Rulery Foolery

How many times, I wonder, do I have to learn something I thought I already knew? Started a painting but realized, after I decided it was overworked and didn't like it anymore, that I had been following rules that I didn't have to follow. So I started fresh with the same reference, but without the rules. Much better! 

It's not done yet, obviously but I'm feeling pretty good about it. 

What rules, you ask? Well first off the one that says I have to prove-to you-that I know what I'm doing. That one leads to other rules about formulas for value and color and how to apply pastel. Not that those rules aren't useful but when they jump ahead of the process-the doing-it's easy to lose the energy and soul of the painting. Here is painting #1 in case you're curious.

Heavier, tighter and not very much fun by the end because I was more invested in "pulling it off" that I was in the process of painting. 

How often do you get caught up in proving yourself? How does it turn out?

So Many Limes

I watched an Arcenio Martin Campos video of him painting with pastels. He called it Tom Foolery with Pastels and it was nearly breathtaking. It's so clear that he is feeling every stroke that he makes. There is a beauty in what he does that goes so beyond the finished painting...which, by the way, he keeps painting over!!! He goes from one figure to the next on the same substrate, eradicating the one underneath by putting a new one on top of it. Nothing short of amazing. 

So in that vein I painted this still life with the idea of keeping every stroke fun and fresh. No fussing, no agonizing over details, no perfection! As soon as I would catch myself trying to belabor something into obedience, I'd stop myself. It was liberating!

I used my timer which definitely helps keep me in check. This is a sample of 10 minute marks I hit. It took me quite a few more 10 min sessions, but here is the finished product.

Moral of the story: Life and painting are both better when you kick perfectionism to the curb.