Painting slump

[acadianartist]

Well, nothing I do lately seems to work out. Maybe it's stress from work and home, maybe this is just a phase, but I swear, after the third painting I'm about to post, I told my husband I was done painting for good.

I guess I feel I've kind of plateau-ed as far as what I can do and want to move in a different direction. I generally paint landscapes since I am primarily a plein air painter, but I'd like to be able to abstract the landscape a bit more. Unfortunately, my attempts to do so have led to these three which I'm not entirely satisfied with. But I thought I'd post them anyway, to
see if anyone has any thoughts for me. Am I just beating myself up for nothing? I feel like I'm swimming without a lifejacket in some murky quicksand... but as I said, that might be largely due to things going on in my life which have nothing to do with painting.

This first one is a studio painting (11 x 14) based on a photo I took while kayaking with a friend (she's my model :) ). I'm not aiming for photo realism, just trying to push abstract shapes and set the mood. I know the main cloud and kayaker are dead center, which is a composition no-no, but I felt that I could break the rules this time ;) Some of this I'm not too unhappy with, but it still doesn't leave me with a great feeling of accomplishment.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-Aug-2009/133994-paintings_006.JPG



This next one is a plein air piece done at last light. Things got a little muddy (8 x 10)

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-Aug-2009/133994-paintings_009.JPG

Finally, last but not least, this larger piece done in studio (20 x 40 or so). I did the background in acrylics and the foreground trees in WS oil. I had a vision of what this one would look like and it looked great in my mind. Not so great on canvas.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-Aug-2009/133994-paintings_012.JPG

[mplsmarjorie]

Chantal - it sounds like you are ready for a change. A change of media or subject. Try something completely out of your comfort zone (tractors, close-ups of flowers, architecture) and/or a switch to pastels or colored pencils or even just pencil sketches. It really helps to refresh. Good luck! Do a sketch of your studio so we can see where you are working. Paint what you know!

[mplsmarjorie]

p.s. Give yourself an assignment. Once when I was in a slump I ordered myself to do 12 paintings of foliage. Small ones, with lots of green. It really made a difference! And now I have all those little paintings for reference.

[couturej]

Hi Chantal! I know how you're feeling. Your paintings are fantastic! For me what sometimes seems to happen is I get into these moods that everything I do is awful then I look at it a couple of weeks later and I realize they were not that bad. Sometimes loosening up helps for me. Not worrying so much about the final result but just playing with it. That's what I've been doing with the monthly challenge for WMO.

I kayak as well and love it!

Their is nothing wrong with your paintings so maybe a change in direction for a while may help. Different sujbect, style or process. :)

[mawdwyn]

^^^ What Janet said...
I find the monthly painting challenges really helpful when I need to get "re-charged". I'm usually better at completing an assignment than painting on my own; I start a lot of things-decide I'm not happy and leave them unfinished. The monthly challenges/projects are a fun way to try new subjects/techniques, and get out of a rut.

Callie

[Stoy Jones]

Am I glad to hear I'm not the only one who feels this way. My wife is currently dealing with chronic illness and it weighs heavily on my heart which doesn't do a lot of good for my creativity.

I agree with what is said, join in the monthly challenges. I got one painting done which I wouldn't have otherwise. Next month, I'll aim for two, and change a few things about what I see in the reference to add to the level of creativity. Having something like an "assignment", or something that you are a part of will be that lifejacket you are talking about.

I really like your work! You are being tough on yourself, but I usually am too. :D Wonderful colors and patterns in that sky in the first pic!

Stoy

[acadianartist]

Thanks all, you are being so generous, but also very helpful, which is greatly appreciated. What a great bunch of people! Ok, I'll do a monthly challenge then :) But it might be tough this month since I am working on a big proposal that needs to be handed in by the end of August... but I'll try.

Yes, I need something different. I just don't know what. For a while, I did a ton of quick sky studies at sunset, plein air of course. Trying to capture the changing sky very rapidly in quick studies. It was great. Liberating because they were only studies, but since I did about 20 or so over a few weeks, I feel my skies in other paintings improved tremendously... yes, I could do foliage, branches, something like that... Don't know about the tractors ;) My son would be thrilled though! One of the things that seems to have happened is that I sold a few paintings last winter and over the summer and started thinking about what people liked as opposed to what I like to paint. That's probably where I got sidetracked and now I can't seem to get the train back on the rails.

