Years ago I booked myself into a McGregor Winter School at the UniSQ to work intensively for a week with Dr Irene Amos, expressionist artist and doctorate in the field. The week involved solely concentrating on just painting under daily instruction and then free hours to paint and create. You could work in the studio any time of day, pull all nighters if you wished. Being able to solely paint solid for two weeks without other daily distractions alongside other similar minded artists was heaven.
I remember many points Dr Amos noted and one was that the most daunting tasks for an artists was sitting in front of a blank canvas and apply the first stroke of paint. This was true, many times it had stopped me from painting, fearing the unknown and wondering what the hell was I about to paint and which colour or even size brush to use and how even seemed frightening.
Dr Amos filled me with a new perception of a blank canvas and how to conquer the fear.
Over time I have created a ritual and steps leading up to the day I apply the first stoke of paint.
The blank canvas can be overwhelming, especially if it is big. I know for me it can take a week or two for me to even start from when it arrives on my doorstep. It's like I have to become friends with it first or to show it who is boss. I place it in a spot where it's in my face of everyday life. I walk by it, look over it, touch it as I breeze past and visually start placing colour on the big empty space.
Then all of a sudden one morning I snap, I set up - my drawings and mood board is up in view; if it is being used, paints and all medium are out, colours mixed, brushes and palette knives placed strategically ready for action. I place the canvas in position and eagerly rip off any packaging.
I sit in front of that empty canvas and stare at it for a good while, selected music is playing loudly to drain out any other noise around me and I just sit and focus on the perfection of the white and pace out my next move.
As I grab a knife or brush I load it with paint and generally the colour is not of concern at this stage. The first blob has connected with the clean perfection of white and we have lift off. The feeling of these first brush strokes is like a heartfelt song it satisfies and it just feel's fricken good.
This blank canvas ritual for me has ultimately conquered the 'fear of the blank canvas'.
The not knowing where to start has totally gone. For me I have learnt and to appreciate the feeling of conquer.
I rule the canvas, the canvas doesn't rule me and I'm about to turn you into something beautiful, personal and emotional.
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