114. How to Finish Difficult Paintings

Finishing difficult paintings.  I think we all have one (or two or three) faced against a wall or at the back of a cupboard, those difficult paintings that we just can’t seem to face completing. I know that you know what I’m talking about.

Well, I have some artistic medicine for you today.  In this month’s episode, I’m walking you through 20 tips that I use in my own art practice to help me finish difficult paintings. All tips are super practical and down to earth and I hope will really help you find your flow with completing those tricky artworks.

If you'd like to see me working on my own difficult painting as I cat through these points, then be sure to check out the Youtube video: https://youtu.be/gWur-oMjljo

And if you'd like to download a PDF of the 20 tips I walk you through, sign up to receive them here: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5e7e91c96a87150027f6e075

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• Managing emotions: Not getting upset when faced with challenges and understanding that each artwork has its own timeline.

  
  



• Subconscious insights: Putting the painting aside in a visible place allows the subconscious mind to provide insights over time.

  
  



• Intuitive decision-making: Resting conscious attention on the painting and relying on intuition to determine what it needs.

  
  



• Time investment: Recognizing the importance of giving the painting enough time, as certain edits may require extensive work.

  
  



• Letting go: Being open to letting go of beloved aspects of the artwork ("killing your darlings") in order to move forward and follow intuition.

  
  



• Refreshing perspectives: Taking breaks, enjoying tea or coffee, and stepping back to evaluate progress.

  
  



• Different viewpoints: Taking photos of the painting to gain a fresh perspective and using black and white photos to assess value contrast.

  
  

Links:

Youtube video: https://youtu.be/gWur-oMjljo

https://www.susannethercotestudio.com/free-resources

direct link to 20 tips pdf: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5e7e91c96a87150027f6e075

https://susannethercotestudio.com/online-classes  

https://www.youtube.com/@susan.nethercote/videos 

Susan Nethercote:

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