This module is not about realism - unless you want it to be. It is about working from observation and interpreting what you see to delight yourself.

You can work from what's in front of you or if you need to take photos to sketch and paint that is fine.

Stylisation is possible.

Abstraction is possible.

Any of the techniques you've tried so far are possible; I'd just like your source material to be something you can see or touch - so that you can think about using different techniques or approaches that are meaningful or interesting to you.

How would you really like to paint if you could?  I don't think there's often a clear answer to that question which is what this course seeks to help you find. There's always a gap between our desires and where we are but that's what makes it exciting; the incremental progress, the surprises that happen if we keep going, and the resulting growth in our clarity and confidence. Sometimes tackling things that seem initially not for you can teach you something that you can include in the recipe that is your way of working.

If you've been finding it hard to find time to draw daily, as I am at the moment, then make a point of drawing just before you paint or draw with your paint before you really begin. Think of it as discovery time - just as meditation opens you up to be more receptive, adventurous and kinder to yourself.

This week I shared something on social media that many artists responded to.

I hope that this resonates and reminds you that you are here to do you and always have choices.

N.B.
For those of you that have joined the new community here and the Experimental Still Life group (I need to assign you to this once you have joined) there is an unedited replay of the first day of my Discover Your Art course to watch whenever you like if you didn't see that last summer. This was one of three days leading into ESL and included me working in my sketchbook, talking about values a little, and addressing some common issues we all have.