So timely for me! As a newbie I am just barely moving out of technique exercises. Today I tried making a piece intellectually on a subject my son had requested. The result was dismal. In frustration I emptied the contents of my palette on it and smeared about (rather gleefully, actually). Then I suddenly saw something that fit the *feeling* I was aiming for but very far from the semi-representational start I had first tried. So I have worked with it and ended up with a "hmmm, that's interesting!" from the spouse. So not worrying about The Why helped quite a bit!
louise, one of the many attributes ie qualities i love about you is how clear you are about explaining challenging questions, one knows or at least i know it comes from the depth of your experience and i never tire of hearing that. so thankyou again!
I found that once I felt confident in my skills (replication of what I see) I then wanted to figure out what I wanted to SAY with those skills. But I had to let go of my ego wanting to “prove to the world I was skilled in replicating what I saw.” I had to be willing to get weird and be free.
That perfectly described me at this time. It was like hearing all the things I want to express which are circling around in my mind really clearly expressed! I'm struggling between representational art which I do enjoy and also yearning to find the real me and express all the deep thoughts I feel the need to put out into my art. Thank you. It's so good to feel a chord has been struck!
I feel incredibly fortunate to have found your videos and podcasts online! Your willingness to impart your knowledge, process and struggles along your journey is of true value to me. I am 66, been making art my whole life bouncing from one style of work to another, never quite finding my groove. Thanks so much for this video today...it is exactly what I needed to hear, but didn't know it!!
As I listened to you my gaze drifted to 3 pieces I’m working on in my tiny studio. Two are representational from a course I’m taking, and I realized that the joy I take in those is in learning the techniques - the process if you will. And I know that developing the techniques will serve me in the future. I now realize that the 3rd larger piece was going along swimmingly as I allowed my intuition to guide me and before I as you so aptly put it “intellectualize” what I thought might make it a meaningful (somewhat political) piece and my initial instinct as I looked across at it was, “I ruined it”. While that may or may not be true in that viewing moment, I know now that when I return to it, I can (and will) pause long enough to approach it instinctually and intuitively. As always Thank You Louise for sharing yourself so freely.
This was a very helpful video. I have been working on a series from Find Your Joy and Find Your Voice. The series came from my realizing during those courses that when I am in Washington, DC and in Paris I feel happy, joyful, content and free. So I started with that. But found it was too much to do two cities and 4 feelings. So I narrowed it done to a feeling in both cities, maybe happy or joyful. But I found that it was too much to do two cities and a feeling. So I narrowed that down to a city and a feeling. Now I am just at a feeling. But I am stuck. So this video reaffirmed that I am on the right track and just painting with and being happy or joyful will bring out those feelings and the viewers will feel what I do. Thanks for getting me started and thanks for encouraging me to move forward. I'm now taking CVP 2022 and that also is helping with the skills that I need as well as finding my "why".
Thank you, Louise! The questions you choose to answer are absolutely spot on! And your messages calm my concerns and make me even more eager to paint. Can’t wait until the tester class!
This resonates so much with me. I grew up in a large rowdy family as the eldest girl with 8 brothers and sisters. Dad would take us out at the weekend in his old converted ambulance to places with lots of open space where could be free to roam and play and dream. I still remember the feelings - it was such a release!
Louise it’s made me think of what I really need to feel inside, to express in painting, (the feelings I can relate to in some of the poetry I have included in my book, “My Journey on the Psychic Express Train” one of the poems “The Spirit of the wind” you feel, I have never thought of trying to put this into painting, and from all your wonderful ideas, (just finished the free 8 day course)which I enjoyed so much, I am hopeful I might find my Joy. Thank you for the wonderful course’s.❤️🌹
Louise, every one of these videos feel like you are talking to me. I’m so looking forward to the tester class. I know it’s going to blow me wide open in my art. Thank you dear one. Onward and upward! Pia ❤️
Hi Louise. I just read about your interview on Kelly Anne Powers podcast t and look forward to hearing it when it's available. I am getting more and more excited about your upcoming trial class in May and FYJ in June!! Can't wait!
Thanks louise for these words it is just as i feel and felt. It lives me hope and courage to follow my own unique path in faith but formost to enjoy and love my innerchild. Wish you all the best and look forworth to more of your lessons. 😊
I am happy creating art "in the zone", and often there IS a reason or meaning behind it, but just as often, not. I don't feel like it's anyone's business what I felt or what it means to me....or not. If it's up for sale, I want the painting to mean something to THEM, no one needs to give a fig about how I felt when I painted it. I probably don't even remember! But the world now wants to know what we had for breakfast and how it made us FEEL about it. Aargh, I'm now wasting my time writing empty blurbs about every painting I do, and I churn out a lot of paintings every month. Paint with abandon, rinse and repeat, so fun, and finally getting good at it! I don't want to spend time thinking up stuff for each one, it's rather suffocating, and altogether bogus in the end. I suspect it is for a lot of artists? And some people are using AI to create them, so not even authentically in the artist's voice.
