Break it down

Wonder Water Image #3

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

The final image -- sorry

the photo is not a good quality.  I

am learning. It sold in NYC which is nice.

SOLD ♥

How do you draw, paint, a person, a scene, a car, a cloud?
How?  One million different ways of course -- no wait
are there 9 billion people on the planet by now (last time
I looked it was 7). That means currently there has to
be that many ways to do this thing called make a piece
of art.  All valid.

Wonder Water Image #3

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

An earlier stage -- coming together

Then there are the instructors, the rule makers.  They ride
in on white horses, or in Navy and tan Rolls Royces,
or yellow Lamborghinis, and they know everything about
how to make art.  Except for one important factor.  They
have no idea how to be you.  Silly though eh?  (I'm
Canadian -- we say eh)  Seems too simple?  Have you
ever met you except in the mirror.  Even if you have a twin
he/she is not you.

So.  I will give you a really simple answer.  Break it down.
Start with the least frightening part of the new thing you
are attempting. (Not the most difficult.) Sometimes if it's
really hard in your mind, you needs lots of breaks, and
maybe some meditation. And then go back, set the timer
(how long can you be there -- 5 minutes? 10?) and work
on the easiest part.  You may get so lost that when the timer
goes, it's annoying and you don't want to quit.
But every break brings you back new to you, and you get
another aha.

Wonder Water Image #3

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

And two earlier stages -- small steps

Some people are fast and this whole process
might take a day, or even a morning.  But others are slow
and need weeks for the same thing -- maybe even
an equally great result.  Don't ever answer that "So
how long did this take you?" question.  Because it
could have been an hour, and it could have been 30
years.  Both are fine.  Just say you aren't sure. (You're
not are you?  You're making art, not keeping a time
graph!) Smile though.  The whole process is your secret --
and isn't that good?  I think so.

Have a breaking it down and liking it day
Here's a funny video I found on the subject.