The Wall

Recently I was asked to do a commission painting of a seascape of a southern beach from a vacation snap that my client provided.  The first problem was the photo was not the best view I am sure of this section of beach, but what can you do.  So with some encouraging on my part and a few drawings I convinced them of the wisdom in adding a horizon line and some sky in the distance.  That along with a couple of other minor adjustments and we had a composition that I felt would work and they were excited about. 

This as I discovered was the least of my problems.  Getting excited about painting it was my real challenge.  When we as Creative people engage ourselves in the process we usually have a catalyst or idea that we are challenged by and when we are asked to do something that is old hat to us, we can hit “The Wall”. 

You know what “The Wall” is, it is that invisible barrier that comes up and keeps us from taking another step forward.  Runners experience “The Wall” often on long runs when suddenly even though up to this point everything was great it’s as if the air became thicker and their feet have sunk into mud and every muscle screams for them to stop.  Experienced runners know that this is the time to keep pushing because very shortly the energy will return to them and they get a renewed burst of strength.

It is the very same process for Artists we just need to recognize it and push forward.  When we are in our creative place time does not exist, we are focused and full of energy but when we are asked to do something (especially with a time limiting factor added in) that is not stimulating to our creative self we need to find ways to not hit “The Wall”.    How I got myself into the right space to work on the seascape was listen to sounds of the ocean from my computer, and look at lots of photos of beaches that were similar to the one I was going to paint.  When that didn’t do it for me anymore I took myself outside into the elements near the water to at least feel the energy of the water near by and feel like I was on location. 

For you depending on your discipline and the commission you are working on this may look very different, perhaps playing some music, taking a walk, going to a concert or play may be what you need to get yourself motivated.  The important thing is to not allow your Left Brain to start pulling up the list of things to do that takes you away from working on your commission. That tricky Left Brain is always trying to make us do practical things that it is good at and keeps it in control.  If this happens the next thing you know days and weeks have passed and now your customer is calling you asking when it will be ready and you are still stalling. 

So take it from the long distance runner, do what ever you can to push through “The Wall” because when you come out on the other side of it, you will be brilliant!!

Sandra Taylor Hedges