Well, this post is either going to be Quite Interesting or Unutterably Dull. Obviously to me it’s the former, as it’s about my process. I’m always quite fascinated by other artists’ processes too, so hopefully for you not too much of the latter. 😉
Process is something artists are often asked about, and it can be very hard to express or explain as it’s often subtle and made up of fleeting moments that are barely noticed at the time.
That said, I have been noticing some very subtle nuances recently in terms of my process, and wanted to share them here – along with some of the less subtle ones – partly as a way of making sense of them for myself, and also because perhaps they will make sense to you too, or reassure you, or prompt you to consider and learn more about your own process. Knowing about your own process gives you power, so I do recommend doing some noticing with yours. God is in the details, as they say.
The photos are from a recent painting session that prompted all this noticing and introspection. 🙂
rough layout with charcoal {I gessoed over an old painting for this one}
My paintings usually begin with, and are carried forward by, a specific feeling, especially if I’m not using a reference image. Not necessarily a feeling that I could put words to. It’s not like I think, oh I know, I’m going to paint joy today! It’s like a magnet that pulls both me and the painting forward together, and can act as a touchstone if I lose my way.
Often before starting, and also during pauses in painting, I’ll visit my Pinterest boards {specifically the painting inspiration board and any others that pertain to what I’m painting}, not to copy anything, but to feel into new marks, composition ideas, colours, approaches. It gets things flowing again.
I often lose my way {I do this when writing and talking too!} – a kind of visual version of rambling, and sometimes find I’ve gone so off the path I actually can’t quite remember that initial feeling that I wanted to express. This can be very frustrating. When it happens I step back, talk to myself internally about it, turn the canvas around, and will often look to some of my favourite artists for sparks to get me going again. Sometimes all it takes is an idea for a certain mark, an adjustment of the composition, or to put a certain colour somewhere.
just playing at this point
I often forget that I don’t have to finish a painting in the same session I start it, although that would be my preference because somehow something is often lost in the pause, and colours don’t always blend together in the same way the next time. That can be a good thing sometimes, as it brings new energy to the painting.
I paint till I feel done. If that happens before I’ve used up the paint on the palette, I use it to make marks on new canvases {or old ones gessoed over and ready to go}, to carry the colour palettes across and not waste the paint.
If I reach a stopping point but want to continue painting, I start a new one and work back and forth between the two. So I always like to have several canvases of different sizes ready.
starting to consider composition and where it’s going
Sometimes it flows through me, and I just make marks and switch colours without thinking. Sometimes I have to consciously remind myself what kind of marks I always enjoy or that tend to work, and run through a list of options in my head until something feels like the next right step.
There is almost always a point during a painting where I ‘suddenly realise’ I don’t know how to paint, and become utterly convinced I have no idea what I’m doing and am no good at it. I just keep painting.
There are usually phases of painting over something I wasn’t sure about and instantly regretting it. I often have to push myself to keep going over bits and not be precious about what’s already there. In the end I never regret it, but at the time it can be very nervous making.
starting to work into it with charcoal and sgraffito {scratches that reveal the colour below}
Paintings with less layers tend to feel less complete – less full and whole – for me, although there are of course exceptions; some just flow out and are done with very few.
What feels true one minute suddenly doesn’t when new marks arrive, so there’s a constant push pull, which is partly why I love painting, and partly why I don’t.
I like to listen to music when I’m painting, and dance and sing and get my whole body involved. It helps keep things loose and makes it more fun. It also helps keep the inner critic quiet.
Sometimes there is a lot of swearing and shaking of fists and wails of ‘WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?! I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU NEEEEEED!’ If I’m going to have drama in my life, in the studio is best. 😉
bringing in lighter tones
Part of me knows that if I painted every day {or at least more frequently} I would significantly develop my mark making and understanding of how a painting works and be able to make richer, more nuanced paintings. I’d also not have to remind myself of how to paint {or how I paint} every damn time! I want to want to do that, but it just doesn’t work out that way. And forcing it is a no no for me.
A painting I’m 100% happy with one day can feel not quite right another day. This can seem disappointing, but really it just means that I am constantly shifting into new patterns {like sand blown by the wind – different but neither better nor worse}. Often once I’ve said something with a painting I’m complete with that, and having moved on it then doesn’t feel so meaningful for me. That’s also why I tend not to do series. {This does seem to be changing right now.}
Sometimes if I’m stuck I’ll introduce a new colour. I love doing that, especially with acrylic inks, because of the dripping.
Naples Yellow! The best yellow ever.
My favourite materials to use are gesso, acrylics, charcoal and oil pastel/oil stick. I’ve been playing around with plaster, modelling paste and textured collage base layers too.
My ‘signature’ marks seem to be haphazard vertical lines, like old falling down fencing. I have no idea why I love doing them so much, but they make perfect sense to me, internally.
I don’t want to just make pretty paintings {although I want them to work aesthetically}. It’s imperative to me that they have layers of meaning, even if no one else ever knows what they are.
