Have you ever noticed that when you are making your art and it is all working out that it is almost as if you are not entirely there? You are driving the bus but it seems like you do not have to try very hard. Almost like it is driving itself. Art making sometimes can feel that easy.
I love it when that happens but it rarely stays that way for long. If I overthink and concentrate too much I lose that ability to just let the art unfold naturally. Instead it feels hard and somewhat forced.
I realize I tend to tighten up when I am over focusing on a new technique or, perhaps, trying something I haven’t before. It seems like the making of the art just goes slower. It becomes more effortful.
It takes a long time to become young -- Pablo Picasso Share on XHowever once I have learned that new something, once I have done it a few times it starts to become second nature again. I think it just takes time to integrate new information. And then I start to get those days that art making feels super easy again. It is like I am not even trying.
It reminds me of how I did things as a child. I remember just naturally getting involved in something, following my curiosity wherever it wanted to lead me. There was no agenda. No particular reason to do anything except for the simple joy of doing it. Everything was approached that way.
This is actually how I wandered into art in the first place. It was simply enjoyable.
I found this quote the other day by Pablo Picasso “It takes a long time to become young”
Which got me to thinking.
Maybe that is why it feels so refreshing to occasionally get totally in sync with our creativity. When our art just flows. It feels good, especially now, as busy adults with a world of concerns and long to do lists following us around. Maybe when we fall into that easy place where art making is simply effortless it is a reminder of what is still possible. The way it is supposed to be. Or rather the way it all started out being in the first place when curiosity and joy were simply enough.
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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.
Join me and artists from all over the world in our Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group or learn more here about Art2Life.
Perfect explanation….I go through that whole process with each painting. From desolation to that wonderful state of what we used to call nirvana. We work for those moments….those precious moments of the BIG CONNECTION…..
I like this Picasso:
It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.
Thank you for your wonderful blog. Your thoughts are always well received and touch a chord with me. That thread is very strong between us artists. I look forward to your next ha ha moment! I love the painting featured on this blog. Bravo 2 U
I feel encouraged by your posts. They resonate with what I am thinking, and they help me find a good starting point for painting. Thank you. On Picasso’s wonderful insight on becoming young, it is a struggle sometimes to recognize all those stupid weighty adult hangups that keep us uptight. Playfulness is a gift. But you have to drop the desire to impress, to be judged positively by some imaginary audience, to meet your own high standards, on and on. Who knew having fun could be so elusive.
Nice post thank you. Having just spent time painting with 3 of my Grandkids. 2,4 and 6 years old that is exactly what I observed. Loved just watching the spontaneous painting and doing it with such joy and excitement.
I now know why at the end of class painting became so hard, I was over thinking the process so much I forgot to just enjoy it. Just recently the joy returned and the process became a lot more natural, relaxed and the feeling of being a child again.
Thankful for this academy.
I’m recovering from a studio accident a year ago (brain injury). I notice new things now. What was easy before takes more effort yet. Learning a new technique or using new materials (I’m sculpting with expanding foam), my concentration is more on what the new materials can do. Once I understand the new vocabulary, using it becomes effortless, and creativity can expand. It’s as though a new method taxes the system. We usually won’t notice when the brain is taxed because it handles it very well. With an injury the system is already taxed and the effort is higher for everything. The altered sense of wverything, though, still feeds the art new information. It’s been a valuable experience.
Where am I in this? I am struggling with learning technic cause I believe that will help me in my painting. To understand color perspective etc. Am I wrong here? I know I am posessed with alot of fantasy but I cant paint the pictures I imagine cause I dont know how?
Thank you, Nicholas. Beautiful blog and reminder. <3
P.S. Really love the painting, too. There is so much movement and depth, yet a sense of order. Hard to define, but it draws you in. It is so Nicholas Wilton! 🙂
Thanks, Nicholas. This is definitely encouragement to just relax and enjoy. Gets me wondering, tho, about my habit of tiring of something and wanting to move on. What would you call that phase? I suppose we tired as children and moved on also, but now it seems more difficult to let go of one phase and fall easily into a new phase.
During a very difficult time in my life, I decided I needed counseling. The counselor came to my studio. He commented….”Try living your life the way you paint!” Little did he know the many challenges re. solving painting issues!!! I did the opposite! I solve life’s difficulties by creating a work of art. IT WORKS! Every painting/work-of-art I create has become a lesson in life. Maybe I need to consult my counselor again (ha,ha,ha!!!)!!! One thing for sure (I’m 79 yrs. old), I LOVE BEING AN ARTIST MORE THAN EVER!!! I welcome the challenges!!!
Thanks so much. I’ve experienced this sensation several times and never quite put it into words. Sometimes I’ll stop working for a few days due to a lack of a concrete idea. As soon as I remind myself that I can just start and the idea evolves, I can get back to work. Being an abstract artist allows me more flexibility without being concerned about subject. I’m going to keep your article handy as a reminder.
Thank you again. I feel if I try too hard then it just does not move any further. By letting myself go and almost feeling like i don’t care for the final results, it works better!
This is so true, it’s funny you posted this at this time because I have been working with a new technique and this is what I have been experiencing. Sometimes you just have to walk away from it for a bit to regroup inside and then go back to it with an approach of let’s let what happens happen! Thanks for posting this. Sometimes one feels that maybe it’s only them that had these moments. It great to learn that others in the art world go through the same thing. Thank you😊