Love What You Paint

In this video I discuss one of the biggest stumbling blocks for artists and how to overcome it.

For more about the paint that I use visit:

[kellyfrancis]

Thank you Mark. This reminds me you don't paint just to paint but to be engaged and happy with what I'm putting on the canvas.

[jtpaar]

For me, this happens when I'm on the verge of completing a painting. I have put so much thought, energy & creativity into it that I get to the point where I'm sick of even looking at it. I can no longer objectively view that painting and decide if it's actually finished or not and I will keep 'tweaking' it, sometimes messing up what I've already done. Thankfully, I've recognized this in myself and will then put my painting aside for a while and start something new. When I am ready, I pull out that painting & see it with 'fresh' eyes and can quickly determine what I think it needs to be completed and satisfy my perfectionist tendencies. Of course, this isn't possible if you have deadlines to meet.

I wonder sometimes, if having difficulty 'letting go' of a painting has to do with our own attachment to it and pride...will the person receiving/purchasing the painting respect the amount of time and energy it took to create it? Just a thought.

[ronhochhalter]

I'm a beginner with a lot to learn. Not very happy to hear that the well seasoned artists suffer from the same problems. A friend was visiting with me in my studio the other day, his attention was directed to a portrait I was working on when he asked a very interesting question. He asked " at what point of the process of a painting do you feel the most gratification? " I have found every brush stroke to be satisfying until I make that one stroke that complicates the vision I had when I started, and then it begins to go down hill. Thank you for bringing up this topic and giving us your insight to help us all be better Artist.

[headingoutside]

Fortunately I have not yet suffered from that issue yet. I do spend a LONG time creating my still life - days sometimes, and hundreds of photos, as you say. But for me, the magic of making something look real with blobs of paint never dies, and that carries me through the painting process. And toward the end, the excitement of seeing the finished painting spurs me on. That, and wanting to start on the next one.

[tinomendoza]

this is definitely a problem that occurs with me very often. when im picking the object that i want to paint and visualizing what i want to do is usually the best part of the process but once im well into the painting i start to loose interest and instead think about what i want to paint next. its a real problem cuz ive left a couple of paintings unfinished and haven't touched them in a long time. im glad to see im not the only one struggling with this problem tho.

[fishsouth]

Once you have taken an image apart and understand how to make it....all of the wonder and love of it disappears. It's a bit like learning a magic trick :-)

[KaustavMukherjeeFineArt]

Excellent product Mr. Carder! Canvas underneath is a very beautiful idea.

[michaelparry]

Mark, this is a very useful video. Beginning or seasoned artists will have this happen quite often. I think it is very important to Love what you chose to create, and also it is important to Love the process of creating it. I strongly agree that it is so important to be very selective in choosing what you want to paint. As you have indicated; chose what you love, paint what you love, and love the process of creation.

[robinormond]

Well expressed, Mark. I usually figure when I get to that point, I didn't really love the original image enough to re-create it.

[wendylambert]

Hi Mark. After fiddling about with all sorts of styles and media, I came across your youtubes and want to thank you for your generosity in sharing. After watching multiple videos I decided that it would be a good idea to take your online class so I investigated and was surprised that you are offering it at no cost!! It is the best available I am sure. Just wanted to pop in to say thank you. I appreciate your amazing attention to detail.

[ericeatwell]

I fully agree I fount a way to overcome this .is to grow into that what first appealed to me. I paint a scene; that I felt patient about and it never hit my expectation until I attempted for the 9th time as I grew my visual understanding and emotional connection with that first instinct of 'waw I want to paint that'. I FOLLOW ALL YOUR TEACHING THANKS FOR YOUR VALUABLE GUIDANCE

[stevekobb]

Well-stated. I agree with you. Self-doubts and mood swings are motivation killers. It's so important to know how to deal with them during the creative process.

[_trismegistus]

Thanks for showing how they're made at the end!!

[IamDV]

It's emotionalism versus objectivity. When you are in an orchestra you are enthralled. But if you ask each of the individual artist in the group and the effort and skill needed to get to the symphony, that's objectivity and skill and cool-headedness behind it.

[melbendigo]

Thank you, it helps so much to know it's not just me. I spent the whole day in one of these discouraging quandaries. My studio is full of abandoned paintings for this very reason, and this video is just what I needed to hear. I feel better now, knowing others deal with it, too, and will remember your advice!

[chichibarleta]

Mark thank you for encouraging me....I'm half way through and I really struggle with the values and almost want to give up. God bless

[oilonpaper]

That's why I like to do sketches or small pieces that I can finish in one go. And why I've shied away from oil paintings ... I have the hardest time going back to a work in progress.
Knowing that this seems to be a universal thing might actually help me out. Thank you so much for the video!

[Kyomiibrown]

Yes, I agree, it is a big problem and has everything to do with needing "fresh eyes" as it is a consequence of our eyes becoming exhausted at looking repeatedly at the same image while we deconstruct it and then paint it, as our eyes desperately seek new vision to fight the monotony. This is also demonstrated in a mirror effect when the painting is out of sight for months, and we happen to see it again - and get the whole new "fresh eye" feelings and see the beauty in what we painted once more.

[janhelene]

A good reason for unfinished paintings and drawings. Speaking of drawings, I have been concentrating on these. Purchased your original DVD, color checker and proportional divider, but in a tiny apartment had no way of blacking out an area or constructing the box. Good to see how your are constructing and selling some of the items you use. Now it's a long wish list for me from your site. Perhaps you will even produce the box. Again, thank you for the videos. They genuinely address the reality of oil painting with all its aspects.

[shaindarkart]

i love everything you do....ive learned alot from you my friend. subbed.
you know your stuff!!