again… It’s only paint! Have fun and enjoy the journey I always tell myself…
Yes yes! I’m still learning to “push” further and trusting that I’ll be able to walk it back some, Refining the painting too soon….yep, guilty as charged but I’m really developing an awareness of that and a comfort level with letting go in order to get something better down the road. For me it definitely takes practice. Thanks Nicholas!
It is a process–you get bolder and better over time…going over the edge is the fun apart actually…ha!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0b2becd685d2cd4f8cac58ba5c919132a4832ced13ed7af67fc3e82bd4acfe4a.jpg
Totally get this. (Bonus points for the running reference! lol)
Currently going back and forth on this one. Can’t seem to settle on where it’s going from here. Feedback welcomed!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/deece37c53a3ad19163adf9696d7c618abae044872886168c0ac83ca159cb663.jpg
Nice I like stripes.
I love stripes – and these are super. However, I find my eye wandering all over the place without direction. I hope this comment helps you to move this piece on.
Try making one or two areas more different..it seems a little similar everywhere… looking good though!
The feeling that I’ve taken a piece too far has been frustrating. The feeling of not being able to go back. Only recently have I realized that it’s ok. What you shared is so accurate. It builds on the story and only makes the work more interesting. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/54e2a21ec230d0b80f6e3ec581c6179c7c0d5a5ba7ddfd352795da3621cd8eba.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/345df750111ffbc852a61f81ee70f2202ede7d5e233d2342c0e1abf9bd29b73b.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7eb3a9738aa7e060adbdff9cc8e5262b3eb8ef9a4eb4f689d942c3a8505e922d.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fc719d1e1bd1ead636aff993052fed8d2317948520ae3f938050361a4eb8983d.jpg
I like it.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4e1de85a2a30b6afabf7e7b5f0010651ad8f24bc382abea90f9cc0be1868f4e2.jpg I think this piece is finished but I’m not sure.
I have just learned this in my last couple of paintings. Going too far and then working back gives you a road map of how to proceed. This is the one I finished yesterday. Coincidentally I went over it in black about midway through to get the darks happening. You’re a fabulous teacher Nick! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/24f560e1e766e092a95ff3b1115d596f32c210118f2d33b440d9bd0363d0c246.jpg
I really love this, Jan!
Thanks Chris!
This is soooo handsome!!!
Ha ha handsome! Thanks (I think!?)
This is stunning, so much movement, a very compelling composition.
Thanks Shawn!
I love this Jan! Great piece!
Thanks Diana!
Thankyou. Can we see what you do to this piece please ?
I’m a newbie on this blog. Nicholas thank you for all your sharing. As a self-taught painter your blog is an invaluable resource. My immediate response to your video was “how do you back it off?” Then I realized I do know how to do this with my own work , so the challenge actually is not to get caught in the fear place. At the same time I echo those who said “looking forward to seeing the finished piece.”
Thanks!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/560929ed4bc4802358eaffba659d1a5b8d1cdb7a6ccff4f94b4ba575d7704493.jpg
Right–you know how to back off cause
you just go back a little..
Good timing for me to see this video… I will definitely use this idea and push my work further! Thanks again for sharing this information with us! You are a bank of knowledge!!
Thanks Danyelle…as you know when you work this stuff is just what I am thinking about when I am working on my art..
Yes! Totally resonates, especially the first part when i fall in love with stuff that is happening and don’t want to lose it, and the painting hasn’t gone far enough! Really helpful strategy!! Thank you!
Great tip and I know exactly what you mean….will just try to remember it the next time I get to that point.
Thanks. I’m enjoying you videos when I eventually get to look at them. Fran
Love these discussions hoped to get into class just too busy right now maybe next one. Thanks Nicholas!
Hey Drew–looking forward to it!
I agree with the person below. You are very good at putting this process into words. On occasion I have in mind what a painting should look like at the end and when ever this happens it is way weaker, probably for the very reason you have just given. Most other times I have lots of layers along the way before finding the painting emerging, pushing it beyond what I like several times and this becomes a lot more satisfying as well as adventurous!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b735cbd80a9ede6115fdabac65082159a6172bb6fc10d1f84e09eadbac0d59c4.jpg Yes! I did this just the other day with this painting. I added the blue because the whole thing was just feeling too “precious”.
I was watching that netflix show “Abstract” about Christophe Niemann and he said something along the lines of striving to be “a fearless artist and even more fearless editor”. Pushing my work out of my comfort zone allows me to be an editor.
Yup….good idea…. I’ll try that on some things I’m stuck on, I had put them in my rack….kind of like them… but I know they lack….I know not what.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Nick! It is so very helpful for me at the moment!
I was trying to upload my work in a previouse conversation, but could not… can not now as well.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful insight.
when i feel stuck, i put my work aside for a day. when i wake up, often i have the answer that eluded me.