How to Get Unstuck in Your Painting
Is this or is this not one of the main problems you have in your painting process?
Getting stuck…
So many people have told me they get to a certain part of their abstract painting and don’t like what’s happening but have no clue how to move forward.
This is how so many unfinished paintings end up against their studio wall.
They’re filled with fear that they’re going to ruin it.
Well, I have five suggestions for you:
- Look through photos of your old paintings, which might spark an idea.
- Look through books or online on Pinterest, which is filled with inspiration.
- Mix some new colors that you haven’t used in your painting yet and see if one of these is just the thing your painting needs to get you out of the rut you’re in.
- Notice if you have too many shapes that are the same size, or if the composition is too centrally focused, or if you’re ignoring the edges of the canvas. You need to have variety in your painting to be successful and keep the viewer interested.
- My BEST solution of all, and the main one I use, is going through my Resource binder filled with “Painting Guides.” These are clear plastic sheet protectors or clear acrylic dividers that I have painted on, either with a pattern, a large shape, or a distinct type of line. I take out each one of my guides and hold it up in front of my abstract painting moving all around the canvas. I can see right away when something shouts YES, this is it.
Doing this reduces any fear I have of making the next move and as soon as I add that concept from the guide onto the canvas, the painting will guide me to my next step.
And if I draw another blank, I take out more “Painting Guides” and do the same thing. At a certain point you’ll be in your painting flow.
Now, I happen to have a YouTube video showing you exactly how I use these Guides to help you get unstuck in an abstract painting.
Click HERE to watch “Getting Unstuck with Painting Guides.”
This method is invaluable. My library of painting guides continues to grow and grow.
I don’t think there’s a painting I create where I don’t try out a lot of them.
This technique takes away any fear you have of ruining your abstract painting, and you’ll be able to test a wide variety of possibilities to see which one will work best and exactly where you’d like to add it.
There are few things worse that painting a huge area directly on your work only to see it doesn’t work and then you have to wipe off everything you just did.
With Painting Guides you KNOW you’re going to like it.
I hope you give it a try and please watch my YouTube demonstrating the exact way I create and use my Painting Guides.
You’ll be so glad you did.
Sending you a world of love,
Adele
* Click HERE to learn about the Art with Adele Academy.
* Click HERE to get my FREE minicourse, “Kickstart Your Abstract Painting.”
