“Art must do something more than give pleasure.  It should relate to our own life so as to increase our energy of spirit.”  Written by Sir Kenneth Clark in a series of articles entitled Looking at Pictures in the London Gazette

As you ponder the “idea” on which your painting is created, heed a little advice from Robert Genn (you can find his newsletter online):

“Don’t be afraid to fall back and take your own counsel. You are the only person you will have to live with significantly, and you may as well get to like and trust yourself.

Always be open and curious as to what you may be doing wrong. Little wrong things that you can get to like can send you on the track of something new or original.

Wear a different cap when you sit back and contemplate your work. You’ll notice nuances, touches and subtle ideas that were not evident when you were in the middle of it.

Be prepared to take risks. You need to be able to get your brush around what you’re up to, but if you don’t swing out, you’ll never know what’s out there.”

The most important of these is the last.  As we continue with the works in progress, take risks, change in mid-stream if it seems like your idea is not working, allow the idea to develop with careful thought.  Keep in mind the quote by Kenneth Clark. (Director of the National Gallery in London 1933-1945 and the writer and presenter of the 1969 BBC2 documentary, “Civilisation”.)