I was recently asked by a student how to get through the frustration period when you are just beginning a painting? You know, the point where you look at what you are painting and ask yourself, “What am I doing?”

Well if you are like most of the artists I know, there will likely be a point where you wonder how it will ever come together. Don’t let your doubts and frustration get the best of you though. Even the most experienced artists feel that. It just doesn’t last as long because the more skilled you get, the more quickly you will be able to work through it.

There will likely always be a point during the process of building a painting where it is difficult to see how it will resolve itself. The trick is to not give up! Each brushstroke that you add takes you one step closer to moving past the sticky part where your doubts can trip you up. Keep at it and when you hear that voice in your head that says “This isn’t working.”  You can reply, “Maybe not yet, but it will come together soon.”