There’s no doubt that we can absolutely lose ourselves when we are painting. The experience of creating can be so compelling and interesting that we lose track of time completely. And, while its great to be so involved in something I also think that sometimes we need to stop, give ourselves a break to come back refreshed with renewed energy.
Self awareness in Art
My personal experience of painting has definitely been informed by my experience of training to be a psychotherapist. In that training self-awareness, understanding thinking and feeling, and noticing what’s going on in my physical state has been very significant in my work in helping people.
It has also been really important to me as an artist where what’s going on in me is just as important as the technical understanding of things like colour, value and composition.
Why is this important in knowing when its time to stop?
What I’ve been noticing are certain states of mind that when I pay attention help me to know when to take a break.
Intuition to Mindlessness
I notice a shift from painting spontaneously and intuitively with a positive energy to a kind of mindless, frustrated applying of paint that gets repetitive and unhelpful with an underlying tiredness.
It isn’t a definite bold move or something considered but a kind of “I don’t know where this is going but I’m not able to stop” process. If this starts happening then you need to stop.
Tightening up in Painting
You’ve stopped standing back to look at the work and get focused in on small finicky details. Using small brushes, messing with the details. Going over and over. You need to stop.
You’ve stopped looking at the clock, haven’t eaten or had a drink for a few hours. You’ve simply been at it too long without a break. You feel tired and your energy is dipping yet you keep going. You need to stop.
Critical Inner Voice
You start listening to the inner critical voice that is telling you the work is no good. You need to stop.
I think all of these are sign that our creativity has gone for a walk and that we need to take a break whether is it for a sit down with a cuppa, a walk in the fresh air or doing something different. The break gives us time to refresh, come back with renewed energy and having found our creativity again.
Are there any other experiences you have had that tell you it’s time for a break? Or, what are your strategies to renew your energy? I’d love to hear from you.