When it is Time to Just Play!

'Never Doubt'        9x12        pastel        ©Karen Margulis
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As the month of February draws to a close I decided it was time to let go and have some fun! Of course I always have fun when I am painting but sometimes I have to let go of the 'should and should nots' , the so called rules of painting, and just simply paint. No thumbnails. No plans. No worry whether I am doing it 'right'.  I simply want to play for play's sake. 

Letting go and simply responding to a painting is just as important as painting with a plan. We need a bit of both so that we give ourselves a chance to let the knowledge we accumulate come out in an intuitive way.

Here is a favorite quote from Richard McKinley on the importance of FUN:

"When I am feeling like painting is becoming just a lesson and a bit of an exercise, I like to give myself permission to have fun and to be playful with technique and subject matter. By not OVERTHINKING and allowing myself to spontaneously respond, creative possibilities emerge. If it is a mess I cover it up and correct it"

 I played with today's painting (at top of page). I was looking at the color notes I made for the last video demo. Hmmmm I thought. I really like it the way it is....just loose abstract color notes. I decided to paint a looser version of the marsh. I had fun and I want to try another one that will be even more abstracted. My color note card is below.

An index card with color notes for my video demo 

 The painting below shows the painting I did for my latest Patreon video demo. I made the color note card so I could see if the pastels I had selected would work for the painting. The color note card inspired today's painting.