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.
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