How to Start Painting Again, If You've Quit

Every artist, at one time or another, has quit painting -- for a few days, months, or even years -- and has had trouble getting started again. You may have just finished a show and are experiencing a bit of a letdown and burnout -- no matter how well the show went and how well-received your paintings were. Or, you're a beginning artist who has just finished a 6-week class and don't have someone telling you what to paint and how. Or in my case, this time, you just finished a series of paintings and then took two short vacations in a row.

No matter the reason, quitting is not the hard part, and it's not even a bad thing. In fact, it's a good time to regroup, reevaluate, clean your studio, add a little balance to your life, or whatever. But, the longer you wait, the harder it is to start painting again. Here's a few things that have helped me before and, hopefully, will help me again:

• Use your words. Just start writing down what you want to do, brainstorm ideas for paintings, plan a new series that you want to work on, jot down subjects of interest.
• Remove the pressure. Start small -- Don't start on a huge painting right off the bat. And, don't start with a pending commission or a gift -- those were already responsible for your procrastination.
• Start drawing in a sketchbook/illustrated journal. And, draw with a pen, so you can't erase.
• Just start painting, without drawing first. Try to enjoy the process -- don't worry about the end result. Paint on the back of one of your paintings.
• Be willing to fail. Don't be afraid to paint a crappy painting. In fact, try to paint badly, just for the hell of it.
• Play with your paints. Squeeze some fresh paint onto your palette. Just play with mixing your paint right on the palette -- don't even put it on the paper.
• Clean up the clutter. Clear off your drawing board, and clean up the clutter around you in the studio. (WARNING -- this could turn into a summer-long project, if you're not careful.)
  
• Develop a ritual. Assemble your materials, put on some music, pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea, put on your comfortable painting clothes.
• Get excited about a subject to paint. Take a field trip to get some photographic references, look through your existing photos for references, visit art museums and galleries.
• Make time for your art. My mother-in-law, who is an artist, told me that she used to paint after all her household chores were finished, but of course, with 5 children at home, that never happened, so she never found time to paint. Until, she started painting first thing in the morning -- that's when she became truly productive.
• Commit to something. (This, of course, is the opposite of "Remove the pressure".) Create a deadline for yourself -- a show, a commission, a class).
• Be non-judgmental of your efforts. (This is the hardest one of all.) Don't second guess yourself -- your ideas, your beginnings. Don't think that your first painting has to be a masterpiece or has to sell -- that is the kiss of death.