Make action a habit. Don’t wait until things are just right. There is never a perfect time to begin. There is only now. Expect that things will be difficult. Know that there will be setbacks. Remember how strong you are. Expect to succeed anyway. When you take action fear fades and confidence rises.
Tess Marshall
In March I painted little portraits in my little journal. I am not a portrait painter, so I was in no way aiming to paint anything realistic. Instead I’ve experimented with colors, forms and different ways to start.
I filmed every time I sat down to paint, and I’m hoping that my approach might help loosen you up as well, to try some experimental portraits yourself. As grown ups we are afraid of failing, of creating something ugly and flawed, and nothing is as intimidating as trying to draw someone’s face. It almost never looks like them, right?
Instead of imagining the worst, try to ignore what your brain is telling you about what a “successful portrait” must look like. Who cares what others think of it? Have fun!
Remember the important parts; like the 2 eyes, 1 mouth and a nose, and play with placement, size and what details to add. Let it be “just for fun” and maybe exaggerate one eye (very big or very small or very narrow) so you don’t have to struggle with making the eyes exactly the same. That’s so hard anyway! This is what I did, and it was fun!
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