The Overwork Diaries

If I only shared paintings I was truly proud of, I wouldn’t share anything. But art is made to be observed, and for that reason, I try to share most of what I paint.

It’s easy to make art that impresses if you stick to formulas, avoid stepping outside your comfort zone, and only use techniques that work for everyone. And I do this from time to time. But being an artist calls for much more. We want to play in the space where success is uncertain, where frustration and elation coexist.

I have a large pile of “not quite” paintings. Mostly plein air ones. Paintings that are nice and hold treasured memories of time spent outside, but where the art is not really speaking.

Watercolorists shy away from “mud” — where too many layers and too much reworking can make a painting dull and lifeless.

But “not quite” paintings invite experimentation. A chance to ask, “What does the painting need?” more than, “What did I see and aim for at the time?” A chance to rework mistakes. A freedom to play in the mud in pursuit of insight. Mud can still work.

The Overwork Diaries is a series of short videos posted to Instagram where I document my thinking and either ruin a good painting or save an average one. You can decide for yourself.