I took on the rearing of a
puppy dog this summer and blogging had to go on the back burner. It had been ten years since my last puppy and
I’d forgotten how much work it was.
While my intention was to get down to work in front of the easel for hours
every day, which is my usual schedule; the task at hand was to keep an eye on
this new addition to the household and everything chewable—shoes, wires,
paintbrushes, even the corners of a few frames lying around propped up against
walls either waiting to go out for hanging somewhere or home from another show.
What came from not being
able to be in front of the easel was surprisingly an unexpected surge in
creative thinking, sort of a downtime from actually pushing paint around at the
end of a brush. Standing aside from what
we usually do can open the door to new direction and that was what I noticed
when I could again focus back in my studio.
I found I had new eyes. Looking
at previous works I wanted to right wrongs, adapt my colours, apply theories
I’d neglected. Really, really look at my
paintings, critically!
I am not suggesting that one
get a puppy if you need a fresh start with your work but if all else fails,
stand back awhile, study art books, get back to basics about theory and what
constitutes a successful painting. Become
a student again. Sometimes a step
backwards IS a step forward!