Finding Inspiration while Life Happens

Welcome to our March Guest Blogger Laura Pollak

(www.laura Pollak.com

Life happens! Things get in the way. Kids get sick, and parents need our help. Months can go by without standing in front of our easels. And the longer the time away, the scarier it gets to pick up that pastel stick or paintbrush! Then the inner dialogue begins,  and what a mean little devil that Negative Nancy can be!

So here are some things that have worked for me to get going again.

First, as corny as it sounds, physical exercises ‘opens my channels.’ It gets rid of my bad energy and lets happy and productive thoughts seep in. Of course, meditation to get yourself grounded and relaxed is another healthy direction.  

WARM UP

When you’re ready to get in front of the easel try this simple exercise:

• Pick an artist that you love.  Whether it’s representational or abstract… just look at their work and decide why you like it.   
• Take scraps of paper; whether it’s your beloved sanded paper, or even brown craft paper.  (You can always use little pieces of paper or paintings that failed and you’ve wiped down leaving a ghosted image.) 
• Pick up some pastels that have a palette of the person’s work you admire and consciously try NOT TO MAKE A PAINTING!
• DO NOT TO COPY THE PAINTING. Just experiment with marks and shapes. 

REMEMBER YOUR WARMS AND COOLS AND LIGHTS AND DARKS

Remember that a Concert Pianist doesn’t step out on stage without doing their ‘scales’, warmups and daily practice.   These will be your exercises.     I even took a workshop with a wonderful artist who closed his eyes in front of the class, took several deep breaths and then started painting.   We need to get our brains in the right place!

Continue to work on your warm up project. And take the pressure away, the results will never see the light of day. You are trying to find a new palette of colors that play together nicely. Then look at your values: lights and darks and warms and cools. Try colors you would never reach for and marvel at the interactions!

BREATHE

Have you ever noticed when you’re painting that your stomach goes up in a knot! Be aware of that and make sure you relax and breathe! It’s ONLY PAPER!

Well, last month, I went into a panic. Why? Because all the ‘Shows’ have their entry dates coming up and I had NOTHING to enter. I hadn’t painted since October! Is it smart to paint for shows? I cannot think of anything worse. What crazy pressure! But then again…there is also nothing more motivating. 

So, from January 2^ndthrough January 27^thI painted all day, every day. I came up with a lot of junk., or as a very kind friend said, “They’re not ready for ‘Prime Time’.” Twenty-seven paintings in twenty-five days. Just like fashion photographers…I took a lot of shots hoping somewhere in the mix there would be something worthwhile. Out of all that work came about five paintings that were ‘worthy’ of entering. Every night, I was dreaming about what I’d do next, different ideas, unique palettes, how I might underpaint… you get it. I was on a roll to the point that I could produce two paintings a day! In the GROOVE!

This month, with teaching workshops and gallery exhibits, I’m torn away from my easel yet again, so I have to start my practice of not making paintingsall over again.

Climbing out of a rut can seem impossible, but I can assure you that if you try to just Warm Up, Remember Your Warms and Cools and Lights and Darks, and Breathe, and you’ll get out of your rut and into the GROOVE in no time!