The other night I finally had a chance to demonstrate painting a photo I had taken of a place near my house and I was so happy to finally be able to get to painting that.. my last few paintings had been more teaching lessons than painting a subject of my choice. I had the image in my mind for so long, I knew the approach I wanted to take, and when I started painting nothing happened the way I planned out in my mind. I usually am very open and free flowing but for some reason, everything I did felt choppy. I have a small class on tues. nights so I am able to spend more time demonstrating than usual, but the painting got from bad to worse as I continued working on it!!!! I havent looked at it since the other night and today I have time to focus in my studio and work on it.  I never meant to have this wonderful familiar scene turn into a choppy, broken, ugly painting. I dont know what happened to my painting 'mojo' but maybe if I work at it today, it will return, and if that happens, I will have a new work to post.

Wouldn't it be nice if every time we painted, we were happy with the results. 

MEMBERS COMMENTS VIEWING 1 - 7 OUT OF 7 COMMENTS From: amyeart 03/22/2008 12:45:28 I feel painting is a journey...it is the process that is important not the outcome. I always learn something from each painting...and it is also important for students to see that magic doesn't happen at the easel all the time. From: flstormz 03/21/2008 08:07:00 Robin, if I'm painting and things go very smoothly and the art just comes out so easily I'm prepared for the apocalypse.  From: libbysart 03/20/2008 19:02:56 I am not happy with the last two paintings I did either.  I really wanted to do something special for a special person, but no good.  The fact that I have packing for a move this weekend might have had something to do with it.  I will try again after I get re-settled. From: Lucinda 03/20/2008 14:25:26 It is refreshing to read the thoughts of someone who allows herself to be somewhat vulnerable.  I am sure we have all had this happen, yet the struggle is internal.  It's nice to read the common threads of our humanity.  Warmest regards, Lucinda From: sjennings 03/20/2008 13:41:17 Heck, don't feel bad, I throw away at least half of what I do, or at least recycle it for collages...  My painting 'flow' has been gone for a couple of weeks.  I'm blaming it on my job, the alignment of the planets, my broken computer, or whatever I can think of... Sometimes I think we just need time off to re-charge! Sharmon From: nancyleighhillis 03/20/2008 10:53:05 Hi Robin, I've had similar experiences as well. I've noticed that the state of mind I'm in gets translated onto the canvas. If I'm nervous/fragmented/distracted, this will show on the canvas in the brushstrokes. If I'm calm, this will show as well. You might reflect back to see if you get any clues as to how you were feeling at the demo. The good news is that these are only passing states of mind. All the best, Nancy  From: selliot 03/20/2008 07:13:27 You aren't alone! At times I've had this fabulous idea in my head and when I try to draw it it won't come out of my pencil.  If it starts out badly it usually doesn't improve during that sitting.  So I follow my mom's advice from when I was young- I put it away until the frustration is gone, and then I take it back out again (usually not in the same day) . Almost always the second time around I can grasp what's in my head and make it happen. Good luck, I always enjoy seeing your new postings!