What ugly pages have taught me about art…and life
We’re at the home stretch of the 100 day project, just a few more days to go! I’m torn between wanting to continue this streak, and feeling like I need to celebrate simply showing up ever day for over 80 days.
Most days, the art has flowed freely and beautifully. I quickly find myself in flow state, not knowing just how much time has passed since I started painting.
But there are days when I struggle — with the composition, the colors, the mess on the page. And I usually love the messy stage; that’s where the possibilities lie when you are painting intuitively! On the days when nothing seems to go right, though, I feel like just tearing the page out or turning it over and starting anew; to abandon the mess I’ve created on the page.
But I don’t.
I have a simple philosophy when it comes to these struggle pages: I keep working them until they start working.
I’ll cover over parts of the painting. Add another layer {that’s why I love acrylics — they dry fast and you can keep layering over them} or introduce a new color. Slap down some collage paper or drop in some inks. Until something works. I almost always end up loving the final piece, though sometimes, no matter what you do with a painting, something just feels off.
But I stick with the process…work through the mess…the uncertainty and the hesitation that shows up on the page…until I have something that works.
It’s a bit like life, if you think about it. There are times when everything seems to be going wrong, when you can’t make sense of what to do next, how to put things right. But you persevere; pull at one thread, then the other; until things begin to unravel and make sense again.
Sometimes, we find the perfect solution, but often, we are all muddling along together, making the best of the hand that life deals us.
Art journal spreads
Here are the art journal spreads from days 61 to 80 of my 100 day project, 100 days of art journaling. Click on the images to enlarge.
Which of these is your favorite?
Sign up for Studio Diaries
Weekly notes from an artist’s studio, including pages from my mixed media art journal, works in progress, notes on the creative process, and other ideas that capture my interest, along with monthly sketchbook prompts to spark your creativity.