Author: Chris Henry

With New Years approaching quickly, I find myself to be a bit more introspective, taking stock of what came before, and starting to think about the coming year. When looking back at past work, usually I’ll make an assessment. Something like, I’m glad for the progress I’ve made or “where can I quickly burn this”? My tendency is to be a little hard on myself. Past work can remind me of a time when I started doing something different that lead to a new style of painting. Whether I consider the work to be good or not, it is always a marker for some period in my past.

Something meaningful is looking at other art in my home. In the living room there is a framed painting of a plant done by my mother. She did it at my studio a couple of years before she passed. Every time I see it I think of her.

Recently my wife’s parents handed down a framed print of Gainsborough’s “The Blue Boy”. The image hangs in my office now. It reminds me of my childhood, specifically being in 4th grade homeroom. My teacher had prints of many of the masters hanging all around the classroom. “The Blue Boy” was above the doorway. I still have a clear memory of staring at the work, and being in awe of it.

Regarding the year, there are many things to be grateful for. Being able to go to my studio and paint, and living in beautiful Northern California are among these blessings. Most of my gratitude goes out to the people in my life, for they are what makes it all worthwhile.

Coming soon, look for my new workshop schedule for 2015.
Happy holidays !

Gift certificates available for art workshops in my studio. Please reply here for more information and to purchase.

If you come into my studio, you will see on the back of a door where I hang some of my larger brushes, a piece of paper taped just below the brushes that is easily visible. On that piece of paper it says, “Perfectionism is the father of procrastination.”

When I read this it reminds me to not take myself too seriously, and that when it comes to creating art, being consumed with having a perfect result can prevent you from taking the next action, i.e. put some paint on your palette, or pick up the brush and make a mark somewhere on the canvas. At it’s worst, this can lead to a nasty bout of artist block where nothing gets done.

Recently I began a new work on a 6ft. x 6ft. panel. One of the things I like to do is create texture in my work. There is a process where I create texture on muslin and attach it to the panel prior to painting. Not paying attention I incorrectly applied glue over the panel. The next day this cost me many hours of removing glue.

On hindsight I realized that my focus was on thinking about the next step, and how it needed to be perfect. What was needed was for me to be in the present moment and focused with the task at hand. When not being attached to the outcome it seems more work gets produced, and by producing more work, the quality improves.

Heres a gift idea for the holiday’s. Give someone a gift certificate for a mixed media art workshop in my studio. Contact me 707-478-8150 to get more details and how to purchase.

 “Going Beyond the Known Dialogue”  60″x 48″ mixed media on wood panel
To inquire please contact Terra Firma Gallery at 707-938-2200

Yes, it seems when I get out of my mind, my best work comes thru me. Unlike any of you reading this, I tend to over think, and over analyze before ever taking action. Once I do take action, the mind starts to quiet for a little while, until……judgement creeps back in. Of course I need to evaluate how it’s going, I’m only human.

I was going to say it was a problem all this judgement, but maybe there is another way to view this. Maybe as a creative this is how it goes? Maybe I’m doing it perfectly? Maybe it’s about accepting the process, and realizing perfection is a myth, and our imperfections are really what is perfect.

Lets see, so I judge, analyze, notice my fear, desire perfection, and then maybe take an action like putting the brush to the canvas. And after a while of ebb and flow, no action, action, judgement, releasing judgement, attachment to a result, letting go of attachment, etc. Yes, it can be exhausting…….until you let go.

Here’s what works for me. Freedom lies in owning and accepting the process, and noticing when I’m attached to a certain result. When I see that, then I can choose to let go. And when I do, sometimes I have miraculous results.

What do you do to get out of your mind and take action?

Coming up. One more weekend of my studio being open for Artrails. Stop in to see what I’ve been up to. I really enjoyed seeing those of you that came by this past Saturday and Sunday. 

Weekend and evening mixed media art workshops available >