Being Human, and All That

Painting materials aren't free and time is precious — that being said, if more artists would worry less about creating the perfect painting and more about experimenting as a painting artist and getting better at what they do and the painting techniques they employ, then they would sooner reach a consistency of quality as a painting artist and create artworks with which they are delighted, time after time.

 But if you skip that stage — the one where you practice and try and say, "Oh, what the heck; if I don't like it, I'm out a little paint, the canvas, some time — but I've gained in experience and wisdom" — then you'll find that you're so worried about perfection, that you never achieve it.

There are enough people in our lives expecting unrealistic things of us that we don't have to be one of them. Falling down isn't failure. Trying and not getting it quite right isn't tragedy. Doing something completely different, just because, isn't a waste of time.

Go for it. Grab a different painting brush. Use a color you usually avoid. Shake around your subject matter. Play with your paint and see where it takes you on the next step of your journey.