On getting into flow in the art studio – Having just stretched 20 odd canvases for my next series of paintings I am sitting down at my computer with the remnants of white gesso clinging to my hands. I had forgotten what a dichotomy this job of preparing canvases can be. It swings between exasperation with the time taken up to do the work and the sense of anticipation and excitement as I paint the final coat of white gesso on each untouched stretched canvas.
The series I plan to paint has been in my head for about four weeks now although I don’t doubt it has been coming for years. A trip to North Stradbroke Island cemented the idea and even gave the work a name. Can I pull this series off? This is every artist’s dilemma however preparing the surface to paint is a great start.
A book I read years ago comes to mind. It was written by Dr Eric Maisel and titled Fearless Creating. Dr Maisel discusses how artists, like Picasso did, get into flow through preparation rituals in the studio. Picasso liked to sharpen his pencils in readiness for drawing.
Today I felt the readiness forming a promise around me and a sense that I am not going to push through the difficulties I have had to find again the real purpose for my painting. The expectation is delicious and like looking at a great dessert and knowing how good it is going to taste. Getting into this state is about finding the enjoyment in mundane tasks so that when the exciting part arrives, actually applying artist paints, you are already in flow.
Every now and then there is a need to remember gratitude and today I am sharing how fortunate those of us that love to create are and how barren our world would be without art to fill the senses. Below is a work titled Secrets of my Garden which was painted about six weeks ago. Happy creating to you all.