What I've Learned from Painting

In no particular order, here are some observations that have come to me over the past two months.

• A little color goes a long way. Apply sparingly.
• At some point you have to let go. There is no perfect painting.
• Treat your canvas like your clothes. Take great care not to spill or stain.
• There is nothing so joyous as a clean stroke.
• When painting, the world is only centimeters deep.
• A clear mind produces better work.
• The next painting will be better.
• The greatest moment of tension comes just before applying the first stroke.
• Always test your brush before applying paint.
• Never start in the center. Start on the fringes where a mistake is less likely to be noticed.
• Applying paint requires control over a number of variables: color and shade, amount of paint to water, even application, controlled movement. The best artists control all simultaneously.

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