What wonderful words of wisdom, John, and I shall certainly search out that book. I think the statement about 'people who need certainty in their lives are less likely to make art that is risky', etc..... is exactly my problem. I am by nature tidy, ordered and organised and although I am attracted to a loose, splashy way of painting, I don't think I let go of my innate wish for control enough to let my painting go outside the boundaries I seem to set myself. Your words have definitely given me food for thought, so I am grateful to you for all your quotes from what seems to be a very enlightening book about producing art.

Thea, can I recommend a marvellous book called 'Art & Fear' by Bayles and Orland. You can find it on Amazon for less than £10. It is full of encouraging quotes. Here are a few: 'An artist's life is frustrating - not because the passage is slow but because he imagines it to be fast'. 'People who need certainty in their lives are less likely to make art that is risky, subversive, complicated, iffy, suggestive or spontaneous. What's really needed is nothing more than a broad sense of what you are looking for, some strategy for how to find it and an overriding willingness to embrace mistakes and surprises along the way. Simply put, making art is chancy' 'If artists share any common view it is probably the fatalistic suspicion that when their own art turns out well, it's a fluke - but when it turns our poorly, it's an omen'. 'You make good work by (among other things) making lots of work that isn't very good.'

Too true, Joseph. One moment you can be in the depth of despair, nothing going right, making all the wrong decisions and then the light bulb goes on and off you go again - plain sailing. It does seem to be a popular misconception that painting is a very relaxing pastime, but this should be qualified by the fact that it is only relaxing when it is going well - at other times it is beyond frustrating. The good thing is that despite all this, we all keep on trying!

Watercolour painting is an emotional rollercoaster, fraught with moments of frustration, sadness and confusion. Then it happens, that magical moment, when free from confusion and doubt you are at one with the medium and subject and beautiful paintings appear. Those moments of joy make it all worthwhile.