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Stormy, 6 x 8 pastel 

Probably the biggest thing standing in the way of your best painting is fear.  It’s a lot safer to paint exactly what we see.  It’s scary to leave out all that foreground detail, or simplify those background trees, or just leave a lost edge.  When we’re learning a new skill, we like things clearly lit, well-defined, thrown into sharp relief and spelled out in detail.  And yet…nothing is more entrancing than mystery, lost edges, and untold depths.  Daring to paint without all the detail can feel like jumping off a cliff.  But that jump can be one amazing ride, and it's so worth it.

One thing is certain:  a safe painting will never be a wow painting.  High-impact paintings take risks.  They make strong statements with mood, color, composition, texture, design, edge.  So in order to paint a wow painting, try letting go of your fear.  This could be the fear of making a mistake, fear of choosing the wrong color, of making a wrong mark, any number of other fears. After all, you've really got nothing to lose, and so much to gain.  It's only a piece of paper, or scrap of canvas, and fresh, bold strokes will always be more appealing than careful cautious, corrected, picked-over strokes.

Here’s a fun 20-minute exercise designed to nurture your joy in pushing the boundaries and finding more ‘wow’ moments in your paintings. 

The Rules: 

1. You have 20 minutes.  You must set a timer and when the time is up you are done.  
2.  Leave the painting untouched for at least 24 hours afterward.  This will allow you to appreciate that it may actually be finished—even though at first you will want to keep going.
3. Work on a toned surface.  (For pastel, use sanded paper.  You will want the grippiness of sanded paper so you can make bold, juicy marks. You may pre-tone Uart paper to one color if you choose.)
4. Do a thumbnail design before your 20 minutes begin, and write down a word or two suggesting mood or emotional connection.  You may also do a light drawing on your surface ahead of time, if that will significantly slow you down when painting.   The object is to have 20 minutes to paint. 
5. Think about what element you might push to make this painting WOW, and what you might leave out.
6. Relax, and have fun!

NOTE:  all images in this blog were painted in 20 minutes.

Silver Morning Light 8 x 6

8 TIPS TO PUSH THE WOW FACTOR IN YOUR WORK

1. Paint what excites you.  Figure that out first, and hang on to the emotion.

2.    Clarify your focus with a thumbnail & notes.  Pin it close by so you don't lose track.

3.    As your painting develops, step back, watch what’s happening and react.  If you have a thought, trust your instincts and follow it—that’s where creativity comes from.

4.    Have fun, take risks --remember it’s just paper!

5.    Don’t get lost in the details: go back to your feeling, mood, inspiration

6.    Don’t be afraid to knock down & lose detail when something’s not working. Nothing is precious.

7.    Push one thing further than you think you should.

8.    Approach everything with a sense of experimentation and discovery and you will find yourself saying ‘Wow!”

Summer Blues, 4 x 6.