This has really resonated with me. So well put as always. My childhood holidays were spent in north Cornwall and I remember that time with such intense happiness. I'm drawn to the sea and that coastline in particular time and time again and that's what I want to represent in my art. That sense of place and freedom and joy that those holidays evoked. Catching crabs, swimming in the natural swimming pool, the waves crashing on the causeway, rockpools, the expanse of beach, the stripey windbreaks.....all these things I want to evoke! Looking forward to the taster course and beyond.
Thank you so much for these videos. I think they are things we all need to hear. I started out doing realistic art and was very good at it but I did not find any joy. Then I slowly started “abstracting” up parts of my realistic art. And now I am a mixed media abstract artist. Each step toward abstractness brought me more joy. I do art for the joy it brings me and usually when I finish a piece, I can see the why - even the pieces that I really don’t love. So thank you again for sharing your knowledge. It is very generous of you. Very excited for the tester!
Wow, I don’t know how i found you but i needed to hear this!!! I have been trying to find my style , what lights me up, what excites me. Every time i feel close to the answer i back off and say nah…that’s not it.. 😏. Oof. Its exhausting.
This resonates deeply with me; I also grew up in the country (but a lovely place) and wanting to communicate the joy of being part of it is a large part of my drive to make art. Thank you!!
It took me far longer than 3 years to know what my art was about. After 20 odd years of painting I’m still not entirely sure!😆 What’s different now though is that I no longer worry about not knowing my definitive ‘why’. You said it so well when seek we the joy of the zone that it gets you to the place you want to be.👏🏻Brilliant.x
This video expresses so much of what I am seeking. I’m returning to my art after a long time away from it. I have a vague idea of what I want to aim for (boldness & energy) but I have a history of trying to please others & to make work that sells & that thinking makes me hesitant. I wonder if there is a video or are there photos on Instagram or on your web site that really show your progression over the years? It’s hard to be patient with myself. Thank you so much for your honest & open sharing. Wishing you some good time in the studio. Dolores
There is a video within my Art Tribe. I'd love to know why people think being a good artist should just come easily and quickly. I've never figured that out. We wouldn't expect to become a doctor in a week or a month or even a year. Why artist? Give yourself time and do the work xx
We all see the world through our own personal lens. A lens that is shaped by our own experience. So we’re all going too see the world and art differently. My paintings always have a meaning to me. However, my philosophy on life can be summed up with one statement “what you think of me is none of my business”. What I mean by that is; I don’t have any right to tell you what to think. If I want to be thought of in a certain way then it’s on my to act appropriately. With regards to my work, I’m far more interested in what other people see in my paintings rather than what I want to tell people they should see.
Until a couple of weeks ago I had a "fire in my belly" to create, regardless of the inherent difficulties of painting. Some things happened and the fire was extinguished and I am back in my head, no real joy felt but I continue to paint regularly, every day. But it's not the same thing. How can one get the joy back? What will rekindle the fire?
Talent is very overrated in my view. The idea of talent and not having it stops people from trying and doing, whether it's learning a language, singing or making music, whatever. It's so limiting and not necessary. Maybe the concept of talent was used to keep people in their place?! Anyone can learn. Forget talent - just go ahead and try things, enjoy the processes, let go of expectations and have fun. Perseverance, commitment, hard work and willingness to learn are what are needed if one wants to get serious, not that outdated idea of talent.
So timely for me! As a newbie I am just barely moving out of technique exercises. Today I tried making a piece intellectually on a subject my son had requested. The result was dismal. In frustration I emptied the contents of my palette on it and smeared about (rather gleefully, actually). Then I suddenly saw something that fit the *feeling* I was aiming for but very far from the semi-representational start I had first tried. So I have worked with it and ended up with a "hmmm, that's interesting!" from the spouse. So not worrying about The Why helped quite a bit!
That's so great!
louise, one of the many attributes ie qualities i love about you is how clear you are about explaining challenging questions, one knows or at least i know it comes from the depth of your experience and i never tire of hearing that. so thankyou again!
Thanks Joyce x
I found that once I felt confident in my skills (replication of what I see) I then wanted to figure out what I wanted to SAY with those skills. But I had to let go of my ego wanting to “prove to the world I was skilled in replicating what I saw.” I had to be willing to get weird and be free.
Very good description of what has to happen
That perfectly described me at this time. It was like hearing all the things I want to express which are circling around in my mind really clearly expressed! I'm struggling between representational art which I do enjoy and also yearning to find the real me and express all the deep thoughts I feel the need to put out into my art. Thank you. It's so good to feel a chord has been struck!
