Fear of a blank canvas

I just wanted to know and here are some questions for you ....

How can one overcome the fear of a blank canvas?

For example: A blank canvas is bought for the purpose of painting. A few days after purchasing the canvas, fear can grow day by day just by looking at that white blank thing! It takes long time and quite an effort to just start an outline. Then suddenly you gain momentum and the flow becomes smoother.

Have you come across such an experience? Do you think the size of a canvas has a role in triggering this fear? What sizes are the most comfortable size for you?

7 cups of tea:

Yes, I do. It also happened to me often. I think because it depands a lot on my own practics, experience, and mediums as well as the size of the image. I have never work on the canvas before but I would try to , and I still fear of even blank paper sheets size A3. ;) Pencil works are fine with me. But I do fear of using watercolors, oil paints and creating pictures in digital artworks.

PoutC on 3 September 2012 at 22:32

Thank you for sharing :D I just wanted to know this if someone come across such an experience like I do. When I begin to work with size of the canvas 24 x 36 inches and larger, looking at it and I just freeze to start.

Don't be scared to do digital work because you can always undo whatever you mess up. Oil painting as a process is similar to digital art. You cannot easily 'undo' or backtrack but you can repaint a layer on top of it as a way of a correction. The oil paint touches and colours are sooo rich and it is a joy to do oil painting. You could it try more.. I really enjoy with using oil paints and creating digital art.

Shwe Thiri Khit on 3 September 2012 at 22:32

I love using basic meduims such as pencils, crayons and watercolors mixed together and retouch with Photoshop. For me, watercolors are more difficult, I cannot undo or repaint to create nice transparent paintings. I also have been touched a bit with oil paints as I'm a beginner. It's Nice! I will try to explore more mediums to express my creativity.

Mellisa on 3 September 2012 at 22:33

Fear of the blank canvas also used to happen to me often. Nowadays I like to start off by putting a colour wash such as yellow ochre, pale pink or a combination of colours, over the blank canvas. It seems easier for me to start making outlines when there is colour on the canvas already.

Wini on 3 September 2012 at 22:34

I'm the same as Wini. These days I just cover it with a color that I like or inspires me first and everything else more or less comes automatically. Not a big fan of a very big canvas though, unless I want to do something very detailed.

Sarah on 3 September 2012 at 22:34

Yes, that's how we did it in school. Paint the entire canvas with a wash of any color you like. My teacher said, to do this, so that if you are painting and missing a spot, there is always color and not blank canvas shining through. And I agree it also takes the fear away from this bright white thing staring at you and intimidating you, not to mess it up. Once you have a sloppy wash on there, it is already messed up. ; ) I like to paint big. I think it is easier. It's hard to get detail right on a small canvas with those tiny brushes and thick oil. I am painting a commissioned buddha right now on a 30x30 inch canvas. And I think the size alone lends the painting a wow effect, that would be harder to achieve on a smaller surface.

Little Sonrisa on 3 September 2012 at 22:34

Thanks for all of your discussions. Yah, right! need to be messed up with some paints surrounding us. A very clean studio or work space doesn't feel so right to me. That's it! Sonja, I'm so excited to see your big painting when it is finished.

Shwe Thiri Khit on 3 September 2012 at 22:35

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