Trouble getting back into painting after a dry spell.

TheLandscapePainter

Due to ill health I haven't painted for months and I'm trying to get back into it. I thought I would just be able to pick up where I left off but it seems like I've forgotten everything and using the tools seems so unfamiliar. During my dry spell I've still taken an interest, watching videos (although we can't access bobs vids on youtube in this area now) and checking in here now and then and I thought I had learned a lot and couldn't wait to get back into it. I thought I would hit the ground running. But it's come as a shock as to how far I've slipped back. It seems that I'm disappointed with everything, I know what I want to do but just can't seem to do it. It's so frustrating and it's no fun. I really want to get my mojo back. Has this happened to anyone else? And what did you do to find the joy?

dracula

TheLandscapePainter This happens to me as well. Sometimes even if a single painting goes south, the delicate equilibrium I have to maintain to ensure creative motivation gets disrupted and I have a hard time recovering. To be honest, I think learning how to navigate and nurture one's individual creative spirit is almost just as important as learning the techniques and materials that you use.

I find for me personally that sticking to a minimum amount of time spent weekly in the act of painting helps keep me moving forward. Everyone around me knows it's non-negotiable; I just do it, even if I don't feel like it. Usually I want to paint much more than my minimum allotment, but when I don't feel like it, taking the time to paint at least a little bit usually helps to reset my attitude and set me back on course. Not sure if that makes sense.

Felix

Something I always like to do is start with something easy and fast to get the juices flowing again. A small easy scene that doesn't need to much technique to get your appetite up

TheLandscapePainter

Felix Thank you Felix, I will try that. I think I need to work on my patience and my expectations as well.

Sunnylady

When I got unhappy with my paintings and felt stuck for good... I just used white, yellow,red and blue and mushed it on the canvas panel with knife and fingers, before that substance spoke to me. It turn to be a fire-bird. Childish looking but from my subconscious. This was the first time crisis.
Second time finished 2 weeks ago and lasted around one month. I felt very much down...

What I am saying here you need to switch to your right side brain and stop critics that is coming from the left side of the brain.

There is this exercise I read and I tried that you can use before going with paint or just when you had a rough day...

Take a pencil and piece of paper. Find the object. Look at it. Research its shape. Look at it again. Now watch the object and draw it on the paper WITHOUT looking at the paper. Try to repeat every line Be honest with yourself and do not peak at paper. Finish it and check what you got. Do 3-4 different repetitions of the same object.

Usually the first available object is your other hand that does not hold pencil. It can change shapes that make it more fun.

I got funny weird abstract and nothing-looking-like-hand things... but it helped to start thinking about drawing/painting again.

So this exercise causes right brain to work and shutdowns left brain that likes to critique and be hard on yourself. Exactly what we need for painting - embrace our right brain!

Exercise number 2.
Now Look at the object again. Research it shapes. Now draw that object on the paper by truly seeing it and constantly verifying that you draw exactly what you see and not letting left brain to even tell a single word to you.

Result:
Compare both drawings.

Sometimes something bothers and stresses a lot so sometimes dark theme painting even a cartoonish ones are the way out. OR May be it will work from the opposite for you and you just need to make absolutely the WORST painting in your life. Intentionally.

Hope something of this will help. Get better. You are strong person and you have wonderful paintings. We all need a break sometimes. 🙂 Sending you a million hugs!

TheLandscapePainter

Sunnylady Thank you sunny, you are so kind! I never knew about that left-right side of brain thing. That's very interesting. I think I just got too big for my boots, thought I was better than I am. I've just done At Dawn's Light and found it difficult but I did manage to find some enjoyment. I know where I went wrong so I will see what happens next time. Thanks again.

TheLandscapePainter

I hope this helps someone else if they have the same problem. I've just done After The Rain and used the 1 inch brush for most of the foliage to regain control over the brush. Next I will do Forest Edge which is a similar composition but I'll try using the oval brush for the foliage this time. I think this will help.