The Ugly Bit, in the Middle

THE CREATIVE PROCESS

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Somewhere along the line I forgot the joy of the process.

I will get an idea in my head for a painting, be it a word, emotion, colour or seeing the sunlight dance upon the sea.

I will immediately dive into the canvas and start creating that painting. This is how I’ve painted for a long, long time.

In the past I’ve often felt guilty for playing in the studio.

“Look at all that paint you’re wasting! You should be working at your art! You haven’t had a sale in months, you should be working! “

You know, that ‘parental voice’ or that 'inner critic' that berates us at times.

Do you get that too?

But this year, I promised myself I would learn to fall in love with the process again.

Forget about the finished painting & enjoy the middle bit.

I GIVE MYSELF PERMISSION TO PLAY!

Giving yourself permission to enjoy the process and recognising that ‘play’ is the link between an idea and creating great art.

I mean seriously, it really is the most important step. (I'm talking to myself here)

It can be messy, it can be ugly, but it’s there that we learn and develop and new ideas are birthed.

The process of exploring materials, colour, marks, mixing and seeing what evolves. For our eyes only, no one has to see those messy bits in the middle.

No expectations, just exploration.

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"What if I put ultramarine blue over Pthalo green and mix them on the surface?

What happens when I glaze with magenta over Naples yellow?

What marks will I get if I scrape back that blue?"

It sounds like fun hey?

IT’S WHERE THE JOY IS!

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As artists, we’ve been given the gift of exploration. Of experimenting and of expressing the world around us in as many creative ways as we wish.

It truly is a gift.

So I’m going to be in it for the process. How about you?

💕 WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON PROCESS? IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU PRACTICE ’PLAY’?