The Mental Stages of a Slow Painting

I paint on a professional level.

In my spare time I also like to paint.

But in my spare time I like to try new techniques and media. I rarely take any big risks, so most of my experimental art turns out pretty cool. But until the painting is completed, I pretty much loathe it. And I often take progress photos to remind myself of the change.

I know that I’m going to hate the painting until it’s finished. I know I’m going to be tempted–every time–to quit and toss the canvas in the trash, chalking it up as a failed attempt at something new. Because I know I’m going to always have that initial sense of failure, I started taking progress photos. When a painting is finished and I’m really pleased with how it turned out, it’s nice to flip through the earlier stages of the painting–the stages when I wanted to give up.

It’s a reminder to finish my work.

Here are some examples of the art and mental progress:

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