Finding time

[Joan Breckwoldt]

Everyone has been so helpful on this forum that I am going to ask for suggestions on finding time to paint. I just read a post by Sandy Barnes who said she procrastinates because she feels all her work must be 'good' and therefore procrastinates at starting. Me too! Although I know that any time I spend painting is worthwhile because I am learning, I still want to paint a masterpiece everytime.

I have a corner in our 'computer room' where my easel is set up. I have two children (ages 6 and 11) who are in school all day, but there is still so much to do . . . other than paint.

I just wondered if anyone else has this problem, not finding time to paint is probably really more like 'being scared to paint' for me. What if it's not great? In my head I know it's okay to paint something not great, but apparently my heart hasn't learned that lesson yet.

I suppose it's just a confidence thing for me. I welcome any suggestions to get over this 'fear' of painting.

Happy Easter to all,
Joan

[Steven Sweeney]

Go get a pad of "canvas paper", tear-off sheets of canvas look-alike, feel-alike surface. I think Canson makes one of these pads. Stick it to your drawing board with thumbtacks, all different colors, preferably one of them rusty. Or use masking tape, a dob each corner, or off-level stripes top and bottom. Now get something like Paul Leveille's "Painting Expressive Portraits in Oil", and just spend a series of short sessions copying his examples of noses, then mouths, then eyes. Take extreme close-up photos of tolerant relatives for the same effects. Paint those so that, from the very ear or eye, someone else might say, Hey, That's Helen!!

Don't try to do a masterpiece. Try to do a piece, as masterfully as you know how. From what you learn this time round, your next one will be more accomplished, and so on. And much sooner than you think, you can go for the big finish. One of the big secrets of painting is that it's not as hard as it looks. Another is that it's not as easy as it looks, either, so don't skip the calisthentics on the way to the Olympics.

Best luck,
Steven

[Mike McCarty]

I have a theory about "time to paint". People don't begin painting by renting space and designing a studio. It usually begins in their home in an off room behind a closed door. It becomes a sort of brother-in-law house guest. I believe that the next step is critical. It's not to the rented space but it is out of the room behind the door off the hall. Take your easel and your materials and place them in the corner of your den! Put them in a place where you can't avoid seeing the work in progress as you go about your daily business. You will be amazed at how many times the urge to stop and make it better will come over you. It might look tacky, it might be a child magnet. Your production will go up five fold. The next problem will be "c'mon Mom it looks fine", "ok just 5 more minutes."

[Joan Breckwoldt]

Thank you Steven and Mike. Wow, both great suggestions. Thank you both for taking the time to answer.

This forum has helped me so much, what a wealth of information I have found. I will move my easel into the den (luckily I have a very understanding husband) and start painting noses and eyes! Short sessions is a great idea, I always feel like it has to be a full scale masterpeice like so many on this forum.

Thanks,
Joan

[Chris Saper]

Dear Joan,

I agree that part of the key to making your time as productive as possible is being able to keep your easel and work in process set up, so that you are not spending the first and last 1/2 hours of your time setting things up and putting them away.

The very moment I return from getting my kids dropped off at school, I come in the house and go straight to my easel (it is important to get your Diet Coke on the way), typically by 8:25 every day. I paint straight through, usually till about 2 or so, and by then I am usually tired. Any errands that have to be done, (groceries etc) get done before child #1 gets home...then it's #2, homework, dinner, etc. Yes, you get very tired by the end of the day. However, I find the routine works well for me, as I do the most demanding part of the day when I am freshest (wow, sometimes that's a stretch). You, however, may need a different routine, the operative word being routine.

It's important to just get into the process of painting..once I am through the first 5 minutes, the process takes over and I only notice the time when my feet start to hurt. I agree that it's best to just START. Mike is absolutely right, having to walk by your studio or easel throughout the day is the best invitation to get back to it.

Good luck, Chris

[Joan Breckwoldt]

Dear Chris,

Thank you for your advice. I can see how important a routine can be and it certainly has paid off for you if your beautiful work is any indication.

It does seem impossible to actually spend that much time painting each day, for me anyway. There are so many other things that fill up my week, but I suppose I must set my priorities straight and forego some of my other activities. (Though unfortunately I can't forego the grocery shopping or the exercising! Yuck.) There are so many distractions in this world!

