How it feels when your art becomes forced

Published 19 days ago • 1 min read

Two fingers up to Valentine's Day....

Hey Reader

Have you ever sat down to paint… and instead of it feeling freeing, it feels completely forced?

Well, that's what the prospect of Valentine's Day has done to me this week.

You see...I share a studio space in Cardiff with a whole bunch of beautiful, creative people - all doing their own thing to find a slice of joy - and to share it.

And this week I felt the need, guilt, pressure to paint for Valentines Day!
But...Every single time I sat down and began to paint it just felt forced.

Like I was painting for a corporation.
Like I was painting from my head not my heart.
And flow doesn't happen in our heads - it happens in our hearts!

So...even though I felt like "I should" that's my internal, guilt tripping voice right there...I said NO!

The painting you see above is my Valentine's contribution...Run under a tap!

Cos...If there's one thing I've learnt over the past 10+ years about painting in watercolours it's that...Watercolours don't follow strict rules...

So...if you really truly want to feel and share JOY from your painting.
Paint what makes you happy
Then share it...

There's now just a few spaces left for my in-person workshop on March 21st at Parc Slip Nature Reserve. Bridgend.

If you'd like to join us take a look here...

Til next time...
Sue 🎨💛

"It is fatal for art if it is forced into official respectability and condemned to sterile mediocrity" - Gustave Courbet

39, Oaklands Road, Bridgend, Bridgend CF31 4SN
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