Nobody Should Care That I Make Three Paintings a Day. That is Why I Make Three Paintings a Day.
Nobody Should Care That I Make Three Paintings a Day. That is Why I Make Three Paintings a Day. 2026. Oil on paper, 18 x 24"
However, I’m worried about burnout since I recently discovered a little idiosyncrasy about me. That is this:
I always feel the urgent need to finish what I started.
That means my hyperactivity is single-minded. If I say I’ll mow the lawn at 2 p.m. this afternoon for 23 minutes, then exactly that will happen. Giving myself a 20 year long timeline to make 20,000 paintings translates to neglecting all other artistic paths until I am 79 years old. (And also mowing the lawn and brushing my teeth if I’m behind with the picture commitment.)
No, no, no—I’m not quitting the adventure. Nor do I want to scale back either. I guess I could cut down the size of the paper from 18 x 24" to 12 x 16". Also, I must remember that 1,000 paintings per year, at three a day, leaves me 30 days vacation. And, as I’ve mentioned before, I can play “catch up” by making more than three paintings a day and banking the surplus, accruing time off like any respectable corporate employee.
I guess that is where I am now, feeling the grind of painting with no rest in sight. Just like regular people go to work at any official employed abstraction in order to accumulate the greatest abstraction (money) which I have the hardest time getting a hold of as a working artist.
I must take days off when I feel the burn out coming on. Also, I must remind myself that I am producing a massive archive of creative work, a lot that I like and love, and hopefully in the coming decades, others will like and love too. So although I don’t get a paycheck from work, at least I am comforted by the fact that at the end of the day, I get to take home the result of my labor. The insurance adjuster can’t say as much. Nor the cop, dishwasher, astronaut, sales clerk, donut baker, ad infinitum occupations that receive only money to take home.
The one thing that will put a halt to the project is lack of funding. But that’s a story for another day.
Thank you for having a look!
Lately I Think My Paintings Have Become Too Static. I'm Gonna Force Some Moving Change Within the Next Few Hours 2026. Oil on paper, 18 x 24"
Somewhat Less Static is This Close Up Battle Scene 2026. Oil on paper, 18 x 24"
What Looks Like Nothing Much to Us, is a Thing's Whole Spirit to an Animal 2026. Oil on paper, 18 x 24"
The Only Person Who Should Paint a Japanese Scarecrow is a Japanese Scarecrow 2026. Oil on paper, 18 x 24"
Prussian Blue and Various Red Threat 2026. Oil on paper, 18 x 24"
North Indian Zoo Elephant 2026. Oil on paper, 18 x 24"
A Drunk Can See a Pink Elephant. A Sober Ron Spies a Red Demon Devouring the Mafia Government 2026. Oil on paper, 18 x 24"
Acting Before the Wide Acceptance of the Germ Theory 2026. Oil on paper, 18 x 24"
That I Want to Put a Nose on That Mushroom So Bad Means I Shouldn't 2026. Oil on paper, 18 x 24"
What shall I say? You sound like me although I do brush my teeth...but if necessary I start with pyjamas on telling myself I get dressed later after I finished...
The only way out is to schedule whatever you need and planned to do. And indeed smaller paintings can do the trick although I do find smaller paintings not always that easy. Neither is waiting for the paint to dry or like the teacher said: You should take your time and not wanting to finish everything immediately.
Yes, I have to since always something comes in between like yesterday that teacher kept non stop talking to me for at least two hours before I could start with the watercolour. So to me it always feels I paint in-between doing other things.
Better take those 30 days vacation and schedule everything to keep the stress low.
I hope you will have plenty of inspiration since that might be the only reason why you cannot paint.
It’s well and good that you host a community. You are functioning art wise, and take the time to provide good suggestions. I also paint in between doing other things. For instance, when I finish this comment I’ll go paint some, and then stop to get outside to watch the trees.
Some mornings I wake up with dread for all the world’s pressing down on us, and feel the last thing I’ll be able to do is apply colors to paper. But then I sit at the easel, stare at the blank sheet, pick up yesterday’s pigmented brush, and instantly forget everything but what’s within my few cubic feet of surround space. My whole body adjusts and commences creation. It never seems to fail me. It’s my way out of dissatisfaction. I believe if I ever stop painting for good, it will be because I am wholly content.
Thanks for reading and thinking.
Sorry for the late reply. It's not always easy to comment, but I am glad to hear it is appreciated. I like art and take the time to study things I like. At times fast and at other times I need more and return more than once.
If it comes to me I still "lack" time and waste time by doing other things first instead of what I like most.
Today will be my painting day for sure.
I rather end something at once instead of let it wait, sink and work at it for many days or even weeks. Seems to run into the family.
I believe the world's pressure is present in your paintings and the titles but I like the fact as an observer I can buildy opinion about what I am looking at. It might be different if I would read the titles first.
If it comes to the bright colours you use, they fit to the titles and they are not really what I would use although I have a load of colour oil paints added I would prefer to paint mostly in black and white or one extra colour.
Let's hope the wholly content will be the only reason you stop painting or the fact you finished the 20k.
I really could use a bigger place, studio, to paint.
A great Wednesday!
All power to the imagination!
And the best Wednesday to you too!
Thank you!
Gracias por mostrar tu trabajo. Seguí creando y compartiendo.
Of course! And yes! :)