Revellation - painting loose


When I began watercolour painting a few years ago, I was tortured by the process.
I was haunted by fear of failure. I was anxiety ridden for fear I would unintentionally ruin my work. And the more obcessed I was with failure, the slower and more deliberately I painted.

One of my instructors, plucked a small brush from my hand and told me: "get rid of that damned thing." "Paint with a bigger brush."

Its easier to tell a new painter to paint loose then for the newcomer to do so. And why?

Its a matter of confidence. Beginning painters who are outcomes obcessed - paint with a controlling hand.

I was surprised when I began to hear people tell me, "I love your style.........so loose."
I cannot remember a single day, in which I turned a switch and made the decision to paint loosely.

As I became increasingly confident, my interest was less fixated upon the results and more upon the process of art. The journey became more exciting then arriving at the station.

I use a lot of water when I paint. And, the more water I use, the less control I have.
I see myself as a tour guide, managing the flow. (as if that's entirely possible). The more the water does its own thing, the looser my works become.