‘The Art of Letting Go’
As artists, we regularly hear how “letting go" and "being spontaneous" are key mindsets to creating great art. However, it's not so easy. When I began my painting journey, I felt fearless, determined, and excited. I wasn't preoccupied with selling my work, but rather with the pure joy of painting. As a result, I attracted many opportunities and my excitement gathered pace. Everything was glorious! But slowly things started to unravel…
Hitting Obstacles
I began to encounter difficulties. I underestimated the intricacy of dealing with galleries, lagged behind in fulfilling framing requests, and had flaws in my processes. The boards I handmade sometimes warped. The varnish I first used would yellow too quickly. Additionally, the ink brand I started with faded in sunlight! My courage and spontaneity quickly slipped away, replaced by anxiety and mounting pressure that robbed me of joy and confidence.
I became so stressed with all these technical aspects that the idea of getting outside to draw and paint wasn’t worth it! I well and truly lost my mojo!
However, I finally saw a glimmer of light. I picked up a book called ‘The Practice’ by Seth Godin. It talked about these periods of getting overwhelmed and tested when trying to create something new. He spoke about having courage and asked, ‘How much do you really want this?’ and ‘Are you going to quit now?’ It lit a spark in me.
So I began reading more books on mindset and problem-solving, and I started journaling and list-making. Eventually, I decided to eliminate the stress of dealing with galleries and sales, focusing instead on relearning my techniques.
Mastering your Process
I experimented with new art mediums and invested in high-quality materials like varnishes and gessos. I finally had my boards professionally made.
This was a HUGE investment but it gave me a standard of product I had 100% confidence in. While this process was not exactly fun or spontaneous, it was important for me to master my techniques through a methodical and daily routine. It was difficult to see others on social media promoting their successes. It made me feel like my art lacked spirit and playfulness - the key ingredients for selling. This is a challenging thing for us all when our confidence is low.
However, I soon came to realise that as I became more skilled in my processes, I began to feel more open to play and exploration. With the right surfaces, inks, and confidence in my process, I've entered a new stage of creativity that I like to call my "new wave".
(photos: https://www.artistsurfaces.co.uk/wooden-painting-panels)
Flow
I understand that this new rising wave won't last forever. When the time comes and it starts to drop again, I might not have all the answers and face some new challenges. My confidence will dip again and I’ll have knockbacks.
That's when we have to start working on our mindset again. We need to find a balance between mastering our skills and leaving room for the unknown. This means we have to accept mistakes and let our creativity flow.
It's not an easy process, and it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. But the end result is worth it. We get to experience the amazing joy and satisfaction that comes with creating art and improving our craft.
xxx