Here’s the short post I mentioned last night in response to Tina’s question about knowing when to stop.
Time to take a Break
Signs it might be Time to STOP PAINTING and take a break!
One of the things I have noticed over the years are certain states of mind that when I pay attention, help me to know when to take a break.
Intuition to Mindlessness
Here are some of the ways that I use to notice I’ve moved from painting with intuition to painting mindlessly.
You 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. 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.
You’ve stopped standing back to look at the work and get focussed in on small finicky details. Using small brushes, messing with the details. Going over and over.
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 start listening to the inner critical voice that is telling you the work is no good.
All signs that tell me it’s Time to Stop!
And the link to Seawhite’s for the UK people.