Thursday, February 9, 2017

It's taking too long

I've been working on this cat for months.  I started it before I moved into this house.  I have the feeling I started it over on WSD, but could have been before that.  Months.  And moves.

There is a painting I started more than 10 years ago.  Maybe around 2003, I would guess.  It's the bald guy with the horns.  I think I'll finish it someday.

This one is different.  I have been actively working on it for months.  To be fair, there have been weeks that I haven't painted at all.  And there have been tons of days I have only worked on it for a few minutes.  But there have been plenty of days I have poured hours into it.  It's been on the brink of completion several times--well, twice.  Maybe three times.  Lately the end has seemed close, but today, just minutes ago, I realized the destination of this process is quite a lot of work away.

I have some thoughts about it.  A painting shouldn't take this long.  I'm forcing it, I'm not doing it right.  I'm too relaxed, I'm not technically skilled enough.  I should pay more attention to the details.  It should be more detailed.  It is too detailed.  I'm a terrible painter.  I'm embarrassing myself.  I'm wasting my time.  It is unrealistic to believe that I could paint something worthwhile.

Have the thoughts, continue painting.

The truth is that I'm not just painting a cat, I'm developing a style, I'm discovering a process.  This painting does not look like paintings I have done before.  Maybe it will be trash.  Maybe this process makes things terrible.

More thoughts, continue painting.

Type up some stuff to avoid painting.

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