I feel incredibly fortunate to have found your videos and podcasts online! Your willingness to impart your knowledge, process and struggles along your journey is of true value to me. I am 66, been making art my whole life bouncing from one style of work to another, never quite finding my groove. Thanks so much for this video today...it is exactly what I needed to hear, but didn't know it!!
Wonderful!
As I listened to you my gaze drifted to 3 pieces I’m working on in my tiny studio. Two are representational from a course I’m taking, and I realized that the joy I take in those is in learning the techniques - the process if you will. And I know that developing the techniques will serve me in the future. I now realize that the 3rd larger piece was going along swimmingly as I allowed my intuition to guide me and before I as you so aptly put it “intellectualize” what I thought might make it a meaningful (somewhat political) piece and my initial instinct as I looked across at it was, “I ruined it”. While that may or may not be true in that viewing moment, I know now that when I return to it, I can (and will) pause long enough to approach it instinctually and intuitively. As always Thank You Louise for sharing yourself so freely.
Dear Louise, your wisdom in art and generosity are helping me immense. Thank you.
You are so welcome! Glad to have you here with me!
Thanks, Louise. I needed to hear that said in just that way at just this time in my art life.
I'm glad to hear it helped you!
This was a very helpful video. I have been working on a series from Find Your Joy and Find Your Voice. The series came from my realizing during those courses that when I am in Washington, DC and in Paris I feel happy, joyful, content and free. So I started with that. But found it was too much to do two cities and 4 feelings. So I narrowed it done to a feeling in both cities, maybe happy or joyful. But I found that it was too much to do two cities and a feeling. So I narrowed that down to a city and a feeling. Now I am just at a feeling. But I am stuck. So this video reaffirmed that I am on the right track and just painting with and being happy or joyful will bring out those feelings and the viewers will feel what I do. Thanks for getting me started and thanks for encouraging me to move forward. I'm now taking CVP 2022 and that also is helping with the skills that I need as well as finding my "why".
Louise, I am hearing you more and more every time I tune in. Keep 'em coming!
Thank you! Will do!
Thank you, Louise! The questions you choose to answer are absolutely spot on! And your messages calm my concerns and make me even more eager to paint. Can’t wait until the tester class!
Me too!
This resonates so much with me. I grew up in a large rowdy family as the eldest girl with 8 brothers and sisters. Dad would take us out at the weekend in his old converted ambulance to places with lots of open space where could be free to roam and play and dream. I still remember the feelings - it was such a release!
How wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
This makes me chuckle, cuz if it was so nice for all you kids, just think how nice it must have been for your mother!! ;)
You read my mind! Wise words, and I will take them to heart. Thank you!
Louise it’s made me think of what I really need to feel inside, to express in painting, (the feelings I can relate to in some of the poetry I have included in my book, “My Journey on the Psychic Express Train” one of the poems “The Spirit of the wind” you feel, I have never thought of trying to put this into painting, and from all your wonderful ideas, (just finished the free 8 day course)which I enjoyed so much, I am hopeful I might find my Joy.
Thank you for the wonderful course’s.❤️🌹
Thanks for sharing Louise! The way you described about your experience with expressing your feelings thru intuitive art was very helpful!!!
Louise, every one of these videos feel like you are talking to me. I’m so looking forward to the tester class. I know it’s going to blow me wide open in my art. Thank you dear one.
Onward and upward! Pia ❤️
I'm so glad!
Hi Louise. I just read about your interview on Kelly Anne Powers podcast t and look forward to hearing it when it's available. I am getting more and more excited about your upcoming trial class in May and FYJ in June!! Can't wait!
Me too!
Thanks louise for these words it is just as i feel and felt. It lives me hope and courage to follow my own unique path in faith but formost to enjoy and love my innerchild. Wish you all the best and look forworth to more of your lessons. 😊
So glad I could provide that for you Mieke! Thank you for watching!
Louise, you're answer is BRILLIANT🔥❗
thank you!
Again, you make so much sense and explain your process, it is so relevant to my thinking and now I know to others too. Thank you. X
You are so welcome!
I am happy creating art "in the zone", and often there IS a reason or meaning behind it, but just as often, not. I don't feel like it's anyone's business what I felt or what it means to me....or not. If it's up for sale, I want the painting to mean something to THEM, no one needs to give a fig about how I felt when I painted it. I probably don't even remember! But the world now wants to know what we had for breakfast and how it made us FEEL about it. Aargh, I'm now wasting my time writing empty blurbs about every painting I do, and I churn out a lot of paintings every month. Paint with abandon, rinse and repeat, so fun, and finally getting good at it! I don't want to spend time thinking up stuff for each one, it's rather suffocating, and altogether bogus in the end. I suspect it is for a lot of artists? And some people are using AI to create them, so not even authentically in the artist's voice.
