Starting A Painting, Not Knowing What Your Going To Paint.

Are you wanting people here to experiment with this piece you've posted, Steve?

In answer to your question -- block, never.


~ Carmen Hathaway

Artist block happens to me all the time. My favorite artist block paintings are the ones below.

Never had a block....hardest thing for me is choosing which subject to paint.

@Carmen. No, I was just curious as if anyone just started painting without not knowing what they were actually going to paint.

Those are fantastic Katy

It's the only way I paint

Interesting take on what a block is...obstruction, etc.

When people are encouraged to try & get in the mindspace before they were aware of rules & regulations -- usually fantastic results when we're less inhibited.



~ Carmen Hathaway

When I paint I never know what will emerge.
Painters block is always working overtime lately and haven't painted since February and doubt if I will pick up a brush again at the moment.

I like to have everything planned before I touch the canvas/ tablet. It makes things quicker and easier.

Yep I get them alot, but looking through other art or theme helps or walking

I never have painters block only not enough time of the day to paint.

I usually plan my paintings out as to subject and tone, but sometimes...
A few years ago I pulled out an old stained canvas sat down at the easel and began to paint.

I don't usually have artist block on what to paint, but have more of a problem with having too many to paint; which idea to paint first.

I usually do value sketches and or write down notes on my sketch book to keep myself from having artist block at paint time. Sometimes I plan a color pallet by making a color swatch for a particular painting. I like to know how the composition will be before I paint. It also helps me work out some problems beforehand.

That is how I usually paint.

Even when I I have a preconceived idea, it often morphs into something entirely different as I paint, e.g.

Nonsense paintings are real popular yes! For some reason it frees the viewer of attaching their own preconceptions onto the art because their is nothing to identify.

There are really very few if any descent ones available since artists seem find it hard to depart from either traditional impressions or have some of their own cultural subconscious baggage which clutters up the canvas and disturbs people as they look at it.


No message.
No rhyme.
No reason.
Also no balance or perspective and absolutely no color compliments.

Wish I could see something like that free and uninhibited in art!

Steve, good topic with lots of ways to respond.Good thread/question:::::::"Lets see what you came up with. "
Made me think - thanks for that.
I don't usually think too much before setting out.
But, something new has occurred due to being on POD, and having no hangups about 'precious' artwork. Setting up for print, has allowed me lots of play - with my own art only, from my original paintings. Here's just one series , all taken out with more and more steps via the program I use.

In future, for this discussion, I'll just post the link, not the image......


*********** I'm sharing this because I hope it gives you ideas to look again at your work, find gorgeous corners of it that speak and stand alone, and 'have a go'.........to break that block............

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