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The point at which I get twitchy.

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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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I decided to start this thread not so much as a work in progress , but as a example a example and explanation of the point in a painting where I become a big twitchy and a bit anxious. I have always thought that paintings go through a stage where they look ugly them start to come together, at this point I always get a bit unsettled and concerned that I’m going to ruin it somehow. It happens every time and had done from when I started to paint, funny enough it’s not quite the same when sketching. I know we have had several discussions on site about this over the last few years , but what I have learned to do is bit the brush handle ( not literally) and go for it . There is a risk here for me as I tend to rush things when I’m anxious, this was obvious enough when at school or doing anything involving writing etc, due to bring dyslexic. My hand writing would get smaller and more scruffy and become unreadable, I have to watch my paintings don’t do the same . 
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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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I have passed the very twitchy stage and feel more confident and comfortable, surprising what a few brush strokes can do to a  painting. I put the base colours on the horse and then stared to add some detail, I then took a lot of photos from different angles, something I do a lot now. I then sit with my cuppa and go through the photos , and if I think it need darker I try it out on  the iPad . Once satisfied I still keep the photos until the painting is completed. Well contented so it time to move on . Taking the photos means that I can take time out to view them and look at them at my leisure, I would strongly advocate standing back and take a look . The advantage with the photos is you can do this as often as you want. My hood is that those of you who  have similar fears etc, will look at ways of overcoming the temporary block and move on . Will I stop the twitching probably not ax it’s what I do but it’s something that won’t beat me . 
Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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It really is coming together now.  No need to be twitchy.  Have confidence, you know you can do it.  I look forward to the finished result.

Denise Cat

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It's all coming together Paul. I often look at mine and think, that's a right mess, then for some unknown reason, the painting starts making sense and I can start seeing a bit of light through the mess. If that makes any sense.
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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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Thanks Linda and Denise for you kind words and encouragement. Yes Denisecit does make sense and that what I was trying to get across. 
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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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Almost finished the horse and tac, feel like it is coming together now and it’s starting to look how I wanted it to. 

Anthony Knight

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Coming together beautifully Dixie! And the twitchy phase - great fun isn’t it? I normally get it halfway through a painting before I start with the detail as it generally looks flat and uninteresting - once I bite the bullet and get that first wheel or bumper in, most times it eases off.
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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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Thanks Anth, yes your tight though we feel twitchy it’s not a bad thing in someways as it does push me on , and is I suppose part of the excitement of painting. As you say I get to the pint and then just a couple of brush strokes later and in off again, I wasn’t down crying , I was trying to explain and hoped that other who feel the same might get a bit encouragement or not feel odd about it. I would bet that quite few people out hundred would express similar moments , and probably all be at slightly different stages. It’s almost finished , a bit more detail on the harnesses etc, and the background. 

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by Paul (Dixie) Dean

IMG_6882

Paul (Dixie) Dean

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Well twitchy or not it finished I think, it’s still on the easel. I will take some shots later for the gallery, I was unhappy with the upper left side a it was a bit to dark , do added the sun lights breaking through. It was always so good to see how the light broke through when we were clearing  or thinning an area, within months the floor was covered flowers etc. 

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by Paul (Dixie) Dean