So I’m painting a door, and thinking about what it means and how I feel as I paint it…a little odd to describe artwork in that kind of a way, but then this is for the paper on spirituality, so it’s not too strange I guess. It’s not what I am painting that matters, though there is a reason for the door, since figuratively it marks both the beginning and end of a journey. It’s the process of the painting which is interesting. This part of any painting, getting in the lines of direction and structure, getting to know the painting and thing you are trying to create a piece of art about – ie trying to capture its essence – is as enjoyable as the point at which I decide to stop painting. The bit in between is far less enjoyable. But you got to go through that bit to find the good bit at the end. Once you’ve started, you can’t look back either. You can’t look back on the pencil and regret putting the layers of colour on if they are going wrong. All you can do is move forwards. Because the end result is far better than the beginning. If you feared the end, then you would never begin! But beware the backwards look, because midstream there is no going back, and to do so would result in fear, and fear means the painting stalls.