I guess one of the big issues for me is time. I still want to paint, at the very least, as therapy, but it's so hard to find the time to do so.

Stoy, I'm sorry to hear about your wife's illness. We're lucky to have painting to add some richness and colour to our lives when everything else seems to be going off course. Some days for me it's just about having survived. Not sure how my life got this way, but I hope it won't last too long!

[keenart]

Distractions are good, but usually when you have “artist block,” your subconscious is telling you it is time to do something else. Perhaps you should shift gears and try a nice Still Life with a floral arrangement, or not.

The basics of abstraction are quite simple but not so easy to achieve. We expect too much in the beginning and strain to achieve what we cannot imagine. Let go of your need to paint the acceptable and paint what makes you smile and laugh, no matter where it may lead you. It is much more fun to sit down to a canvas and just pick up a brush, a dab of any color of paint, and make a big mark.

Remember the fellow on TV who used to have someone draw a squiggly and then he would add to the drawing and make a cartoon character out of whatever had been drawn?

[jmax]

When I'm in a painting slump, you just paint your way out of it. Those el
cheep canvas boards you can get for about $5 for a 6 pack are ideal. Do
a whole bunch of 8" x 10" just splashing around or a whole series on one
favorite scene with a big brush. Takes about 10 or so but its only cost you
about $10 - 20 to get out of a depressing slump.



Good luck.

[ExpressiveAngie]

I have been in and out of slumps for ever Chantel and I sincerely say to you dont give up because I love your work.... I believe the advice given to you is good and I hope you perk up being here with others that support you.

[acadianartist]

Thanks so much to all of you for your great advice and support! I really appreciate you taking the time to respond and it helps to know I'm not alone.

John, that's excellent advice... I might just do that, repaint the same scene over and over, simplifying more each time... I actually have a pad of canvas paper which is perfect for this purpose and is dirt cheap. I just tape it to the back of an MDF board and splash away!

Angie, you are too kind :) Thanks for the encouragement. I'm going to work my way out of this somehow...

[ArtisanCo]

Chantal--try a couple things maybe: 1.) Give it a rest for a while, maybe. 2.) Learn to paint for yourself rather than others. 3.) Go look at other artists work in museums and be inspired by other artists journeys. 4.) If you would like abstracted paintings then use a much larger brush and a limited palette. Hope some of these ideas might help. Chad

www.ChadNelsonArt.com

[acadianartist]

Thanks for the tips Chad. I have some ideas for paintings I'd like to try for myself, but right now, I'm on a forced break. No time! Perhaps in a couple of weeks my schedule will lighten up and I'll be able to look at things fresh.

[judyfilarecki]

Chantel, I just wanted you to know that you have inspired me in two ways.

1. I keep thinking that I would like to try some abstract painting, but i am so hung up with realism that I frustrate myself trying to be abstract. I guess I' not alone with this problem after all and all these great suggestions have really helped.

2. You reminded me of a whole series of photos I took three years ago while kayaking with a friend. We were going through an outlet area from a small lake into the river which had been widened by beaver dams and was loaded with fantastic views. I always meant to paint them but felt that they probably were not subjects that would sell very readily but sure were beautiful and fascinating in their combination of angles and textures. I guess it is time to pull those pictures out. Thanks Judy

[acadianartist]

So glad my frustrations could help you Judy! All too often, we only want to post our successes. I think it's reassuring to everyone to see that other artists out there are churning out bad paintings once in a while.

As I've mentionned, I'm swamped under a ton of work right now (just bought a new car, trying to sell the old one, getting my whole house painted, the garden's getting ripe and I'm working on a big proposal at work), but that doesn't mean I've given up. In fact, I think I have an idea for a great semi-abstract series on large canvas... not very practical, probably won't sell, but you know what? I'm going to do it! I can't paint right now, but I'm painting in my head!

