Friday, November 30, 2012

Confidence, Cures for Being an Amature, and Paint it Like You Mean It


Flight
encaustic on birch 6x6
I was cruising around youtube the other day and I came across this guy.  I liked what he had to say - so I am sharing it here.



I know that I get a wee tentative when I paint.  I'm always questioning myself if this is right, or that is the right shape or color - or whatever.   I'm hesitant about brush strokes.  I don't use enough paint.  In doing that I have a lot of rework, because I don't believe in my decisions, and many of my paintings look kinda wishy-washy.  These are not the ones you see here.  They are the ones that get scraped back and end up in my recycled wax box. :)  I'm not this way in my real life, so why am I this way when I paint?  Not sure, but I know its time turn the corner and to walk the walk. 

In painting - lets just put it this way and cut to the chase - paint it like you mean it - really.  Be decisive, be confident.   In the end, its art. Its your interpretation.  Its how you see it.  Paint on!  Happy Friday everyone!

29 comments:

  1. Nice thought..Love your piece..

    Duaa

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  2. What a beautiful hummingbird, Marji! The colors in the painting are great. I think if I'd quit showing my art work to close relatives who don't appreciate it or like it, I'd be a whole lot more confident. You know what I mean? When something I've done delights me and I want to share it? And then I get a non-answer. Maybe "Oh." That's a real creativity killer.

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  3. I'm at work so couldn't look at the video but for what it's worth, you don't need to be unsure as your art is wonderful and it certainly looks like you know exactly where to apply each brush stroke! this humming bird is gorgeous.

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  4. I'm off to watch that video. It's so funny that you write this -- last night the subject of my dharma talk for my yoga class was the word "Atta," which in Sanskrit means "now" as in right now, do it now, put 100% of your heart and soul into this moment. So thank you! And your hummingbird is splendid! Happy PPF!

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  5. Your hummingbird is beautiful and love seeing all your brush strokes. Love the texture and how it comes alive.

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  6. Great powerful brush strokes, you are definitely not afraid to let go of your inhibitions. Happy PPF, Annette x

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  7. Love this piece and it's title too. Great texture. Very nicely done.

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  8. Wonderful colors and textures in this hummingbird painting!
    I also love the composition!!
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  9. Good advice he gave in the video. I have always noticed some people dont use enough paint on oils. Love your hummer too. HPPF

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  10. Love the hummingbird, and the advice is good too, I am there too with my oils, but not so much with other media.

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  11. Very interesting video, I can really relate to it and will keep it in mind. Thanks so much for sharing. The hummingbird is really nice. I like the perspective. Happy PPF!

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  12. I absolutely love this piece! Happy PPF!

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  13. Paint like you mean it! Yes, I love that! We need to have the confidence to be bold. And also the willingness to scrape the paint off and start over. We have to experiment to learn. I love this gorgeous hummingbird, Marji. Happy PPF!

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  14. Marji, this is a beautiful painting. I love the different colors and the spontaneity of it. When painting... let go of all doubts and fears. Paint slowly, listen to yourself. Pick that color that your heart tells you. If for a moment you feel stuck, close your eyes. Breathe gently. Listen. Pause. That color will come to you. Never paint to aim for perfection. Paint because it's your dream. Paint because you love it so. Paint because it gives you life and reason to be happy. Paint. Just keep painting. Enjoy! :)

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  15. Love the little hummingbird! Thank you so much for sharing this, I am so timid when it comes to painting and I am definitely not like that in my every day life. I get a blank canvas in front of me and I freeze up.

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  16. Your bird-painting is gorgeous, no need to question yourself! Didn't you do Flora Bowley's workshop? That workshop really has changed my way of thinking about a painting. Before I was always hesitating and afraid of making the wrong decisions. And now I just enjoy it. I start without any idea in my head about what I'm going to paint, and what is especially freeing is that if things are not what I expected, I treat them as another layer and just keep painting on top, until I have something that I'm satisfied with. You certainly use enough paint that way ;-) Just keep going, you're doing wonderful!

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  17. Beautiful painting, very vibrant and bold!

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  18. Great advice! Thanks for sharing this video. I feel very tentative sometimes with my painting, but I love the bold, painterly look and want to be able to do that well. Your painting is wonderful, doesn't look tentative or amateurish at all. Beautiful use of color.

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  19. Love your painting and love the video! Thanks! I'm your newest follower, love if you would come follow me too!

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  20. Your painting is great. Thanks for the video clip, very helpful.

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  21. Beautiful encaustic painting, I love your technique. Very interesting and inspirational video, Thanks for sharing

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  22. Great textures...very very pretty piece !

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  23. Though you say that Marji, your brush strokes seem quite confident and I love it! Flight has it too...strong, confident and inspiring! I need to learn more about encaustic... Great work :)

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  24. This is just so gorgeous. You have no reason to lack confidence in yourself! Your work is stunningly beautiful!

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  25. Amen! I like my work best when I totally lose myself in the process--

    Happy PPF (late ;)

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  26. I love this work. Blessings, Janet PPF

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  27. Paint as you mean it, sounds so right and so true and so scary but at the same time there is no other way. Beautiful bird, beautiful painting and looks like you painted it as you meant it. I love your works and you are running great blog as well.

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