Beginners Mind

Help!  I forgot How to Paint Plein Air!

It’s been a long Winter and most of us haven’t been out plein air painting much.  In fact, it may have been months, depending on where we live.  But now things are looking up and the weather is nice enough to start venturing out there again.

But something has happened to our hard won skill of getting our gear together, setting up our equipment and then, actually painting.  We have become unaccustomed to all of it after the long plein air painting drought – we are rusty!

We can feel like beginners all over again.  We may even feel we don’t know how to do this anymore and get discouraged.

Be comforted and know that even the most seasoned and expert plein air painters feel this way from time to time.

It may even be a good thing.  It keeps us humble and with a Beginners Mind.

Zen masters strive for this Beginners Mind in everything.  It keeps us open to new ideas – eager to try fresh approaches and techniques.

Getting set in our ways as artists is a recipe for dull work and blunted creativity.

So let’s embrace the feeling of “I don’t knowness” and see where it takes us.  A new mix of colors?  A new canvas size or format?  A different type of composition that is daring and unusual?

It’s all  good, and part of the ever evolving journey as artists.

The more we get out there and paint, the more we love it.  Build it into your weekly routine and make time for art.

Here’s wishing all of us a good dose of Beginners Mind at the start of another glorious plein air painting season.

Join us in the Monthly Painting Challenge and see where it takes you.  We are all cheering you on and want to see your progress each month.

Here’s wishing you a good dose of Beginners Mind at the start of another