Paintings with meaning require a much more intense connection between me and the canvas.
almost there
My favourite part of painting is probably the beginning, when it’s all wild and crazy and you can do whatever you like on the canvas. It’s the later decision making, and the endeavour to not get tighter and tighter the more there is on the canvas, that I find challenging. Sometimes in a good way; I do love the problem solving nature of painting.
Sometimes I make mark after mark over a certain area, hoping blindly that at some point one of them will look and feel right. I don’t love that part, but it’s good for me to feel out of control sometimes.
I like to bring paintings down to a certain corner of my living room when they feel finished, or if I’m not sure what they need, so I can see them from my sofa and just muse on them a bit each day.
Towards Home // Tara Leaver
Does any of this sound like your process? Do you notice anything about yours that you’d like to share here? I find this whole area quite fascinating, so please leave your thoughts in the comments!
My process is pretty crude…I get the urge but usually dont have an idea. I like the reminder to make initial marks as I’ve been experimenting with abstracting but rarely ore mark then get lost really fast. Mind you, I was trained to draw a rough sketch first…just forgot all about it. I’ll be more mindful of my process after reading this…..I recognized some of yours too.
I think that just comes with time and practice Linda – when I was just {re}starting I didn’t know what to do a lot of the time, which was why I took a lot of classes. You just gradually build up an internal bank of images and marks and colour palettes to draw from {no pun intended!}.
Wow you could be describing my process, your blog was so helpful to me, particularly the bit about thinking you don’t know how to paint – love your down to earth approach
Kathy
Thank you Kathy! Very glad you found something helpful here. 🙂
Quote1: “If I reach a stopping point but want to continue painting, I start a new one and work back and forth between the two. So I always like to have several canvases of different sizes ready.”
# Q1 is a great tip! It happened to me many times when I knew I should stop, but the energy was not finished yet, so I kept painting on the only canvas. Then either I would make a new mark that totally upsets me or I start loosing the connection.
Quote2: “I like to bring paintings down to a certain corner of my living room when they feel finished, or if I’m not sure what they need, so I can see them from my sofa and just muse on them a bit each day.”
# Q2 is also what I like to do, especially love the moment when the paintings “tell” me what they want.
This post is very interesting and it encourages me to start taking notes in my painting progress, and maybe I could see some kinds of patterns, too!
So glad it was interesting and helpful to you Jing!
Great post and insight into your work. I love seeing inside other artists’ minds and methodologies!
Me too! Glad you liked it Maz. 🙂
Nice post! It addresses the type of work I like to do and falls right in with the way I end up doing things. Your blog posts are always reassuring to me… thanks. Lovely painting, too.
So glad Lisa – and thank you!
Lol have you been reading my mind! This is exactly how I think when I am creating!
I’m a new babe dabbling in watercolor but have acrylics, don’t we all !
Thanks for the post …
I mostly just stare at a blank white sheet of paper …wondering what to do. Draw or just paint ? I Freeze up from the struggle and voices in my head too !! I’m doing weekly class but and not sure of the direction class is taking me. This is jumbled!! But I’m searching for my style. What makes me sing when I’m painting and not dread entering my art room or class. Sometimes I think if I could only draw better my problems would be solved….. I’ll stop now cause I’m rambling!!!! Many thanks for sharing and I’ll be working on my processes also now …
Hi Kath – I’ve been there too, many times. 🙂 For me it’s been a case of trying all sorts of different things and seeing what sticks, what I’m most excited by and what develops naturally. I’ve taken a LOT of classes! I’ll be writing a post about this in a couple of weeks, and Abstractify, which will be running in April, covers exactly this. In the meantime, you could check out this post: https://taraleaver.com/2015/02/finding-your-own-artistic-style-a-practical-guide/
Many thanks ..I’ll surely look at both. You are awe inspiring ..
Oh, I’m so glad to hear that Abstractrify will be running in April! You can definitely count me in on that! 😀
Oh that would be lovely Gina!
Wow- reading this has made me aware of some of thesubconscious processes that must be rattling around in my head when I paint.Do you think that you can harness and use this awareness or does it have to be spontaneous?
I too am Looking forward to enroling for your upcoming abstractifying course in April 🙂
Hi Maggie – I definitely find it helpful to bring some of the subconscious processes to light. Great question! I think that the longer you have been painting, the more certain patterns start to show up, beyond the basic likes and dislikes. So yes, I do think you can harness it. In my experience it’s a dance between the spontaneous, intuitive/instinctive actions, and the more logical, using-what-you-know. It’d be a pleasure to have you in the group in April. 🙂
A lot to recognise here – great post! “What feels true one minute suddenly doesn’t when new marks arrive, so there’s a constant push pull, which is partly why I love painting, and partly why I don’t.” So so so glad this isn’t just me (even if it’s not always fun!) Plus the way you described the marks you make (“I don’t know why..”) is so true. When I started painting again I was worried about finding my style, but as I do more, and more frequently it seems that your style finds you. Great article.
Hi Alice – I was literally about to visit your site via Instagram! Absolutely adore your paintings. Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to leave your thoughts; so glad you found something that made sense to you here. And yes to your style finding you! Great point. It’s so nice to be able to connect with fellow artists in this kind of detail.