Painting Rituals

"Spring Equinox", digital image by S'zanne Reynolds

"Creativity is a habit, and the best creativity is a result of good work habits." ~Twyla Tharp, "The Creative Habit"

In her book, The Creative Habit, Twyla Tharp says habits replace doubt and fear with comfort and routine. What routine gets you warmed up and prepared to paint...if not indeed painting? Maybe it's reading an art book or magazine over coffee before starting to paint. Maybe it's yoga or morning prayer. Perhaps its sketching or photographing what's around you. Or, maybe it's meeting a painting group once a week.

Sometimes we have as many excuses as to why we can't start a painting as we do for not going to the gym..too little time, mile high to-do list, piles of paperwork, emotions running rampant, aching feet and back, exhaustion...sound familiar?

Twyla recalls that more than anything else, rituals of preparation arm us with confidence and self-reliance. Hmm. Self-reliance. Have you ever thought about self-reliance and painting? Self-reliance is built out of the confidence that grows from the painting habit. You no longer need to be talked into painting, you just paint because it's your ritual, your habit.

So go forth and begin practicing your painting rituals today!