I have noticed an interesting thing about how I learn and improve my art. I used to think the more time I spent painting – meaning the actual, physical time I spent working hard – was in direct proportion to how much my work improved.
Over the years, working hard is just something I felt was my only option if I wanted to make my art really great. The harder I worked, I thought, the faster and better my art would become…Now, years later, I think that maybe I had it all wrong.
I began to understand when I was listening to the poet and philosopher David Whyte speaking in San Francisco a couple of years ago. He said something I didn’t completely understand at the time, but which I wrote it later so that I could.
He said, “…Visitation, absence, visitation, absence, visitation, absence, (he this repeated over and over again) is how we learn.” In other words, the time between the periods of effort, the pauses are fundamentally as important as the periods of work. He believes that this “on, off and on again “ process produces more consistent, more substantial results. It is not how long we work but rather how often. I have now come to realize that this is also true for me.
This week I am teaching a 5-day workshop on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. This is an amazing opportunity for people to spend an unbroken period of time just focusing on their art. The improvement is extraordinary. However, I also have taught a 6 week, 3 hours per week evening course in my studio. What I have seen, amazingly, was that these students – even though they were only working 3 hours a week – also have had similar remarkable improvement even though they were working half as much time as those in the workshop.
I now understand that even though they were not physically painting as much, they were, nonetheless, still thinking about principles they had learned. Examples of color, value, and composition all begin to creep into their everyday life and as a result their visual sensitivity increases. Miraculously they just improved every time they came to class.
So maybe we don’t need to work harder forever and ever, but instead just sometimes put the brushes in the can of turpentine and go away for the afternoon. In the name of improving my work, I now should go bird watching more often. Or collect driftwood or even play some bocce ball. Just mix it up.
Visitation, absence, visitation, absence. This is truly how we learn. I think this way of working is going to work out much better not just for my art but for my life as well.
What do you do to stay inspired with your work?
In gratitude, Nicholas
30 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.
I agree that time away from the painting can help one have a fresher perspective. I find that when I let the work simmer and marinate for a bit, I can see it better when I return. I think it was the book “The Artists Way” that talked about how important it was for ‘creatives’ to take time off from their usual work routines to “fill the well”. Seems to be true for me.
Kate…marinate is the perfect word for this. I concur!
I agree that time away from the painting can help one have a fresher perspective. I find that when I let the work simmer and marinate for a bit, I can see it better when I return. I think it was the book “The Artists Way” that talked about how important it was for ‘creatives’ to take time off from their usual work routines to “fill the well”. Seems to be true for me.
Kate…marinate is the perfect word for this. I concur!
Wow, another inspiring article! I think it is safe to say that the principle of “visitation, absence, visitation, absence” applies to writing as well. I don’t have anything really to add, but just want to say that yes, this works. I find that there is a portion of my mind that is always ruminating next steps in a piece of art or one’s that I haven’t even started yet. Sometimes I take notes so as not to forget a great idea.
P.S. In truth I have to work this way, because my time available for art is limited at the moment, so I am happy to hear that my forced way of working is actually better in some ways. Who knew.
Wow, another inspiring article! I think it is safe to say that the principle of “visitation, absence, visitation, absence” applies to writing as well. I don’t have anything really to add, but just want to say that yes, this works. I find that there is a portion of my mind that is always ruminating next steps in a piece of art or one’s that I haven’t even started yet. Sometimes I take notes so as not to forget a great idea.
P.S. In truth I have to work this way, because my time available for art is limited at the moment, so I am happy to hear that my forced way of working is actually better in some ways. Who knew.
Ahhhh Nicholas….very well put. Thank you. I, too, have to back off at times and take a breather and change my focus, both to refuel and to gain new insight or inspiration. If I am stuck on a project I often set it aside to let it percolate for a time. This may be for an hour, a day, a month…sometimes longer…but it usually brings about better results–or it may lead me to abandon something when I realize it was too forced or just wrong. I always enjoy reading your posts. Best wishes! Judy
Ahhhh Nicholas….very well put. Thank you. I, too, have to back off at times and take a breather and change my focus, both to refuel and to gain new insight or inspiration. If I am stuck on a project I often set it aside to let it percolate for a time. This may be for an hour, a day, a month…sometimes longer…but it usually brings about better results–or it may lead me to abandon something when I realize it was too forced or just wrong. I always enjoy reading your posts. Best wishes! Judy
Nicholas, this is a great method and one that will be truly welcomed in my studio. I say welcomed, because this method frees me and gives me the “ok” to just be me, and create stress free. I used to do this all the time, and with great results, but with a little success and and “formal training” , I started to think that I had to be a “machine” so to speak.
