I find 2 hour stints of different activities throughout the day helps to maintain my energy and motivation. As soon as I begin to get tired (and painting is concentrated mental work)or feel frustrated the bad decisions creep in so, in order to not make a mess that I have to rectify later, I stop and get outside no matter the weather. Movement, fresh air, change of scenery are all energising. However, being an introvert I find it hard to reach out to other artists and to go on meet ups etc. TH-cam, Patreon & podcasts are great but it is important for me to talk to people face to face and share my process. By talking I make sense of my work. Journalling is really useful but to have human feedback & validation just inspires me to carry on when the meaningless meanie makes an appearance. (Especially around January & February). Love your work & am so grateful for your videos on creative process.
That's such a good point; moving is really the best for working through things and getting some space too! I know exactly what you mean, it is so important to be able to talk through ideas 💙
For some reason I skipped this one, didn't see it, so I am watching it just now, and it is WOW : exactly what I needed in this moment, like you I am in need of bright colors and lightness, and most of all PLAYYYYYY!!! So thanks for the inspiration, and cheers to spring and all the blooming coming back soon....these winter months are lovely, as I love to flow with the seasons, but, hey, let's be honest, warm sun and bursting life is something I kinda look forward too as well by this time🤪🌞🌻🌈! So, in this expectative, let's bring this into our practice!😊
Yesssss!!!! All the play, always - but you’re right, especially now. I get such a lease of life at this time of year 🍃 sending lots of sunshine your way!
Another great reflection Orla. Its taken me years to understand and embrace my own creative rhythms cycles, ways of being and doing as one whole never ending creative process. We are all unique works of art in progress … every human being leaves their mark regardless of the means of expression. 🌹🙏🏽
Lovely video. It's good to be reminded how important feeding our souls through other artists are 🤗. And that it's okay to make different types of art depending on our headspace or indeed the season. I've just bought myself the Lumie Task lamp. It is a very white light - my heart prefers a warm cosy yellow light but I guess the whiteness is the whole point 😊. It does create quite a cast shadow though so I still need my overhead light. Photos etc have come out nice and bright.
Hi Orla, i always look forward to see you paint, and listen to the interresting talks, my winter energy level is lower and my work goes more introspective and more serious. To see you paint in these lighter vibrant colors gives me more playful ideas, thanks for sharing your lovely personality and wisdom, and ofcourse your beautyful inspiring art.❤
Loved everything about this, Orla! From the textures to the reflections to the colours...I always enjoy watching you work! And I always enjoy how I have new ways and ideas to ponder from both watching you work and listening to your thought processes. Setting an intention for a studio session is such a great idea, and though I don't intentionally do it this video made me realize that sometimes I DO set one and that time seems to be much more satisfying for me. My art practice is not connected to my income, and while that gives me a freedom to do whatever I want without worry about the outcome, it also sometimes results in 'too many options' paralysis! 😂
Thanks so much: that’s great it’s working as a spring board for more ideas! Aw yes, I used to do it without being properly aware of it, and noticed that all the more successful experiments had more intention at the start. You probably do it more than you think! Haha yes that’s very real!! There really are limitless options - I also get pulled in too many directions, it’s easy done 😅
Really enjoyed watching you work on these colourful pictures and sketchbook experiments (and seeing your cats🤗). Short dark days in my north-east facing flat aren't encouraging, though it's sunny today- must paint! I too like listening to artists' podcasts and interviews for inspiration.💜💫
Thank you! Hehe they have to get amongst it :) 🐈⬛ 🐈 hope you had a good painting session! If you have any recommendations let me know, always on the hunt for more to listen to!
Love this Orla. It's truly difficult to deal with the dark short wintery days. Love your works here and always. Looking forward to your podcast favorites on substack
Thank you, Orla! This video was exactly what I needed to get back in the right headspace to finish my painting based on your style. My professor made some really negative comments and suggestions and the joy and play flew away. Thank you for so openly addressing mental health and finding energy. I was thinking a suggestion would be to do something out of your comfort zone, and then you mentioned longboarding.. exactly what I meant.. maybe try more new things that are out of your comfort zone? Try something you have always been curious about but just never took the step. Physical things will absolutely increase your energy.
Aw that’s so good to hear it was useful :) hope you got back to the play state and you enjoyed the painting process again! I think so; every time I push myself into a different space, it makes the other things easier somehow :) also, good to make space for different things and have some balance with different things in life!
Hello! Thanks so much :) with these small ones I didn’t plan. the framed piece was working from an older painting I’d done on paper, so in a way it was planned. Sometimes yes, sometimes no in short :) and with colours, I suppose I do; I have a colour world I work in, which I’ve found through years of painting, and sometimes select a few from this to work with ☀️
Hi I am not an expert but I have found Philips LED table lamp work well. You can adjust the light temperature I think. Also there are other portable brands as well in Amazon. Just a suggestion. I understand how it feels when there is a lack of proper lighti when you do art.
Sometimes yes, sometimes no :) I plan the feelings I want and often have specific ideas or technical things to explore. In these ones I didn’t plan the compositions ☀️
I just found you. I am binging your videos. Amazing and so inspirational. Thank you!🥰🤗
I find 2 hour stints of different activities throughout the day helps to maintain my energy and motivation. As soon as I begin to get tired (and painting is concentrated mental work)or feel frustrated the bad decisions creep in so, in order to not make a mess that I have to rectify later, I stop and get outside no matter the weather. Movement, fresh air, change of scenery are all energising.
