“It makes us realize the infinite variety of nature when one considers that there is not one day which is like another. Three hundred and sixty-five times in the year the sun rises in the east and climbs over the waking world, and three hundred and sixty-five times it happens differently.” - Edward Seago
Several weeks ago I posted a photo of the beginning of a painting on Instagram. A progress shot. Although, in reality, it barely qualified as progress, it was more of a warm up, a quick gesture of the landscape. It was a light sketch using very thin oil paint on a primed white canvas working out the placement of objects. When I begin a large painting, working in this way helps me think through where I want to go with a painting. I can wipe out a few marks here and there and put others in to get a feel for the size and scope of my idea. Because I enjoy seeing work in progress photos from other artists, when I think of it in time, I will post a photo.
The comments began coming in….
“I think you are done”
“Leave it just as it is”
“Stop there”
And on and on it went. I even had a couple of offers to buy it as is. They were all lovely, complimentary, well meaning comments. Don’t get me wrong, I love comments. And while they are a wonderful way to engage, those kind of comments can be detrimental to an artist. They can make you rethink your original concept and cause you to second guess yourself. Unsolicited advice can cause you to make changes that come from a place of general opinion and not the vision of the painting from your mind.
“Maybe I should be painting more like this”
“Maybe I am painting too loose, or too tightly or have too much color or too little color, or not enough texture or …(fill in the blank with your worry) ”
“Maybe I should change course and try another way ”
All that internal conversation of “maybes” goes through your head, because being an artist is a lonely, second guessing kind of business. Every mark, every stroke, every decision in every painting is second guessed. There is no one but yourself to consult.
But this is where it gets tricky. If you don’t trust in your vision, your purpose, your voice…. you are lost. What do you have left? There is only you creating a painting. It is personal, not something to be left to the general opinion on Instagram or Facebook or your family or other artists. Yours is the only opinion that matters because you are the only one that knows what you want to accomplish. You made the decision to devote time and energy and put an idea full of emotion on canvas and you are the only one that can see that through. The more opinions you get from others, the more your own opinion erodes.
“Draw and paint as you want to. Unless one has a sense of freedom in thought he cannot do his best work.. to follow some other person’s method is fatal. Develop your own” -Alfred Hutty
As beginning artists, we all seek instruction. And we imitate to learn. But then, through practice, the imitation and the information become part of us and transforms into our own vision. I have taught enough artists to know that even if everyone is painting the exact same subject, no two people can paint it the same. There are always differences. Everyone sees color differently and shape and pattern differently. Everyone makes different marks with a paintbrush. That uniqueness is important.
A painting is not a widget that is being developed for mass consumption. And it shouldn’t be treated as such. I see artists on IG that are constantly asking for feedback, constantly asking strangers what they should paint next. If you don’t know what you should paint next, then you need to figure out why. No one should be able to answer that question for you. You need to dig deep and try to understand where you are as an artist and where you want to go.
If you find yourself seeking to serve the largest possible number of people, you’ve signed up to be average. - Seth Godin
I read through a few of the comments on my work in progress and then stopped. I didn’t want their well meaning voices to get in my head and make me second guess myself. I know from experience how easy that can happen. And I finished the painting the way I saw it originally, in my mind. Maybe I am the only one that will like it, maybe not. Does that matter? In terms of selling it, well yes, it does matter, but I am confident if I paint my vision of what is important, my way of seeing things that it will come across in the painting. I have done my best to create to the highest level that I can at that moment. That is all I can do. If it fails, then I have only myself to answer to and I can figure out the correct path to take from that point forward because I know why I made all of the decisions.
It is so important for an artist to trust themself. Seek advice on things you don’t know how to do, but then make it your own. Don’t try to be anyone else or paint like anyone else. There is no one correct way to paint no matter what anyone tells you. Be yourself. You are the only one in the world that can.
Painters are storytellers. The only one that can tell your story is you.
Breaking Surface
Let no one keep you from your journey.
no rabbi or priest, no mother
who wants you to dig for treasures
she misplaced, no father
who won’t let one life be enough,
no lover who measures their worth
by what you might give up,
no voice that tells you in the night
it can’t be done.
Let nothing dissuade you
from seeing what you see
or feeling the winds that make you
want to dance alone
or go where no one
has yet to go.
You are the only explorer.
Your heart, the unreadable compass.
Your soul, the shore of a promise
too great to be ignored.
~ Mark Nepo
You are so right! I think about this topic all the time and have for years. I also think new artist need to be careful about local art clubs and organizations for the same reason. Painting with like minded people can be fun and informative, but you can fall under the spell of their “leader of the pack”. You may crave their approval a bit too much. I’ve been lucky, in that I’ve never had a problem doing my own thing. On IG I often answer positive comments on my unfinished process pics with, “Thank you. I hope you still like it when and if I finish it.” Lol.
Always inspires me! Thanks!