MAKE MORE CRAP; AN EXPERIENCE WITH COLD WAX AND OIL PAINT

I’m currently on a course with American painter Jerry McLaughlin exploring painting in cold wax and oils. I was slightly trepidatious as it came fast on the tail of Open Studios, with no downtime or chance to take stock and recover. However, in some senses it was perfect timing, allowing me to dive straight back into painting with no chance for hesitation and resistance to slip in.

The course is in a method completely new to me and is pushing me way out of my ‘comfort zone’; or at least the zone of where I know what I’m doing! I’ve done so many courses in the last three years that I’m used to the discomfort of trying something new.

Because it’s very process-driven, (a process of laying down layer after layer after layer with no thought for the final outcome, often ending in a muddy mess) we are very dependent on trusting Jerry when he says- don’t get attached to it, paint it over, keep moving. We know we have to make a lot of crap to get the gold.

We are working in the Welsh College of Music and Drama, and there’s a sign over the door of our classroom which reads ‘It’s wrong, it’s fine, move on.’ It was left by the students who inhabited the classroom last academic year, but pertinent to us just as much, and a handy reminder.

My observations whilst I was creating this goop that provides the foundations for the works of art I will be producing for later in the week (allegedly), included the following.

At least whilst producing this crap I am not resisting, avoiding or talking about making art. I am actually doing it.

And this allows me to try new and different things.

And this means I am learning to fail. Spectacularly, sometimes. (Snot green goop, anyone?)

And experience of failure means I have absolutely nothing to lose.

Which means I keep trying.

Which means, eventually, that I have created lots and lots of crap.

Which is all about laying the foundations for the gold, which is just around the corner.

(And if not, I can always cut it up and use it for collage papers ?)

What crap are you creating this week? One of the biggest lessons learnt this week; that the difference between ‘meh’ and ‘great’ is the deliberate and intentional decision-making that takes place upon the canvas. Especially when learning a new technique, it’s easy to get sucked into ‘ I don’t know what to do next, so I’ll just try x’; or, ‘it’s all gone horribly wrong so I’ll do y just to move things forward.‘ The result of this kind of reactive decision making is, ‘you get what you get’;
An alternative approach is to ask yourself what your intentions are at this point; work out *what* you want to achieve, and then work back to considering *how* you might achieve it. The result being, ‘you get what you want’.
I think it’s a perfect reminder that in art as in life generally, acting with intent allows us to move forward by controlling your own destiny, in a way that is true to your values and with a greater chance of a positive outcome.
Happy creating!