However, being an introvert I find it hard to reach out to other artists and to go on meet ups etc. TH-cam, Patreon & podcasts are great but it is important for me to talk to people face to face and share my process. By talking I make sense of my work. Journalling is really useful but to have human feedback & validation just inspires me to carry on when the meaningless meanie makes an appearance. (Especially around January & February).
Love your work & am so grateful for your videos on creative process.
That's such a good point; moving is really the best for working through things and getting some space too! I know exactly what you mean, it is so important to be able to talk through ideas 💙
This is fantastic, such an important point to talk about ❤❤❤
Thanks so much Chantelle 💙
For some reason I skipped this one, didn't see it, so I am watching it just now, and it is WOW : exactly what I needed in this moment, like you I am in need of bright colors and lightness, and most of all PLAYYYYYY!!! So thanks for the inspiration, and cheers to spring and all the blooming coming back soon....these winter months are lovely, as I love to flow with the seasons, but, hey, let's be honest, warm sun and bursting life is something I kinda look forward too as well by this time🤪🌞🌻🌈! So, in this expectative, let's bring this into our practice!😊
Yesssss!!!! All the play, always - but you’re right, especially now. I get such a lease of life at this time of year 🍃 sending lots of sunshine your way!
Another great reflection Orla. Its taken me years to understand and embrace my own creative rhythms cycles, ways of being and doing as one whole never ending creative process. We are all unique works of art in progress … every human being leaves their mark regardless of the means of expression. 🌹🙏🏽
So true; they are always evolving, so I think it’ll be a life long journey 😊 💙
Thank you Orla for sharing❤
thanks so much Lani! ☀️
Lovely video. It's good to be reminded how important feeding our souls through other artists are 🤗. And that it's okay to make different types of art depending on our headspace or indeed the season. I've just bought myself the Lumie Task lamp. It is a very white light - my heart prefers a warm cosy yellow light but I guess the whiteness is the whole point 😊. It does create quite a cast shadow though so I still need my overhead light. Photos etc have come out nice and bright.
Thank you, and thanks for the recommendation! Haha I know me too, give me candles and warm lights any day :) I’ll check it out x
Hi Orla, i always look forward to see you paint, and listen to the interresting talks, my winter energy level is lower and my work goes more introspective and more serious. To see you paint in these lighter vibrant colors gives me more playful ideas, thanks for sharing your lovely personality and wisdom, and ofcourse your beautyful inspiring art.❤
Hello! Thanks so much 😊 yes me too, I wonder if it’s because winter can be a little less social or more insular for me 💭 thanks for watching 💙
Loved everything about this, Orla! From the textures to the reflections to the colours...I always enjoy watching you work! And I always enjoy how I have new ways and ideas to ponder from both watching you work and listening to your thought processes. Setting an intention for a studio session is such a great idea, and though I don't intentionally do it this video made me realize that sometimes I DO set one and that time seems to be much more satisfying for me. My art practice is not connected to my income, and while that gives me a freedom to do whatever I want without worry about the outcome, it also sometimes results in 'too many options' paralysis! 😂
Thanks so much: that’s great it’s working as a spring board for more ideas! Aw yes, I used to do it without being properly aware of it, and noticed that all the more successful experiments had more intention at the start. You probably do it more than you think! Haha yes that’s very real!! There really are limitless options - I also get pulled in too many directions, it’s easy done 😅
Really enjoyed watching you work on these colourful pictures and sketchbook experiments (and seeing your cats🤗). Short dark days in my north-east facing flat aren't encouraging, though it's sunny today- must paint! I too like listening to artists' podcasts and interviews for inspiration.💜💫
Thank you! Hehe they have to get amongst it :) 🐈⬛ 🐈 hope you had a good painting session! If you have any recommendations let me know, always on the hunt for more to listen to!
Love this Orla. It's truly difficult to deal with the dark short wintery days. Love your works here and always. Looking forward to your podcast favorites on substack
Thanks so much! Hopefully I’ll get it written before Christmas:) 🎄
Thank you, Orla! This video was exactly what I needed to get back in the right headspace to finish my painting based on your style.
My professor made some really negative comments and suggestions and the joy and play flew away.
Thank you for so openly addressing mental health and finding energy.
I was thinking a suggestion would be to do something out of your comfort zone, and then you mentioned longboarding.. exactly what I meant.. maybe try more new things that are out of your comfort zone?
Try something you have always been curious about but just never took the step. Physical things will absolutely increase your energy.
Aw that’s so good to hear it was useful :) hope you got back to the play state and you enjoyed the painting process again!
I think so; every time I push myself into a different space, it makes the other things easier somehow :) also, good to make space for different things and have some balance with different things in life!
Your videos are very inspiring, thank you! Do you plan your composition and color palette before you start painting?
Hello! Thanks so much :) with these small ones I didn’t plan. the framed piece was working from an older painting I’d done on paper, so in a way it was planned.
Sometimes yes, sometimes no in short :) and with colours, I suppose I do; I have a colour world I work in, which I’ve found through years of painting, and sometimes select a few from this to work with ☀️
Thanks Orla, love watching your videos and your process ❤️ btw, I'm loving this floor mat you paint on! Where did you get it? Thank you 💕
Aw thanks so much! Oh haha this is an IKEA mat :) x
Hi I am not an expert but I have found Philips LED table lamp work well. You can adjust the light temperature I think. Also there are other portable brands as well in Amazon. Just a suggestion. I understand how it feels when there is a lack of proper lighti when you do art.
Oh that’s a great shout, I didn’t know there were lamps out there that you can adjust the temperature! I’ll take a look 😊
Do I plan your painting ahead?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no :) I plan the feelings I want and often have specific ideas or technical things to explore. In these ones I didn’t plan the compositions ☀️