A peek behind the curtain

As an artist, the most difficult task is to know when to stop painting. There are many times I wished I had just stopped when I knew a piece was good instead of trying to push it further. Conversely, there are times I am glad I pushed a piece to change and develop into a much stronger and dynamic painting.

This time lapse video shares my process from start to finish of 4 mini paintings. When I was editing this 60 minute video down to a 60 second clip, I saw just how many stages each piece went through. More than I had even realized. I also know that while I was painting these, I did not think. I just felt. When I paint, I often start without a plan and just lay down paint. Pushing it around, making marks, scraping it away, rubbing it and adding texture. When I work on an abstract piece, I will also turn each painting several times to see it from every angle. Then, when it feels time to stop, I walk away from it. Upon returning, I see a piece with fresh eyes and then my process becomes more intentional. I add in details or purposely change shapes, lines and colors. The entire process is intuitive, guided by how I feel in the moment.

The other interesting thing I noticed in watching this video is that I change hands without realizing it. Being ambidextrous comes in handy!