I very much agree with this response, I mostly intuitively paint until right at the end. For those who are still learning about composition etc I would recommend working on large paper so you can play to find what you like. Having large sheets means you can use a view finder to ‘find’ a composition and cut it up. I used to think it was a lazy practice but now I realise it’s genius. You are training your eye before you know how to make it happen intentionally. The left overs can be used as colour palette prompts, collage fodder and more. It takes the pressure off of making an entire masterpiece. If you have 8 smaller pieces and only one is good then it’s a good painting day!
What a great idea for those of us with no art training. Your thought of " training your eye before you know how to make it happen intentionally" is such a helpful way to look at it. Thank you much!
Hi Louise, You just said the exact thing I needed to hear. I am not alone. Yippee!! I might need to do your week again just to help me recover from a summer of grandkids' invasion. Thanks again Louise. Your a lifesaver.
Thank you Louise for this post. I have returned to painting recently and find a lot of my artwork is both therapeutic and intuitive and mostly about having fun...I am enjoying this rediscovery for the moment but then there is an annoying little voice deep in my subconscious nagging at me and asking when am I going to start painting REAL art...like figures and landscapes. When this happens I become more aggressive in my abstracts. This works for me and I have managed to silence my inner critic and tend to my inner child instead. Have you found this too Louise?
One of the best videos to describe the abstract process! I have struggled with mindset. I kept thinking I had to start with a blank mind and play like a child. You have confirm that this is typically not enough. I need to work in my intention/story(?) that I want to tell. I will be approaching abstract differently now. Thank you. I have signed up for your course. It will be round 2😊
Dear Louise: Thank you for your advices and lessons. I'm learning to listen to myself and finding out that I'm learning to heal too ❤ Lots of love from Argentina 😊
I relate so much to "recognizing" when something is done. I finished a collage the other day and I got such a sense of familiarity. As if I had seen it before. I think that was the moment that my intuition told me it was done.
This video made a timely appearance. I'd just started on a sketchbook collage and began overthinking what looked 'good' where, rather than experimenting and developing the feeling and/or theme. Thank you Louise... have only recently discovered your channel and find it so enjoyable and helpful.💜
Thank you so much for this video. I follow a number of abstract art groups on Facebook, and I cringe each time I see a painting which lacks any sign of composition, value, line, variation, or other principles of art, and the beginning artist says "I painted this intuitively." I am fairly new to painting myself but have been a potter for 40 years (handbuilder for 20), and I know "intuitively" how to work with clay, and that what experienced artists in any medium call intuition is really a combination of knowledge and experience. I still have to be more intentional with my painting. Every day, I spend some time looking at a painting by an established artist whose work I admire and ask myself 1) why does this painting "work" and then 2) what would I do differently if it were my painting? And like AntyAntics, I use a viewfinder, both on my own work and on inspiration photos of others'.
I learned bout play in 2020 after taking a workshop and after painting for almost 40 years! I am still learning how to play but the need for a "good" composition (what I call "what the book says") and an "idea" for the painting always eggs me on and often takes me away from play. There's still a competition between authenticity and confidence in my choices, trusting the play, the process. It's frustrating because I thought that in about 2 years (2022) I'd be "home". Not yet happening. Playing never gives me a direction; I usually don't like it or like just apart of it that is not the main element of a future composition. I often start with something I saw somewhere that I liked but then go my own way with that. Like borrowing a manequin and giving it my own wardrobe. I don't have confidence in my composition but also never have an idea for a painting, which depends on play and my play is "contaminated" by thought ("the book"). . Don't try to follow this, keep your sanity. I just wanted to share. Thank you for this video, as always so generous.
I very much agree with this response, I mostly intuitively paint until right at the end. For those who are still learning about composition etc I would recommend working on large paper so you can play to find what you like. Having large sheets means you can use a view finder to ‘find’ a composition and cut it up. I used to think it was a lazy practice but now I realise it’s genius. You are training your eye before you know how to make it happen intentionally. The left overs can be used as colour palette prompts, collage fodder and more. It takes the pressure off of making an entire masterpiece. If you have 8 smaller pieces and only one is good then it’s a good painting day!
That's a great way to go about it!! ♥
What a great idea for those of us with no art training. Your thought of " training your eye before you know how to make it happen intentionally" is such a helpful way to look at it. Thank you much!
Priceless! Thank you Louise!