[CMHdesign]

Chantal, I can totally relate. However, my slumps are actually a result of having too many ideas and projects I want to do, but never know where to start or which one to do first. I walk in to my art studio and I just stand there...staring at the easel and all my blank canvases. I have a million project ideas, but never feel I know a medium well enough to try it...or I feel I need to refine a technique. So...I keep a small sketchbook near me all the time, along with a set of pencils, and a stack of my favorite art books. When I don't know where to begin, I start by perusing my books and sketching things that pop out at me in those books.

So whether you're in a slump and feel you can't paint...or overwhelmed (like me), do as the others have been suggesting and give yourself an assignment. Right now, I'm working on refining some drawing techniques and color palettes for skin tones. I think by giving yourself an assignment or lesson, you then have a direction to take. For me, it gives me ONE aspect to work on at a time.

Hope this helps.

[Stoy Jones]

All too often, we only want to post our successes. I think it's reassuring to everyone to see that other artists out there are churning out bad paintings once in a while.

That might not be such a bad idea. A monthly or quarterly thread for bad paintings and experiments gone wrong. Might put a lot of beginners like myself at ease. :D I know I would have some to contribute. Very interesting comments in this thread so far!

[mawdwyn]

Here you go, Stoy:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=538557

It's good to see that it doesn't always come easy - even the best artists put out some clunkers from time to time. But the more one paints, the better the chance that the good will start to outweigh the bad!

Callie

[acadianartist]

That might not be such a bad idea. A monthly or quarterly thread for bad paintings and experiments gone wrong. Might put a lot of beginners like myself at ease. :D I know I would have some to contribute. Very interesting comments in this thread so far!

Stoy, I think you're onto something! What do you think moderators? Can we have a "trash bin" thread? Very original! I'd have lots of regular contributions too... and sometimes, you learn more from your mistakes than your successes! What the heck, why would you have to wait to make the mistake yourself if you can learn from someone else's mistake! And sometimes, those mistakes in paintings are fairly easy to fix... a painting that you might be ready to chuck might be saved by a well-placed comment.

[acadianartist]

Here you go, Stoy:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=538557

It's good to see that it doesn't always come easy - even the best artists put out some clunkers from time to time. But the more one paints, the better the chance that the good will start to outweigh the bad!

Callie

Thanks Callie -this thread is hilarious! Does just what I outlined above. Sorry, didn't read your comment before I replied to Stoy.

[judyfilarecki]

Here you go, Stoy:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=538557


CallieWhat a great thread. I couldn't look at them all, but what I did see were terrific. Unfortunately this thread is closed down, so it would probably be a great idea to start one in this forum. I know I have quite a few to contribute... Judy :D

[mawdwyn]

I just started dabbling in some plein-air painting this summer and my first attempts are pretty miserable. I could support a rejects thread all on my own!
The plein-air painting has done wonders to keep me motivated and painting more often than in the past. Instead of scrapping all those dud paintings, I blot off all the excess paint when I get home, and that leaves me with a pretty good under-painting to start over on. If it works out - fine, if it doesn't - at least I've learned something for the next one.

So who's going to start our "Hall of Shame"?

Callie

[acadianartist]

I believe I kind of did Callie :lol: But if the three above paintings aren't horrid enough to make it to the hall of shame, I can find lots that will!!!

Not sure yet, but I think I may have just painted one today! (I can only tell after a day or two, but I have a hunch about this one). Yes, still trying to paint my way out of this slump, but it's not working!!!! I'm getting worse!!! I tried abstract, I tried new subjects, still getting stinkier by the day! I have a vision in my mind of what I want to achieve, but my hands no longer appear to be connected to my brain!

Oh, and I've wiped off bad paintings to end up with a nice toned panel for the next time... I've also used the biggest brush I have and gone over the whole thing, blending/swishing everything together ever-so-lightly. That takes care of any hard edges which might screw up the next coat and gives me something to work with... sometimes just a few touch-ups here and there and the painting is fixed.

[couturej]

I have plenty to contribute to a hall of shame. So who is going to be the brave one and start the thread?

[couturej]

Chantal, no way your beautiful paintings above would qualify for a hall of shame. You're just going to have to work harder on creating a painting that qualifies.:lol: It's fairly effortless for me.:)