David Limrite-Artist, Coach, Mentor, Teacher

Unfinished painting in progress.

"I certainly have times where I walk around in my studio thinking: 'I can't paint, I'm not as good as I think I am, I'm certainly not as good as everyone else thinks I am.' And I'm freaked. The other side is when you've opened a door and you feel the weight of the responsibility. There's something sacred about paint. You make a pact with the painting, you will be responsible for whatever you're putting on it, what you find out."

~ Eric Fischl

It took me awhile to find my way back into this piece. I struggled both in my brain and on the canvas. I am still struggling. I was hoping to have more to show you this week. I really felt that this piece needed something new and fresh. A new direction.

Then it hit me!

I created a series of three small 16"x 10" pieces about a year ago that are hanging on the stairway wall in my house. I pass by them every day, however, I wasn't really seeing them anymore. I'd sort of forgotten about them. In the past day or two, I finally saw them in a new light and realized that they held the key to what I was looking for in order to rework this unfinished painting.

I was elated. I became excited and re-energized. I knew exactly what I wanted to do to this painting.

Or, so I thought…

Self-doubt and a lack of confidence began to creep in. Can I take something that I was able to achieve at 16"x 10" and re-create it or translate it at 48"x36"? Also, the small pieces were done on wood panels and the unfinished painting is on canvas. Different surfaces make a difference. Can I achieve the same looseness, freshness and movement that exist in the smaller pieces?

I took my own advice: ACTION QUIETS FEAR.

So I dragged my butt out to the studio, and began.

And, as so often happens, as soon as I began to work, my excitement for this breakthrough and for finally being able to revisit this piece with some clarity, overpowered any doubts and fears that I had.

It took longer than expected to redraw the rest of the figure, which temporarily dampened my spirits, however, I finally got it to a point where I could actually begin to apply some paint. The photo that you see above is where the piece currently sits as of the publishing of this post.

Creating requires courage, confidence, a positive attitude, and being open to new ideas, among other things.

Have you tried revisiting an unfinished painting yet? I would love to see what you have done and hear about your experience.

To be continued…

Best,

David