Today I entered my studio to paint a large (3ft x 3ft) bold painting for the upcoming Reno Tahoe International Show. Since I haven’t painted that large of a painting in a few years. I was feeling a bit pressured to make sure the painting was great, particularly since I had to go through a juried process to enter.
I had a design in mind, so I took out a small canvas to practice on since I haven’t used the technique in a few years. Much to my delight, the “practice” painting turned out beautifully, and I will more than likely enter this miniature painting into the Latimer Art Club’s miniature show in October.
What I learned today is that practice and experimentation is just a creative process with no expectations. Creating a small, fun painting before beginning a commission piece or gallery entry eliminates any pressure that I may be feeling, thus allowing the painting to come alive through the creative process.
