Q: When you are in your studio working on a pastel painting and pause to consider what you have done, do you ask yourself, “Is it good?”
“The Champ,” soft pastel on sandpaper, 26″ x 20″ image, 35″ x 28 1/2″ framed
A: Certainly, I do. In addition, I ask myself some other important questions:
Is it the best I can do?
Is it exciting?
Is it surprising?
Is it idiosyncratic and unique to me?
Is there anything I can do to improve it?
Does it meet (or hopefully exceed) the exacting technical and formal standards I have set for my work?
Will I be proud to finally see my signature on it?
Comments are welcome!
Posted on October 14, 2017, in An Artist's Life, Bolivianos, Creative Process, Pastel Painting, Working methods and tagged "The Champ", consider, idiosyncratic, pastel painting, questions, signature, soft pastel, standards, Studio, surprising, working. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
I don’t paint, but I write. Thank you for a great checklist. I also ask myself ‘Is this sentimental?’, ‘Is this too simplistic?’, ‘Is this honest?’ And then I sleep on it, and have a last read-aloud before I send it out into the world.
Thank you! Those are excellent questions to ask yourself.