“A day away is best for your art”

“When you are working hard at your art it is far too easy to get stuck in a rut”

What happens is that you can get too serious about your painting and drawing that the freshness and life is lost. In other words it can become nothing more than a job.

• This isn’t how it should feel as you are in the process of creating your next masterpiece. It should be enjoyable and fun.
• Why else would you be prepared to spend your spare time doing something that was nothing more than a struggle?

What is the point of feeling as bad about having a pencil or paintbrush in your hand as you would at your day job

So, you might ask… “What is the cure?”

Take a break for the day…

• Go and visit friends
• Go to the cinema
• Go play some sport
• Get in the garden

Or, better still, get out and go somewhere different for the day. As an example, I took the train to the city of Lincoln in the Midlands of England, in the company of my father and youngest brother.

It might not sound exciting to some (no jumping from mountain sides or wrestling with wild beasts) but it was pleasant, comfortable and entertaining. As we traveled through Robin Hood’s Nottingham we saw plenty of open countryside, cottages and castles (at Nottingham and Newark). Traveling for around 50 miles we saw far more inspirational sites than any artist could hope to draw or paint in a lifetime (In truth you see more ideas everyday than you could ever paint).

And then we arrived in Lincoln itself. This is a revelation in itself… a lively modern city that lives alongside its Roman origins. The impressive Castle and Cathedral at the top of the hill are surrounded by a mediaeval town that has buildings that were built just after the William the Conqueror arrived. Can you imagine that?

• You could have eaten lunch in a 400+ year old timber-framed restaurant that spans the River Witham, overlooking and being entertained by a band of drummers on the bridge outside.
• You could have been fortunate to watch and listen to the Hallé Orchestra practice for the evening concert. Each and every musician was note perfect… Incredible! It was so good that the conductor went and sat in an audience seat to appreciate the amazing music.

What a day… Good company, good food, great location and the finest entertainment that money can buy.

“Can you say that about your day?”

So don’t get depressed and fail with your art. Go out and get away from it all. Refresh yourself and you will find frustrations and problems far easier to solve.

 

Michael Dale is the author of 1 Color Is Best (the quick and easy way to learn to paint watercolor) and 3 Colors Are All You Need (mix any color you want fast using only 3 colors). Visit http://www.Paint-And-Draw.com to find out more. If you haven’t done so already, why not take a look at this video that features some of Michael Dale’s Simple Watercolor Paintings

 

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