Process

When I paint I find I spend almost as much time working on the floor as I do on the easel...during the early stages in any case.  I love the physicality of working like this, moving my body is as important in invoking those creative juices in my process as is paying attention to those things that draw my attention.  I begin by pulling out the colours I want to begin with and then I allow myself to trust my instincts and just follow where I am led.  I've noticed that I am constantly thinking and re-thinking as I work but it's quite fluid and done quite unconsciously.  Even as the work gets to the final stages I catch myself just trying things, letting myself trust my colour and brush choices and allowing the marks to happen as they will...which includes any highlights and shadows. The more I let myself go, the better the outcome.  And whenever I take a step back, I notice what's working, and even what's not, though often it is those stages that need to occur in order to bring the completed piece together.