How Was It For You

I often wonder if other artists go through the same processes and emotions as I do when I paint. Before I start a painting, I have to want to paint. Sometimes the urge to paint can come a couple of days after I finish the last one. Sometimes it can be a couple of weeks. Once I've got the urge I need to get on with the painting. If I am prevented from doing so by other commitments, then I feel like I'm going to explode. I start by sketching in as much detail as I feel I need, which can vary greatly. Some of the sketching might even be left visible to be part of the painting. The next step is to put in masking fluid as required. After that the painting can begin. Depending on the subject and the amount of sketching involved, the painting might not look good from the start. I might start to worry that I've done something wrong. The better they look as I'm painting, the easier it is to paint. When I think I'm finished, I hang the painting up in my kitchen (that's where I paint). I will scrutinize it, looking for errors. There's usually something I've missed or masking fluid I haven't removed. Usually I will be pleased with my work, but one or two, I've not liked because I felt there was something wrong. I spot the errors in the end and put them right. It could be reflections that don't match properly or something that is too light and so on. Once the painting is to my pleasure, I will leave it hanging for a week to admire. I will get a feeling of satisfaction and that I've painted one of my best ever paintings. It's a wonderful time and there is no longer a need to paint, but after about a week something strange happens. The painting that I thought was so good, stops being a brilliant masterpiece and is now just ok. When I finished it I thought I could do no better and now I feel that I must paint a better painting. Not only that, but it's been a whole week since I last painted! How can I call myself an artist? The urge to paint is back with a vengeance!