Recharging

"Sadness," graphite on paper, 2016

People who work to make things find themselves at a standstill sometimes. That is, they go merrily along, making stained glass windows or writing haikus or novels or painting watercolors but somehow the well runs dry, the words or images won't come. Writers call it a "block". So far as I know there's no equivalent term in the visual arts, but there do come times when work slows to a trickle. Years ago a mentor of mine used to reassure oil painters who worried when their work slowed or stopped, saying that after such periods most find themselves producing more or better (or both) art. Happily, a complete cessation of artwork has never happened to me, probably because I use a diversity of media. Digital drawing is so easy to do that it has become a constant in life for me. But other kinds of drawing in traditional media is pretty simple for the most part too and also nearly a constant. "Sadness," (left) is a good example of my graphite works.

"Shine," oil on heavy paper, 6x8, 2011

Paintings are the least constant of my art pursuits. Many weeks pass when I paint daily, sometimes even in two separate sessions. Those are mostly studio days. But sometimes, gradually, the work slows, sometimes abetted by circumstances but sometimes for no discernible reason. When the work is going well you don't even think about working but instead simply do it. You can fall into a rhythm that (if you're lucky) gains momentum and becomes a daily thing. The risk in being checked is that momentum may not return. We're all influenced by circumstance--family, health, worry, you name it--we can't help it. But productive, successful artists work no matter what. They're like Pete the Street, the British fellow who paints outdoors literally every single day. It's quite simply his life. For most of us though, a health issue, financial issues, even visits from family or friends can slow or stop the work. My mentor used to reassure us that after a fallow period people commonly find their work changing and advancing. The idea is certainly attractive, and perhaps it holds true for many. When the work goes poorly or stops, I certainly hope so.