The Making of Art -The Manual
It’s not just those starting out that find it difficult to get started on a new project. ‘The Fear’ can strike at any time!
But fear of what? This can range from fear of nobody liking your new painting, fear of messing it up, fear that it won’t be as good as your last piece to fear that it will be a well-received, amazing masterpiece that you will never be able to live up to!
And our reaction to this fear is pretty much the same as any perceived danger. We’ll either flee – put down the brush and never paint again, freeze – stare at the blank canvas for days having lost all inspiration, direction and faith in your ability or you’ll fight - get stuck in!
Many Artists have routines to get over this painter’s version of writers block. Some like to completely clean their studio to eliminate any trace of their last artwork. Others use meditation and then there are Artists who have several pieces on the go at the same time so they do not get fixated or bogged down in one artwork or those that like to sketch or produce preliminary studies just to enjoy making art without piling the pressure on themselves. I, personally, just like getting some paint on the canvas. The canvas looks a lot less precious and foreboding when there is some paint splashed on it!