A painting doesn’t work out every time.  So, how do you know when to give up and when to keep persevering?  What keeps me going?  And, what have I learned through trial and error?

My experiences have been to:

1.  Try, try and try again.  If you’ve tried your hardest, and still feel stuck, or are not getting anything else done, move on.  I usually put a two-week limit on such a process!

2.  Do things in small chunks.  Work on it.  Leave it.  Go back to it.  Bit by bit, changes happen, and hard work and patience pay off.  Some of my better pieces are an outcome of such a methodology!

3.  Never throw anything out right away.  If you don’t like how something’s going, leave it for a while.  Over time you may feel differently, and be prepared to go back to it—with fresh eyes and hand.  At a later stage, if you still see things the same way, you’ll be more justified in moving on.  Nevertheless, someone else might enjoy it, just the way it is!  There’s a gut instinct that’s hard to deny.  When I know something’s "wrong" for me, it usually is—even if it is not for somebody else…

4.  Take a break from certain subject-matter, then go back to it fresh.  For instance, if you’re painting onions, and they haven’t been turning out how you were hoping, take an onion break.  When you come back to them, don’t think of the piece you did before.  Start fresh, and you might be surprised with the results.  By doing this, I realize, I’ve guided myself, quite naturally, away from previous pit-falls, putting more effort into areas that were problematic before and learning and growing on the way.

5.  Recognize that not every piece can be a great one.  A rhythm and energy emerges over which we have no control.  It effects creative powers, technical skills, and imagination, alike.  Regardless of what others think and favor, we, ourselves, know when we’re "on," and when we’re not.  I’ve had to accept that I need to go a little easier on myself—that painting has a for-ever learning curve…

6.  Step back and see the story that artwork may tell over time.  When I’m down on myself—usually for being technically incapable, I look at my journey, and recognize what I couldn’t do before, wondering how I got from there to here.  Practice, practice, practice, and not giving up, despite the time and effort required, usually, are what get me to the place I’d like to be (even if others don’t recognize it—or see the marketability of my work).

7.  Remember there’s art and there’s ?art.  Many galleries and dealers are only interested in your work’s $$$$$ value, and will tell you that quite bluntly.  However, true artists, don’t just paint with sales in mind.  Their non-scientific brains won’t let them work that way.  I have come to hope that what I produce will find or create a market.  It’s what I know and can do, authentically, and anything else would be forced—probably not work out as others might like (at least for me).  

8.  Accept that art is more of a "business" than ever.  To "get there," it seems, you don’t just need to know how to paint, you need to be computer/internet/ marketing savvy, as well.  Some artists who appear to be more "successful" have teams of assistants behind them—able to put them out there/turn them into "brands"  with multi-media clout.  I do what I can as a one-woman operation, and ache when spending less time painting and more time on all the other "administrivia  necessities"…

9.  Marvel when a painting works, or surpasses expectations.  Being able to paint is a gift that not every one is able to develop to its full potential.  Be thankful for managing to fit in the time and application to be able to take the calling/talent as far as it can go.  I am truly grateful each time a piece comes anywhere close to meeting my unreasonable "standards."  Sometimes, I don’t realize it at the time, but others (positive) feedback often helps keep me going…

10. Know that we all have limits and options.  Not everyone makes the choice to try and paint/values the vocation.  Some shudder at even the thought of holding a brush.  Others announce, quite categorically, that an experience in elementary school has put them off for life.  It’s not good to always be making comparisons with other people.  But, sometimes, I realize that showing the courage to pursue painting is something many others shy away from—even before experiencing all the struggles entailed.  I know I need to pat myself on the back, more often, simply for not giving up!