A painting that disappoints me can teach me something, if I take time to understand what happened and then return to work. In this video I share how I think about failure in my own painting practice.
Look for a reason
When a painting succeeds, I enjoy it and often move on. When it fails, I have to stop and think. Was I paying attention to the values? Did the color relationships work? Was the design clear? Those questions turn a discouraging result into something I can learn from.
I also recognize that painting takes mental concentration. What is happening in my life can affect the way I work. That deserves consideration alongside the decisions on the canvas.
Come back to the easel
I have had stretches when I felt I had forgotten how to paint. Sleeping on it and coming back helped me get past that feeling. A difficult day, or even several difficult days, does not have to decide what happens next.
My encouragement is to keep painting and drawing, and to examine the work with some patience. Progress differs from person to person and depends on the work we put in. Give yourself another opportunity to work on the problem you have identified.
Continue with The Importance of Values and Redesign.
