Let’s have a quick chat about something we can all relate to – the ‘failed painting’ conundrum.😉
Whatever words you use – disaster, crap, a mess, a waste of materials – we all know that that kind of thinking leads nowhere helpful, and yet it can be so easy to slip into.
I recently shared a post on Instagram offering seven ways to think about a painting that didn’t work out that do not include the word ‘failed’ {or ‘sh*t’ 😉}, and it struck a chord!
Here’s my list:
🖌 A trial run
🖌 An experiment
🖌 A learning experience
🖌 An interesting detour
🖌 A discovery piece
🖌 Unfinished
🖌 Bonus work!
Some of the artists who read the post kindly added to the list in the comments, so we have even more ways to think about ‘failed’ paintings.😊
Things like:
🖌 ‘A fabulous surface to paint on’ {@sharon_bruster_artist}
🖌 a way of ‘experimenting with glazes and other techniques that I would normally consider too risky’ {@jillsapiente}
🖌 an opportunity for ‘using the topography of the piece to make something completely different on top’. {@heatherroy19}
🖌 ‘the underlayers’ {@andreamosey_art}
🖌 ‘firestarter’ {@melaniethompson1} {On reflection – this could go one of two ways – inspiration for a new piece, or literally a way to start the log burner going! 😆 I’m not sure which Melanie meant but both work!}
Isn’t it amazing what a bit of reframing can do?!
An artwork that didn’t work out is really just an artwork that didn’t go where we thought it would go, or where we intended for it to go.
It’s not INHERENTLY bad or a failure, and it doesn’t mean anything about us as artists or our art, unless we decide that it does.
It’s all in how we choose to think about it.
We can listen to the demons, or we can choose a kinder – and frankly more useful – thought.
And it is a choice.
It’s never a FACT that your work is crap, or a failure.
If you’ve got a batch of ‘firestarters’ in your studio {who hasn’t?!}, take this list and look at them with fresh eyes!
For more ideas for that ‘failed’ painting hanging around in your studio with a bad attitude, see this post.
How do you think about those pieces that don’t ‘work out’? What definition would you add to this list? Share your thoughts in the comments – I’d love to know! There’s a lot of possibility here. 😉
Fancy a simple AND easy project to use up some of those ‘failed’ paintings and recreate them into something lovely?
I have just the thing!
The Make Cards From Your Art workshop shows you a very easy to follow process for repurposing that stack of paintings that didn’t work out or just aren’t going anywhere.
It’s also very affordable at just $9. 😊
I am so encouraged and inspired and equipped to keep making art because of the generous and varied topics that are addressed. Thank you, Tara❣️
Most welcome Bernie, and I’m so glad you feel encouraged!
I appreciate being encouraged to “reframe” how I think about a “failed” painting. I always consider it a learning experience and lately I took some of the ickies and painted something I liked even better over them. I do have one I repainted so many times that it has too much build up on it. But I’m thinking I could turn it into an interesting abstract? Thanks for the post. And the additional recommendations links.
So glad it was helpful Pamelagrace! I agree, it’s always a learning experience one way or another. And I love that the built up one is almost pushing you to think creatively about what you might do with it.
I really appreciate this invitation to think differently about work I don’t like. That’s a re-framing in itself! Another way I see it is at least I got into the art room and painted! I used my creative muscle.
Yay! Love that Delia.
I’m always calling artworks that I don’t know what to do with either experiments and explorations, or unfinished! It’s always super helpful to have that reminder from others that the imperfect works are just part of process. It’s only by trying and exploring that we discover something new or find that new direction/ inspiration!
Love that Malti – experiments, explorations, or unfinished. Super simple and clear!