Archive for September 1st, 2010
Fooling Around
Robert Genn, Canadian landscape painter, wrote a letter on “The fine art of fooling around” this week. Here are some of his ideas.
Fooling around is a vital part of the creative process. As artists, we have accumulated technical skills, understanding and knowledge that there are a variety of ways to accomplish the same ends. We need to give ourselves permission to just “do it.”
Reverse, or at lease vary, your usual order of starting. If you have a tendency to finish certain areas, leave them unfinished with the knowledge that you will return to them. Leave your options open – make it up as you go along. Don’t obsess about things – back off, move around, loosen up. If your painting is not going well, count your blessings, get an optimistic spirit. Don’t get too serious – ask, “How can I play here?” Take chances – you can almost always cover up your mistakes.
Creativity, invention and exploration all stem from the same root. To keep both yourself and your viewers happy, the making of art needs to be a dynamic evolving event, of joyfully trying this and that!