I’m really excited for this 2022 PAPC season. In my own life there’s a lot that’s happening. Lots of irons in the fire so to speak. Like many of us, our painting time is limited. We don’t have all the time we need to paint all the paintings we want to paint. When we do have the time, we want these moments to really matter. I want to be fully present (I’m often not). I want to give my all to this endeavor we call Plein Air painting, and I want to be a better steward of the time I do have. All pointers lead to mindfulness. So as we go out and paint this year, I’ll be sharing some of the struggles and insights into what’s keeping me mindful both on and off the painting playground.

I hope you find these posts helpful in your own life and I hope you’ll see improved results in painting.

If we all want good output, we must take ownership of our input.

Great results and remarkable paintings are made through clear thinking and strong intent.

Be good stewards of what you feed your mind. We have limited time and daily capacity. Like our stomach with food, our brains can only feed on so much media. Get a good night’s sleep so your brain can process and digest all we feed it the day before. We often cut our sleep short and wake up drowsy. Honor the time and healing sleep provides. Give your body and mind good routines and habits. It will thank you, and your paintings will soon show the results of your good stewardship.

Marcus Aurelius says,

“Ask yourself at every moment, “Is this necessary?” Knowing what to focus on and what to ignore is an artist’s first and most important job.

Extend your “painting mind” to the rest of your non-painting life and you’ll see good growth and results in both.

Thich Nhat Hanh tells us.

“Before we can make deep changes in our lives, we have to look into our diet, our way of consuming. We have to live in such a way that we stop consuming the things that poison us and intoxicate us. Then we will have the strength to allow the best in us to arise, and we will no longer be victims of anger, of frustration.”

So, Plein Air painters, we all know that saying “garbage in, garbage out.” In flipping to the positive, use the simple phrase “Good in, Good out” to your advantage. Staple it to your easel. Let its sting change poor routines and habits to good routines and habits. Fill your tanks with only premium good fuel throughout your day. Think on good things. Eliminate distraction and unnecessary mindless clutter. Cut the chatter about things you have no control over. And fill your mind with things you can control.

Think on these things, and feed your mind, heart, and soul on the good stories that inspire you and your paintings will soon follow.

I’m looking forward to going on this journey with you this year. Thank you for the opportunity to help lead and share insights as we make this year a spectacular year for growth in making remarkable art.

Questions:

1. What habit are you trying to build right now that will directly benefit your art?
2. What are some unhealthy distractions you can easily eliminate from your daily routines?

A few subjects we’ll be covering this season are:

• Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset
• Flow – What to do to get flow? What to avoid that may hinder flow?
• Stillness – How to quiet the mind and reduce the mental chatter and clatter?
• Gratitude- Why is it important? How does it play in with being creative?
• Vulnerability- What is it? How do we cultivate it ? What does vulnerability look like in art?
• Curiosity- Why is it important for artists to be curious? Your brain loves questions! 
• Responding to your scenes – What is the emotional connection and how do artists create connections? What are some examples from the masters?
• Kaizen – What is it and how can you use it to become a better artist?
• Courage – What is it and what does it look and feel like while painting? How do you acquire more of it when you feel like you have none?
• Procrastination – How to avoid it.
• Grit – Sounds abrasive. What is it and why do you need more of it?
• Anti-fragile: How to have a “nothing to lose”, “all in” mentality.
• Grounding – A way to increase awareness of your presence in this moment.
• Delayed Gratification – What is it and how do artists use it?