I seem to have a dreadful batting average in producing paintings. I can apparently manage about three ok paintings and then this is hotly followed by three total disasters. I just can't work out what makes me produce a half decent painting and what makes me produce a horror. After all, for each painting I am using the same hand to paint, the same brain to interpret the subject, the same paintings, the same paper and the same brushes...... so why?? I have recently done a portrait that I liked, a boat painting that I was really pleased with and a horse racing pen and wash that I was surprisingly happy with. All good one would say, but hold hard... there is bad news to follow as over the past two days I have produced a duff portrait (in bin), a terrible painting of some lambs (inspired, or rather not inspired, by the POL competition), and a horse racing pen and wash that hasn't quite made the bin yet but is hovering over it. Is the difference down to the frame of mind - is it a fluctuation in concentration - is it the degree of inspiration you feel for a subject.......???? I wish I could work it out as, when it all goes pear-shaped, it is wasteful of time, effort, paint and paper and downright depressing. Perhaps the problem is that I don't drink - does alcohol help I wonder??