This has really resonated with me. So well put as always. My childhood holidays were spent in north Cornwall and I remember that time with such intense happiness. I'm drawn to the sea and that coastline in particular time and time again and that's what I want to represent in my art. That sense of place and freedom and joy that those holidays evoked. Catching crabs, swimming in the natural swimming pool, the waves crashing on the causeway, rockpools, the expanse of beach, the stripey windbreaks.....all these things I want to evoke! Looking forward to the taster course and beyond.
That sounds like such great inspiration!
Love this video, helps me dig deeper into my intuition. Thank you very much Louise
So glad!
Bloody brilliant!
Thanks!
Thank you so much for these videos. I think they are things we all need to hear. I started out doing realistic art and was very good at it but I did not find any joy. Then I slowly started “abstracting” up parts of my realistic art. And now I am a mixed media abstract artist. Each step toward abstractness brought me more joy. I do art for the joy it brings me and usually when I finish a piece, I can see the why - even the pieces that I really don’t love. So thank you again for sharing your knowledge. It is very generous of you. Very excited for the tester!
Thank you!
Wow, I don’t know how i found you but i needed to hear this!!! I have been trying to find my style , what lights me up, what excites me. Every time i feel close to the answer i back off and say nah…that’s not it.. 😏. Oof. Its exhausting.
Maybe don't try so hard to get to a final answer. Maybe just enjoy the journey x
This resonates deeply with me; I also grew up in the country (but a lovely place) and wanting to communicate the joy of being part of it is a large part of my drive to make art. Thank you!!
Thanks for sharing!
It took me far longer than 3 years to know what my art was about. After 20 odd years of painting I’m still not entirely sure!😆 What’s different now though is that I no longer worry about not knowing my definitive ‘why’. You said it so well when seek we the joy of the zone that it gets you to the place you want to be.👏🏻Brilliant.x
Thanks Jessica - yes it took me a long time and now it's changing again!
You are such a treat. Thanks so much.
You are so welcome!
This video expresses so much of what I am seeking. I’m returning to my art after a long time away from it. I have a vague idea of what I want to aim for (boldness & energy) but I have a history of trying to please others & to make work that sells & that thinking makes me hesitant. I wonder if there is a video or are there photos on Instagram or on your web site that really show your progression over the years? It’s hard to be patient with myself. Thank you so much for your honest & open sharing. Wishing you some good time in the studio. Dolores
There is a video within my Art Tribe. I'd love to know why people think being a good artist should just come easily and quickly. I've never figured that out. We wouldn't expect to become a doctor in a week or a month or even a year. Why artist? Give yourself time and do the work xx
We all see the world through our own personal lens. A lens that is shaped by our own experience. So we’re all going too see the world and art differently.
My paintings always have a meaning to me. However, my philosophy on life can be summed up with one statement “what you think of me is none of my business”. What I mean by that is; I don’t have any right to tell you what to think. If I want to be thought of in a certain way then it’s on my to act appropriately.
With regards to my work, I’m far more interested in what other people see in my paintings rather than what I want to tell people they should see.
That's your choice - everything is valid x
Wow, i love this video about joy and your message and theorie Louise! Thank you very very much!
You are so welcome!
Your childhood sounds very much like mine, freedom to climb trees and run across the fields. Fresh air in your veins.
Really good, Louise. Thank you. 💖
You’re welcome 😊
thank you...i would love an overview of your wall behind you...all your work ?
No those are thank you cards and notes that I have received from people over the last few years - they remind me why I do this x
Thanks Louise
great thought provoking advice thank you 😊
You're so welcome!
I enjoy working on collage projects and am much happier with the results than my abstract paints. Why is it easier?
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 perfectly said! 🎨
Thank you!!
Until a couple of weeks ago I had a "fire in my belly" to create, regardless of the inherent difficulties of painting. Some things happened and the fire was extinguished and I am back in my head, no real joy felt but I continue to paint regularly, every day. But it's not the same thing. How can one get the joy back? What will rekindle the fire?
work out how you got off track... what were you doing that you don't enjoy? What do you love? Just do that! No aim for results no pressure
@@ThisPaintingLife Thanks, Louise. Will do that. I know you are so very busy and yet you find time to send us your responses. So appreciated!
I don't really need or care about the "why" to my painting, but buyers seem to want to know. Why do they need to?
Maybe that's how they connect to art...
If you don't have any talent, you'll never produce anything that you're happy with.
Talent is very overrated in my view. The idea of talent and not having it stops people from trying and doing, whether it's learning a language, singing or making music, whatever. It's so limiting and not necessary. Maybe the concept of talent was used to keep people in their place?! Anyone can learn. Forget talent - just go ahead and try things, enjoy the processes, let go of expectations and have fun. Perseverance, commitment, hard work and willingness to learn are what are needed if one wants to get serious, not that outdated idea of talent.
Well said!