Allowing my creativity to flow naturally and wholestically, gives me the freedom to pursue other passions, like Theology and Art History in tandem, and helps to make my life and work more personal, purposeful, and visually edifying. Which is what I endeavor to ultimately do anyway. Thank you for sharing.
Great insight
I don’t know if my first reply went through, but thank you Shawna. I know that this is not the place for this, but you, along with Nicholas, and Squeak Carnweth are 3 of my favorite Painters. I am a huge, huge fan 🙂 so your words mean a lot to me. Blessings to you.
I thought I had replied to this. But maybe it was just the big smile on my face from such a nice compliment. I love your painting stars and stripes! Thanks for putting my art in such great company with Nick and Squeak, they are two of my favorites as well. SM
Wow, it is funny but several people have responded well to “Stars and Stripes”. You know how you may create a piece and just experiment, and think to yourself, “I’ll just have fun with this one.” Well this is what I did with this piece. I must have used every process in the book while creating it, from Collage to Screen Printing to Oil portrait painting. When I learn to get out of my own way, and just create again from this place. It going to be exciting. I created this little piece like that. It’s oil and Encaustic and the surface is so sexy, it’s like touching velvet. Now I know why encaustic sarge so popular 🙂
Getting out of your own way is a big one! Nicely done. Let me know if you run into any problems with encaustic. There are some tricks to it. In the mean time, I see a Stars and Stripes series in your future.
Indeed 🙂 we can be accountability partners, because I tend to procrastinate out of fear. But I am in the Studio today 🙂 starting a “New” piece.
So here is my promise to this group, and I keep my promises – if you all hold me accountable, as I will do the same for you, I will present a new finished painting to you all in 2 weeks from today. So here’s to.
Game on!
Indeed ??. Any other taker ? The more the merrier, we can encourage each other to greatness ?
Nicholas, this is a great method and one that will be truly welcomed in my studio. I say welcomed, because this method frees me and gives me the “ok” to just be me, and create stress free. I used to do this all the time, and with great results, but with a little success and and “formal training” , I started to think that I had to be a “machine” so to speak.
Allowing my creativity to flow naturally and wholestically, gives me the freedom to pursue other passions, like Theology and Art History in tandem, and helps to make my life and work more personal, purposeful, and visually edifying. Which is what I endeavor to ultimately do anyway. Thank you for sharing.
Great insight
I don’t know if my first reply went through, but thank you Shawna. I know that this is not the place for this, but you, along with Nicholas, and Squeak Carnweth are 3 of my favorite Painters. I am a huge, huge fan 🙂 so your words mean a lot to me. Blessings to you.
I thought I had replied to this. But maybe it was just the big smile on my face from such a nice compliment. I love your painting stars and stripes! Thanks for putting my art in such great company with Nick and Squeak, they are two of my favorites as well. SM
Wow, it is funny but several people have responded well to “Stars and Stripes”. You know how you may create a piece and just experiment, and think to yourself, “I’ll just have fun with this one.” Well this is what I did with this piece. I must have used every process in the book while creating it, from Collage to Screen Printing to Oil portrait painting. When I learn to get out of my own way, and just create again from this place. It going to be exciting. I created this little piece like that. It’s oil and Encaustic and the surface is so sexy, it’s like touching velvet. Now I know why encaustic sarge so popular 🙂
Getting out of your own way is a big one! Nicely done. Let me know if you run into any problems with encaustic. There are some tricks to it. In the mean time, I see a Stars and Stripes series in your future.
Indeed 🙂 we can be accountability partners, because I tend to procrastinate out of fear. But I am in the Studio today 🙂 starting a “New” piece.
So here is my promise to this group, and I keep my promises – if you all hold me accountable, as I will do the same for you, I will present a new finished painting to you all in 2 weeks from today. So here’s to.
Game on!
Indeed ??. Any other taker ? The more the merrier, we can encourage each other to greatness ?
After a luxurious summer playing outdoors, I’ve grieved s bit for my loss of studio time. Now fall weather beckons me back inside and I can almost feel the paintings ready to emerge. Granted, now is the time to linger and effort to bring the work forth, but without the benefit of a reprieve, they (the paintings) might not be dying to be born in the same urgent way.
After a luxurious summer playing outdoors, I’ve grieved s bit for my loss of studio time. Now fall weather beckons me back inside and I can almost feel the paintings ready to emerge. Granted, now is the time to linger and effort to bring the work forth, but without the benefit of a reprieve, they (the paintings) might not be dying to be born in the same urgent way.