Questions of Stress, Relief, and Relaxation

Several good questions were presented over on Google+ last week. ..so I thought I would post the response here for everyone who might be interested in it..

"A question: Is it stressful while you are painting and you are relieved when it is finished ? Or do you relax and enjoy while doing it ?"

The simple answer: Yes. ..and no.

Painting, when things are going well and it happens to be cooperating, is something similar to meditation. So in a way it is relaxing and one loses track of time and an overall enjoyable experience. (When the painting is not cooperating, that is another story entirely..)

However, while painting, muscles are very tensed and I am braced all over. It isn't really something I consciously do, it is just how it happens - I suppose it is the result of the effort to create strong fine steady strokes in the paintings. As a result, it tends to wear with measurable amounts of painting time, and all areas get sore as a result.

Sometimes picking up a cup of coffee the next morning is nearly impossible. That point is usually a prime time for a nature walk, observing wildlife, or some book or internet related research - anything that I am able to do with minimal use of my hands or arms.

I am pleased when work is finished, of course. However, when all of the fur of a wolf or raccoon for example is complete, it is never quite as I had envisioned it and I have the urge to do it all over again 'correctly'.

It is a little disappointing or empty feeling when a piece is done and I have to start another in order to continue to paint more fur, etc. But of course, starting another work for whatever reason isn't a bad thing, either.

©Rebecca Latham

http://lathamstudios.com/rebecca/2013/07/questions-of-stress-relief-and-relaxation/

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