Ugh… There are days when I want to paint and I sit and my mind goes completely blank! I can’t think of what to paint. I can’t think of how to even start. I know many artist’s have these problems. The thing is that I need to figure out how to get past it. I tend to stall out at this point and every day that goes by without painting makes it harder to get back to it. I had a long hiatus, about a year. You would think that after a year I would be able to get up and paint day in and day out. Well, so far it isn’t like that. I think I am riddled with self doubt. I need to just sit down and loosen up and maybe just do some quick sketches to get back into the game so to speak. I hit a roadblock in the painting I am currently working on. I’m not sure I can fix the problem. So, I want to do some other quick studies to get my mind off of it. Often that is when the solution comes to me. So, that is my goal for today.
One reason I get so frustrated is because of my limitations brought on by my health issues. I struggle everyday with fatigue that is so bad, it is like having a really bad case of the flu all the time. And added to the fatigue, is the pain. There are times it just brings me to my knees. I am lucky enough to be able to have medications that help greatly with the pain. Unfortunately some of the side effects are fatigue. I have to balance my days very carefully. If I push too much I end up flaring and of course it is counter-productive. Not to mention the fact that it frustrates me to no end when this happens. I have accepted the fact that I have these chronic illnesses and really am just finding ways to cope and live my life as fully as I can. I still have much joy in my life and I truly look on everyday as a gift. Painting helps me, it brings me much happiness and joy. It feeds my soul. Maybe I wouldn’t appreciate the little things so much if I weren’t sick. I guess in some ways I could look on it as a gift of sorts. I definitely don’t take anything for granted. Being able to paint again helps me to open up to more possibilities, in painting and in life. I hope that my paintings will express my joy, my happiness, little bits of my soul. Painting is life.
Hello,
I also have always had the problem of “What to paint” sometimes I go crazy because I have the energy but noting comes to me….I go nutsssss
One of the things I do is, I leave a small sketchbook beside the bed with 2 or 3 pencils…and I just do some ramblings and it feels good…I hope you get better and be able to pursue your wonderful paintings
Hey Doudy,
That is a good idea. I will try that. I need to work on my sketching skills anyway. I have lots of pics I have taken over the years and they give me ideas. I paint from pictures a lot. I’m not very good at plein air painting. Another thing to work on! I guess I just would rather paint in my studio–which used to be the living room in this house:)
Thanks for the well wishes. I have been feeling a bit better lately and I’m taking advantage of it!