Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could attain all of our objectives in a painting? This of course is unrealistic thinking. If we are to enjoy the process and to keep from constant frustration we have to temper our expectations…right? Babe Ruth only hit four out of every ten ‘at bats’, which is probably not a perfect analogy but you get the idea.
There are three essential ingredients to an oil painting : Structure or design which would represent the bones of the piece – the architectural framework. Secondly the placement of tone or color which encompasses a broad range of disciplines such as harmony, contrast and accent. Third is the execution which speaks to how technically proficient you are as a painter. For example you may have a poor composition, a poor design but the brushwork is wonderful. Well, then you have accomplished much. You have developed your skills enough so that you can do very good things with the brush. You’ve learned just how much thinner or medium to use, how to brush color next to color, how to draw precise lines, how to blend. Now add to that the elements of good design…study the masters. Find out about balance and counter weight, the ‘magical triangle’.
The point I am making is to strive for getting ‘One Thing Right’. Very often I am working on a painting and there develops an exceptional area or passage. It especially stands out, it is especially successful in all three aspects of good design, good color choices and strong, confident execution. So I have to be happy about that area even if the rest of the painting does not quite stand up to that one area. Sometimes that one area can ‘carry’ the painting.
This is how we progress as artists. We keep building on not only mistakes but also on our small successes. Go easy on yourself. I remember when I was a young student and the instructor, Nicholaides came and stood behind me for a few minutes. Then he reached in and with his finger traced the left leg I had drawn of the model. That’s the right line, the right shape exactly, he said. I kept working on the drawing but I never got the rest of the model drawn properly, but the left leg was good. I was happy that at least I saw that properly. Sometimes I think we are able to focus better at some times than others – we are less distracted and our concentration is more pure. We can’t be too hard on ourselves when this is not sustainable. In time however, through practice we are in fact to sustain this level of concentration for longer periods. We can do more well, in a shorter amount of time.