Speaking of Art Blog

This famous painting by Rembrandt, Artist in His Studio (1629), says it all to me. Notice how, with foreshortening, Rembrandt shows the artist as being very small in the presence of an immense canvas on his easel. I’ve always imagined that canvas to be blank, ready for a new piece of artwork. I think this painting embodies the feelings of absolute terror and smallness many artists feel as they face a blank canvas (or in my case, a blank paper) just before beginning a new painting or drawing. I know the feeling well. 

So how do I get past that? I start putting one foot in front of the other. By that I mean I go through the paces that I go through every single time I start a new piece of artwork. Discipline, method, going through the motions stuff. It’s what gets me past that initial blank paper stage every time.  Allow me to explain.

I do plenty of preliminary work before I ever actually start in with color on a clean sheet of paper. First there’s my 3-value thumbnail sketch of my reference photo with design/composition analysis to be done. Then there’s color analysis of the reference photo and choosing a color scheme. Then there’s finding a frame in my stash of frames so that I know what size to cut my paper. Then there’s measuring and indicating my window opening on the paper along with mid-point marks along all four edges as well as in the middle of the paper. Then, FINALLY I’m ready to draw the outer contours of my main objects with a light gray pastel pencil on the blank paper. All grunt work, disciplined, methodical grunt work. But because I’m used to doing all that stuff, all of which is actually quite free of masterpiece creating pressure, suddenly I’m putting down marks on my scary blank paper, and the initial terror is quickly diffused mainly because the paper isn’t blank anymore!

Obviously this way to overcome stage fright is not foolproof nor does it work for all artists. I know one artist who, when she’s feeling stage fright quickly dives in by simply throwing color up on her surface almost willy nilly with absolutely no game plan whatsoever! Oh my, that way would not work for me! In fact, it would probably have just the opposite effect for me. In addition to stage fright, I’d be afraid I was losing my mind!

What I found very helpful years ago was the knowledge that I am not alone in this feeling, and that a seasoned artist can feel stage fright just as intensely as a beginner. Each artist must find their own way around…or through it….so that they can again get back in the groove and create something beautiful, free of performance anxiety. It’s worth all the effort in the end, regardless of how we get back on track.  And I’m thinking maybe the great master Rembrandt felt stage fright a few times himself, but obviously saw his way past it to even create a painting that addresses the subject. Now that’s creative!

   Title:  Garden Jewel

   Pastel