I will start a routine of painting every day, just so I can have it become a habit. It'll be more like 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for me though. What an excellent suggestion, thank you for taking the time to post it. I think the key word here is routine.

Joan

[Steven Sweeney]

I second or third the notion of routine, meaning as soon as you wake up, sleepwalk down the hall, boot up the computer and . . . no, wait, that's another routine . . . not only draw or paint at a regular time as many days a week as you can, but do it whether you think you want to or not. If you've got a commitment to begin at 10, do whatever it takes to start on time. If 10:30 seems like a better idea some morning, go stand in front of the easel and do nothing from 10 to 10:30 -- if you can actually keep from picking up a pastel stick or a brush -- but Show Up, just as if you'd interviewed for the job and had been selected from among a huge slate of hopeful applicants. Let others know what your routine is, too, and that it's important to you. Sometimes the kids will have their hearts set on spinach for dinner and they'll have to eat artichoke hearts instead, because you just didn't get to the grocery that day. (They may even begin to insist that you paint longer each day!) Sometimes the sheets won't get laundered today, or the shelves dusted, or the oil changed. Life will go on and folks will begin to respect you for your attitude toward your work.

There are all variations on this, but a paraphrase of many of them is that amateurs wait for inspiration and the right time, whereas professionals go to work every day and invite inspiration to come along.

(So why am I sitting in front of a computer?)

[Sandy Barnes]

Joan - I'm glad to see that someone else shares my paranoid dilusions..LOL Funny, but I have done both suggestions of Mike and Steven. First, I am painting my early works on canvas paper (Canson is nice) as I am new to portrait painting -- (Humans that is, a long-time animal painter has broadened her horizons) Some time ago I set my little "studio" in the den. Every time I pass it I get a fresh "eye" and find something that doesn't look quite right. Also, I am more apt to paint than watch TV in the evening. I often keep it on for background noise, but once I start working I don't hear anything.
I run a full time business (I'm a diamond appraiser) but my passion is painting. I get up at about 5 each morning and paint until 7ish. Evenings are also good for me. Sadly, there isn't much north daylight during those hours. I think about painting (people) all of the time. Now I'm actually doing it. The fear of failing has been my bane, and with portraiture capturing a likeness (or not)is my first stumbling block. My drawing skills are good, it's applying the paint (taht obliterates the features) that bothers me. I would never think twice about beginning a painting of a dog or a horse, but then most golden retrievers look alike. So apart from a few minor distinctions such as coloring, if you've painted one you've painted 'em all. Next, I've always been an ala prima painter and my first atempt with a portrait was a dismal failure. (Yes, I have only painted one portriat) I am currently working on an underpainting that I will try the glaze tecnique. (Karin Wells, you are becoming sleepy.., very sleepy -- as she swings a pendulum -- you will make a video...) Anyhow, I figure every picture is a "lesson", even without the luxury of formal training I will eventually "get it" Hey, I learned how to paint dogs and horses..
Good luck to you Joan. I look forward to read more of your posts.

[Debra Norton]

I had to laugh reading all these posts! I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with this problem. I've tried some of your suggestions - I too have a canvas sheet full of noses, mouths, eyes, and ears. Some of those face parts were mine - my family even recognized them, which is a good sign.

I finally got a studio of my own when our son got married last summer and I took over his room. That helped some. It might help more if I moved the computer to the garage! It's too easy to sit down here and see what's happening at SOG.

I'm procrastinating right at this very moment. The beginning of my next project is behind me; I'm ignoring it. It's a portrait of my husband, which would be ok if it was just him, but it's not just him......there's a helicopter there too....... (He's a Vietnam Vet, was crew chief on a helicopter.) I guess I can use him as my advisor - he will surely catch every mistake I make.

And then there's all those other things in the way. Along with the helicopter I'm procrastinating about the flower beds out front. Have to get rid of all those weeds since the house is supposed to be going on the market in two weeks - which when it sells will open a whole new area of "stuff" in the way. But the good thing about all this is that we're moving so I can go to art school. Can't wait to get there, but in the meantime, it's back to the weeds.

[Cynthia Daniel]

In my own selfish little way, I'm personally glad that some of you find SOG to be addictive!