“The function of the majority of your artwork is simply to teach you how to make the small fraction of your artwork that soars.”
“Art & Fear” by David Bales and Ted Orland, p5
Hang around with me long enough and I will probably quote this long-remembered snippet from “Art & Fear” to you. (According to my pencil note in the front of my copy, I bought it in 2004 after it was recommended on the discussion forum I had for Painting.About.com.)
It came to mind again last week when messaging with someone who said “I’m not very good so I think I avoid but I do enjoy it.” Fortunately for her the conversation headed in another direction before I could get started on my motivational lecture about everyone being a beginner once, how it’s by doing that we learn, and not expecting every piece to work out, leading into the quote above.
This is not to say that on occasion I don’t produce a few paintings in a row that are “good”. That does happen, but I don’t expect it to and thus the frustration when I don’t is less.
I have learnt that regularly a piece I am particularly pleased with is followed by a dubious one. I put these into the category of “trying to hard”, where I am inhibiting what I am doing by mentally comparing it to the previous. I haven’t yet found a way around this, and perhaps there isn’t.
The ink drawing below is a pleinair piece done at the old harbour in Portsoy, with a touch of watercolour. I did several others that day, but this is the one hanging up in my studio. What makes it work for me isn’t the expressive line, much as I am pleased with this, nor the contrast of the b&w and splash of colour, but the white space at the bottom left where I didn’t finish drawing the harbour wall but left it for the viewer to complete in their mind.
Thanks. Love this quote! A timely remider. I’m moving my studio and realize I’ve stashed a lot of works that were part of my journey but not the destination.
And that ‘try too hard’ thing? The only way I’ve found around it is to recognize and step away for a bit so I can come back fresh(er). Doesn’t always work but it helps.
I’ve read that book, but I don’t remember that quote. It’s very good.
I also enjoyed Ted Orland’s book The View From The Studio Door.
Thanks for sharing!
I didn’t know about The View book, will have to see if I can get a copy, thanks.
Lovely drawing at the bottom, too. I do like how you’ve left the bottom-left section out.
Thank you!