Leaving the Lair , encaustic on panel , 40 x 40 inches , 2014
I ’ m sure you ’ ve felt it too . You are speeding along , fusing with glee — and boom , you hit a snag . You slam right into some painterly quandary . Aren ’ t you glad you took the time , upfront , to think about the work on your table ? This early prep always helps me overcome panic and sanely address the difficulty : is it too light , is there enough paint , does the passage work , is it stagnant , is it too floral , is it not floral enough and so on .
Yes , yes , there is the occasional “ accidental opportunity .” We all get a few of them in our painter ’ s lifetime . You cannot count on them to pull you out of trouble day after day . It won ’ t happen . Many non-painters believe that we do just that : go into the studio , sling paint and a masterpiece suddenly appears . You and I know it ain ’ t so .