It’s an issue that’s all too common with creatives: you’re working on a painting and you like what you have so far, but you don’t know what to do next.
Watch the video to see what I do when I encounter this with my work.
What do you do when you are having trouble moving forward with your work?
In gratitude, Nicholas
26 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.
Join me and artists from all over the world in our Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group or learn more here about Art2Life.
This is so helpful. I’m an assemblage artist and I’ve come to a standstill on how to finish it. After watching this I have my answer. Thank you
So thankful for all your videos and what you share. I have several paintings in limbo right now and this video inspired me to pull them out and look at them in a new way. Perhaps I can move them along.
I came across this checklist on how to be an explorer of the world, but I think it is fitting also as to how to be an explorer of your art. It seemed to follow along with what you were saying.
“How To Be An Explorer Of The World
1. Always Be LOOKING (notice the ground beneath your feet.)
2. Consider Everything Alive & Animate
3. EVERYTHING Is Interesting. Look Closer.
4. Alter Your Course Often.
5. Observe For Long Durations (and short ones).
6. Notice The Stories Going On Around You.
7. Notice PATTERNS. Make CONNECTIONS.
8. DOCUMENT Your Findings (field notes) In A VAriety Of Ways.
9. Incorporate Indeterminacy.
10. Observe Movement.
11. Create a Personal DIALOGUE With Your Environment. Talk to it.
12. Trace Things Back to Their ORIGINS.
13. Use ALL of the Senses In Your Investigations.”
―
Keri Smith,
How to Be an Explorer of the World: Portable Life Museum
Thanks Keri, I love that!
Hi Lisa, Actually Keri Smith is the one that wrote the list, my name is Traci:) Just wanted to give credit where credit was due! Cheers to Creativity!
You always have the simplest but perfect solutions, thank you! I have decided that I over think and analyse my hurdles, instead of breaking it down to simple easy steps. Awsome as ever 🖒
Such a timely video. Have three pieces I am working on right now and was starting to feel a little “less than” and questioning my ability just because they weren’t exactly working. I will go to my studio today with a new approach. As always, thanks so much!!!!
This is wonderful Nicolas, super helpful! I am watching this from Barcelona, I recently discovered your blog.. And I just got stuck with a painting, didn’t know where to go with it because i liked the overall feel, but I thought it could go further, jist didn’t know how. Now I will try this learning-based approach, it totally makes sense to me. Thanks!
What a clear video presentation showing me, when I feel stuck, exactly how I can bring more areas that I like in my painting by looking at my own painting for the answers!
I love love your videos Nicholas, seems that with each one you answer some of these questions that I struggle with on a regular basis… So plz keep’ em coming!! Thanks so much! BB
That was wonderful Nicholas! I love how you took the time to analyze just what you love and break it down and expand it to other areas of your painting. I’ve always heard the saying to keep what you love, but it was so helpful for you to take it a step further. Thank you so much for all that you share!
Thank you so much for this lesson, NIck. I have been so intrigued following the progress of the painting on the right because a) it seems a departure from your current work and b) seems much more like my own work. Lots of play and expressiveness. And then I get stuck. So I have been watching intently to see what you do next with it, how you reach those decisions. Thanks for sharing your process. I am learning so much!
Again, super helpful. Thanks a bunch
Thank you for all your videos you share! I watch all of them and find them so insightful and helpful as an artist, I’ve even printed some quotes of your’s and put them up on my studio to help when I get stuck or just encourage me! I used to go to an art gallery in Mill Valley when I lived there and loved your work over all the other artists! So it’s very cool to have found your video’s. Thanks again for all your insight! Kim
Done and done! Shared on FB.
I like that not only are you stressing identifying the parts of the piece that you like but that as a side benefit, I think people could learn to have a “language” for what they are seeing. So often I hear people floundering to describe what is working and what isn’t. Forcing yourself to come up with concrete descriptors is really important I think. (And descriptors without too much judgment.)
Thank you again,
Libby
Well once again you publish a video that targets exactly what I’m dealing with. I have to pieces in limbo right now and they need to move forward. Especially the one that includes two photos of my grandson playing little league baseball, a collection of baseball themed U.S. Postal stamps, sandpaper to simulate the dirt infield of a baseball diamond. It’s laid out like a baseball park and will be appreciated by an 8 year old. But it just looks blah to me. Various shades of green and yellow to represent the playing field. Bases made with small paper pieces. It just needs some fire so no I’ll look at it and find something I do like.
This is SO what I needed today. Thanks so much!
That is a beautiful helpful info. I sometimes like some parts of my painting then I just want to paint that version on a larger canvas. But I like what you saying apply a good part that you like somewhere else in a canvas once twice whatever and then see what happens.
A very helpful video, I’m getting so much out of these videos. When you said you were 40% there it cracked me up, because I was thinking it looked pretty good. This is where experience and maturity as an artist comes in. This is where I need to push through.
Heard somewhere that having a favored area can be a problem. So, sometimes I like to destroy the sweet spot to free myself from spending an inordinate amount of time/effort in protecting it. Then the entire canvas is on equal footing, and can move on. Can usually recreate the sweet spot if needed later on.
Once again, thank you! Your ideas are freeing and wise. I appreciate you Nick.
Thank you, Nicholas. I shared this with a rather large group of art friends and on my personal art page. I find your videos so helpful. THANK YOU!
I have never come across an artist who is so open and willing to share insights and inspiration as you are. Your work is unique, and a good teaching tool as well as intriguing art. Thank you so very much.
Wonderful! But my big problem is this…. I don’t seem to know what I like…. or why I like it? Does anyone have this challenge?
“Art2Life” strikes again! Thank you Nicholas. This so relates to how I try to approach life. What may sometimes seems overwhelming can often be altered,integrated or reformed into something better if you focus on the bits and pieces that you naturally find to feel authentic, inspiring and beautiful. I just never thought to apply it to painting! It seems so right because it also allows for the nonjudgmental mind space to experiment and play. One thing that I noticed as you pointed out what you liked was that I was drawn to other areas of the painting so my choices would result in an entirely different painting which I think is another exciting element of this way of thinking. Thank you again for this insight.
I have a painting that I am going to study and maybe use this idea to finally reach a point of completion. thanks so much!
Such a helpful video…thanks for sharing it with us, Nicholas. That is a new idea for me and it makes sense for how I approach this dilemma. Sometimes I go to another piece when I get stuck on the one I’m doing.