You are so welcome!
Your artists' wisdom is so very helpful, Louise. I should put you on a continuous reel while I attack a painting.
I listen to her podcasts while I’m working
Awww that is such a sweet thing to say. Thank you♥
A friend told me about your free course so I've signed up.
I'm intimidated by paint so signing up is scarily exciting lol
Cheers from Australia 🐨 🐾 ❤
Welcome aboard and I'm so happy to have you!!
Fabulous you are a great teacher
Aww thank you so much Carmen!
Thanks. Lovely video, so well spoken and helpful.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Louise,
You just said the exact thing I needed to hear. I am not alone. Yippee!! I might need to do your week again just to help me recover from a summer of grandkids' invasion. Thanks again Louise. Your a lifesaver.
You are so welcome and I would love to have you. ♥
Thank you Louise for this post. I have returned to painting recently and find a lot of my artwork is both therapeutic and intuitive and mostly about having fun...I am enjoying this rediscovery for the moment but then there is an annoying little voice deep in my subconscious nagging at me and asking when am I going to start painting REAL art...like figures and landscapes. When this happens I become more aggressive in my abstracts. This works for me and I have managed to silence my inner critic and tend to my inner child instead. Have you found this too Louise?
One of the best videos to describe the abstract process! I have struggled with mindset. I kept thinking I had to start with a blank mind and play like a child. You have confirm that this is typically not enough. I need to work in my intention/story(?) that I want to tell. I will be approaching abstract differently now. Thank you. I have signed up for your course. It will be round 2😊
Glad it was helpful and I am so happy to hear you will be joining us again. ♥
Dear Louise: Thank you for your advices and lessons. I'm learning to listen to myself and finding out that I'm learning to heal too ❤ Lots of love from Argentina 😊
You are so welcome
You are such an honest, highly inspirational, giving person Louise🙏
Aww thank you for your kind words Jackie. It really does mean so much to me. ♥
I relate so much to "recognizing" when something is done. I finished a collage the other day and I got such a sense of familiarity. As if I had seen it before. I think that was the moment that my intuition told me it was done.
Awww that's such a good feeling isn't it bob? 🖌
thanks so much again Louise, you give such good advice to encourage us all to plod on and just enjoy the process.
You are so welcome and glad you enjoyed it.
This video made a timely appearance. I'd just started on a sketchbook collage and began overthinking what looked 'good' where, rather than experimenting and developing the feeling and/or theme. Thank you Louise... have only recently discovered your channel and find it so enjoyable and helpful.💜
Glad it was helpful and thank you for being here. ♥
This is a very interesting response, Louise. Thank you for posting it.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you so much for this video. I follow a number of abstract art groups on Facebook, and I cringe each time I see a painting which lacks any sign of composition, value, line, variation, or other principles of art, and the beginning artist says "I painted this intuitively." I am fairly new to painting myself but have been a potter for 40 years (handbuilder for 20), and I know "intuitively" how to work with clay, and that what experienced artists in any medium call intuition is really a combination of knowledge and experience. I still have to be more intentional with my painting. Every day, I spend some time looking at a painting by an established artist whose work I admire and ask myself 1) why does this painting "work" and then 2) what would I do differently if it were my painting? And like AntyAntics, I use a viewfinder, both on my own work and on inspiration photos of others'.
This is one of the great things about art. We all have our own way. ♥
I learned bout play in 2020 after taking a workshop and after painting for almost 40 years! I am still learning how to play but the need for a "good" composition (what I call "what the book says") and an "idea" for the painting always eggs me on and often takes me away from play. There's still a competition between authenticity and confidence in my choices, trusting the play, the process. It's frustrating because I thought that in about 2 years (2022) I'd be "home". Not yet happening. Playing never gives me a direction; I usually don't like it or like just apart of it that is not the main element of a future composition. I often start with something I saw somewhere that I liked but then go my own way with that. Like borrowing a manequin and giving it my own wardrobe. I don't have confidence in my composition but also never have an idea for a painting, which depends on play and my play is "contaminated" by thought ("the book"). . Don't try to follow this, keep your sanity. I just wanted to share. Thank you for this video, as always so generous.
Not seeing the link to her free workshop. Her workshops have really advanced my painting skills, so worth it to do them.!
Hi Pamela, you can sign up here: www.louisefletcherart.com/free-course Hope to see you there! ♥